Persona

This chapter examines the thorny issue of persona in stand-up comedy, and in particular how it relates to the comedian's offstage identity. It starts by demonstrating the ambiguity of persona by analysing a moment from a performance by Mae Martin when somebody in the audience reveals that they know the person Martin is talking about. It then examines how Sarah Millican's persona creates a warm, powerful connection with her audience. This is followed by a comparison between how two comedians who have been accused of wrongdoing (Louis CK and Aziz Ansari) have dealt with these accusations in their acts. It finishes by discussing the recent phenomenon of 'dead dad shows', in which comedians create full-length shows about traumatic experiences they have had. The origins of this trend are traced back to early alternative comedians like Tony Allen, and the chapter finishes with an analysis of Russell Kane's show Smokescreens and Castles.