Funny business

Recession blues? Head for the comedy clubs... they're booming as Britons seek light relief from economic gloom, writes Sarah Hanson

The stand-up comedy industry is enjoying an upswing as recession-hit punters seek value-for-money laughs. Don Ward, founder and chief executive of the Comedy Store in London, says that for the first four months of the slowdown, business was up. "It wasn't a lot but it was enough to say, bloody hell, where are these extra punters coming from?" he explains.

Ward noticed there were many more suited customers in his venue and, with a little more research, he discovered they were City brokers and bankers parting with cash to hear what comedians were saying about them. "Six sharp-eyed comics can spot estate agents, brokers and bankers faster than they can own up to it," says Ward. "They'd rip into them, of course, but the more they ripped into them, the more the brokers and bankers loved it-they are masochists at heart."

Ward reckons it's typical of the British sense of humour. "It's the Dunkirk spirit, when you're down, try to put a smile on your face and get on with things," he says. "Comedy is the perfect antidote to bad things in life. Your local comedy club-as long as it's good comedy-can take the pressure off and make you forget all your troubles and woes for a couple of hours. It takes off the pressure and that's why the Store's done well. We are that relief."

And, Ward adds, the laughter won't hurt you financially. With ticket prices around £15-£18, he reckons two people can have a good night out including a diner meal and a few drinks for around £60-£65. "We give quality at great value and these are the two most important things I've found that are key to the Comedy Store's success—keep the quality up and keep the value up just as high. Try to give the punter a break."

Cass Briggs, organiser of the first Greenwich Comedy Festival and stepdaughter of the late comedian, Malcolm Hardee, agrees. She says festival tickets are selling well thanks to high-quality acts and reasonable prices. "Our top price is £18.50—around what you'd pay to see comedy in central London on a Saturday night—yet you'd usually pay upwards of £27 to see some of the acts we've got." And punters won't be stung at the bar either. "I don't want to go over £3.50 for a pint," she adds.

Briggs and her brother, Will, who manages Sunday nights at the Up The Creek comedy club in Greenwich, founded by Hardee, decided to organise a London comedy festival after the pair agreed it was "ridiculous" that the capital had nothing to compare with Edinburgh or even Reading, Manchester and Leicester, all of which have annual festivals. They started planning just before the credit crunch hit.

"A few people said to us, 'you're mad to do this, you're taking a huge risk'," says Cass Briggs. "Yes, it's a risk but we're adamant that we're putting on acts that people want to see in an environment they want to see them in. People have less money at the moment but I just think it's making them consider more what they are spending their money on, and tickets are selling well."

Up The Creek seems to be escaping the worst of the recession, with Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights packed. "Although they were a bit worried that the downturn might affect ticket sales, they decided not to panic and continued to programme great comedy at a good price," says Briggs. "People are wanting to have a bit of a laugh now more than ever."

She points out that it's not only live stand-up enjoying a boom—comedy DVD sales are doing well, too. Research by online retailer Amazon showed that last November, when the credit crunch intensified, sales of its top 20 comedy DVDs were 41 per cent higher than the previous year.

So which are the best acts to lift us out of recession-induced misery? "I think the hottest ticket—and that is reflected in ticket sales—is Russell Howard," says Briggs. "He is so sharp and he is absolutely the man of the moment. I also love Rufus Hound, a brilliant stand-up and who is also now breaking into television. As for new acts, Pippa Evans, who does character acting, is fantastic. And Josie Long, Josie Lawrence and Sarah Millican are all doing really well."

Lynne Parker, founder of Funny Women, an organisation that promotes female comedy talent, says there are many more women "breaking" into the territory occupied by comics such as Jo Brand and Gina Yashere. "You regularly see Shappi Khorsandi, Lucy Porter and Jo Caulfield. They've been around a long time. To break a career in comedy you're looking at seven to eight years on average. It probably takes a bit longer for women; I think they have to work a bit harder. But now they are starting to get the success they really deserve."

Promising new acts to watch out for, says Parker, include Suzy Bennett, Andi Osho and last year's winner of the Funny Women Awards, Katherine Ryan.

For Ward, the hot new act is Rhod Gilbert. "He was a great success at last year's Royal Variety Performance when his banter with Prince Charles rocked the room," he says. "Michael McIntyre is another one destined for stardom. He strides around on stage and refers to the 'man drawer'—a drawer that he can call his own and where he will keep 'manly stuff' such as batteries that no longer work, a hammer, a screwdriver—fabulous stuff."

Comedy calendar... 12 reasons to smile

Ricky Gervais, Science tour, until December 16
Dave Gorman, Sit Down, Pedal, Pedal, Stop and Stand Up tour, until March 31, 2010
Greenwich Comedy Festival, various venues, September 7-13 (Shappi Khorsandi performs at the Old Royal Naval College on September 11)
Improv queen and star of Whose Line Is It Anyway? Josie Lawrence joins the Comedy Store Players, September 12
Rhod Gilbert tour, September 18-February 15, 2010
Michael McIntyre tour, September 21-November 19
Julian Clary, Lord of the Mince tour, September 25-November 22
Lincoln Comedy Festival, featuring Josie Long, October 1-6
Dylan Moran, Apollo Theatre, London, October 26-December 5
Eddie Izzard, Stripped tour, October 23-December 12
Russell Howard tour, December 11-20
Sarah Millican, see www.sarahmillican.co.uk for tour details