The Queer Comedy Club launches in London
- New venue The Queer Comedy Club is set to launch in officially launch in London's Archway on 11th May
- Founded by comics Kate Dale, David Ian and Jeremy Topp, the club aims to be "a safe and supportive space where queer comics can cut their comedy teeth"
- Jessica Fostekew, Stephen Bailey, Jen Ives and James Barr are amongst the acts booked for shows
Permanent LGBTQ+ comedy space The Queer Comedy Club is set to officially launch in London's Archway this May.
The organisers say: "The Queer Comedy Club will give queer audiences and their friends the chance to enjoy stand-up comedy, knowing they'll be hearing relevant, relatable and most importantly of all, rib-ticklingly funny comedy that reflects their own lives. It will also be a safe and supportive space where queer comics can cut their comedy teeth."
The new venue is the brainchild of three queer comedians - Kate Dale, David Ian and Jeremy Topp - and is born out of their experiences on the stand-up circuit. They started running their own comedy night but felt establishing a permanent venue was important, a signal to the queer community and their allies that stand-up was for them too.
"We were uncomfortable inviting our queer friends to come and watch us perform because we were taking them into what was essentially a very straight and macho environment, with no guarantee about the type of material they'd hear" says Ian. "It's just not the sort of place we'd usually socialise in. It made us realise there was a gap in the market - and our community - for a stand-up comedy club that would feel like their space.
"So much of gay culture revolves around bars, clubs and drag - and we love all that - but it's important to be able to offer something in addition. Seeing our own lives and experiences held up for delighted, joyous, celebratory ridicule can be incredibly cathartic, bonding and hilarious. We wanted to bring that to the LGBTQ+ community at the same time as giving new and established queer comedians a chance to perform to their own people."
The Queer Comedy Club brand has already been running for a while in other venues in the capital, such as Zodiac Bar, but now will have its own home.
For Dale, performing at QCC nights has played an important role in her coming out. "Talking about your sex life on stage is one way of telling your friends and family," she says, "but being able to make jokes about all aspects of our lives to an audience you know will understand has helped me process it all. And it's fun!"
Topp completed the founding trio shortly after a chance meeting. "I love all comedians, however queer performers have a brutal honesty, and life stories I can resonate with. Helping newer acts feel welcomed into the scene has been a passion of mine for years. After meeting Kate and David at a gig, we clicked immediately and discussed the gap we had all felt in the comedy circuit. I immediately knew their goal of establishing a permanent queer comedy space was something I had to be involved with."
The Big Thursday Show every week will feature established comedians as well as the best emerging talent, with comics such as Jessica Fostekew, Stephen Bailey, Jen Ives and James Barr already booked to appear. Mondays and Tuesdays see new acts and new material nights with QCC Raw for queer comedians, and Not Totally QCC which features allies and friends too. The club is also hosting a number of one-off events, previews and works in progress.
The Queer Comedy Club is located at 114 Junction Road in Archway. The official launch on Thursday 11th May will feature a line-up including Josh Jones, Dee Allum, Ben Pollard and Kathy Maniura.
More details and line-ups can be seen via queercomedyclub.co.uk