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Laughing all the way to the bank? Alternative comedy in the provinces

Double, Oliver (1994) Laughing all the way to the bank? Alternative comedy in the provinces. New Theatre Quarterly, X (39). pp. 255-262. ISSN 0266-464X. (doi:10.1017/S0266464X00000555) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:44571)

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Abstract

Metropolitan snobbery and the logistics of scale both militate against the success of comedians working in the regions. Yet, as Oliver Double here argues, the scene has been a lively one, often daring in its style and range alike – at least until the absorption of its big names into the London circuits by the agencies which increasingly control most of the bookings and much of the talent. Oliver Double, himself a working comic, describes the distinctive characteristics of regional alternative comedy, and the now very real dangers of stagnation, illustrating his argument from interviews with leading comics on the regional circuits – Nick Toczek, Stu Who?, Roger Monkhouse, Malcolm Bailey, Anvil Springsteen, Adam Caveleri, Kevin Seisay, Henry Normal, and John Simmit. Offering some hopes for the future, he points out the relatively low audience figures required to ensure a vigorous growth – if only emerging talent can be nurtured rather than condemned to still birth.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1017/S0266464X00000555
Uncontrolled keywords: Stand-up comedy
Subjects: N Visual Arts > NX Arts in general
P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN2000 Dramatic representation. The theatre
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Arts and Humanities > School of Arts
Depositing User: Oliver Double
Date Deposited: 14 Nov 2014 12:49 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:17 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/44571 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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