Elf shares her unique approach to making ‘comedy spectacles on a budget’. She explores the development of her career from 2008 - present, including: subverting expectations; the importance of knowing what the audience see; the benefits and accessibility of performer training; marketing of identity and representation; the importance of active involvement in your own industry.

Content warnings: mention of rape from 11:25 – 11:50; discussion of a routine referencing sexual assault and the sexualisation of children from 31:20 – 34:00.

More Elf Lyons at:

www.elflyons.com 

https://twitter.com/elf_lyons 

https://www.instagram.com/elflyons/

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Bernard beguiles us with his experience as surrealist stand-up in the 1980s and 1990s. He covers a varied career, from his first stand-up gig to creating the exceptional Binky and Boo, his involvement in Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners, and crossing paths with Alan Bennett and Doctor Who. He discusses: the value of relying on material over labels; changes in attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community from the 1980s onwards; his absurdist and unconscious influences. 

More Bernard Padden:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ7nhOzuwvI (Binky and Boo, animated adaptation of a Bernard Padden routine)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79_7iScDv3k (Bernard Padden routine adapted for Channel 4’s One in Five)

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Tanyalee shares her experience of performing on both sides of the Atlantic, from the 1990s - the present. She talks about stand-up as medium to celebrate her wonderful life before elaborating on: using comedy as inspiration; the impact a comedy career has on home life; the extra labour required to combat disability discrimination and disorganisation; the UK’s aversion to discussing disability; the importance of being ‘unstoppable me’. 

More Tanyalee Davis at:

www.tanyaleedavis.com 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVA1FmwAM_0 

https://twitter.com/TanyaleeDavis

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kai kicks off with the making and impact of his 2019 debut show Underclass before discussing: the benefits and risks of including material about his own story and his family in his comedy; the advantages, alternatives and viability of taking a show to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe; the importance of industry professionals helping and mentoring newer acts; bias and nepotism; performing as a working-class comedian of colour; why more comedians should turn their political zeal upon their own industry. 

More Kai Samra at:

www.kaisamra.com 

https://twitter.com/kaisamra 

https://www.tiktok.com/@kaisamra 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsDULPDO6xQ

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ray discusses his experience of performing political stand-up comedy. He explains why the politics of the 1980s circuit disappointed him before delving into: acknowledgement of racist/sexist ignorance of comedians performing around him; the importance of not ‘performing black’; attempts of promoters to shoehorn distinctive acts into stereotyped categories; the importance of not ‘playing the game’; differences between performing in Newcastle and London; his influences; practical suggestions to improve diversity within stand-up comedy.

Content warning: from 24:50-30.00 conversation includes explicit examples of racism/ sexism.

More Ray Campbell at: 

https://twitter.com/RayCampbell19 

https://twitter.com/buddy_hell 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-campbell-b271532a/

Look out for Ray’s forthcoming book, A Cultural History of British Alternative Cabaret (1979-1991). Available to pre-order at:

https://www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/book/10.3828/9781837645107

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Charmian gives us glimpses of her career, starting from her entrance into stand-up in the 1980s and charting the evolution of her act up to the present day. She discusses: how she found stand-up through clowning; persona; costume; managing stand up and being a mother; ageism; cancel culture not existing; her influences; how to improve diversity within stand-up comedy. She offers reasonable, accessible suggestions and advice for individuals and the industry at large.  

More Charmian Hughes at: 

https://charmianhughes.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/charmian.hughes

https://www.instagram.com/charmianhughescomic/

https://twitter.com/charmianhughes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.