Scotland’s comedy clubs need help to survive – Susan Morrison

The lack of support for comedy venues that hone talents like Frankie Boyle and Kevin Bridges is beyond a joke, writes Susan Morrison.

Frankie Boyle honed his craft in small comedy clubs (Picture: PA)

Like watching a trained tradesman, watching a skilled comedian is a thing of joy. You should never see the work that went into learning that skill.

When Frankie Boyle, Kevin Bridges or any comedian floors you with a punchline, you will never know the years of stage time in comedy clubs up and down the country they put in before that split second when you threw your head back and laughed.

The people who make you laugh on stages, radio and TV serve a hefty apprenticeship to get to the day when they headline weekend club nights, fill arenas or appear on covers of DVDs.

Here in Scotland, The Gilded Balloon and The Stand are famous for the talent they’ve nurtured. Ok, I will admit I’m biased here. I’ve been on Stand stages from the beginning in a dingy pub basement to custom-built clubs in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle.

The Gilded Balloon is globally renowned for its comedy, and sits at the very heart of the Fringe.

Both clubs ensured that Scottish accents were heard during August, even during those dark days when all comedians seemed to come from Cambridge, apart from the ones who came from Oxford.

Now their stages are silent and likely to remain that way for some time, whilst Covid-19 creeps among us.

Other stages are empty, too, of course. Scotland’s theatres are dark and music venues are quiet. But they at least are getting some emergency funding.

So far, comedy has been like a sad little Dickensian child, pressing a wee runny nose up against the window, looking at the goodies other kids get. We watch funding bodies dole out cash, but they turn to comedy and say oh no, not for you Tiny Tim! Comedy is not a performing art. Your venues are unworthy of our attention.

The clubs are making staff redundant now. The doors may never reopen.

No-one is suggesting that we slash the £8 million annual budget for Scottish Opera, but what we are asking is that the performers who make you laugh, and our venues, are as deserving as Scotland’s theatres, galleries and clubs, so that we can welcome you back and make you laugh again.

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