Comedy / The Gaffe Comedy Club
The Gaffe Comedy Club to host Jayde Adams amidst a clutch of Edinburgh Fringe previews
For many comedians across the UK, the calendar is dominated by August; representing not a holiday, but an intense month of performing daily shows at the Edinburgh Fringe.
In the run-up to the summer, the importance of bedding in these hour-long solo performances is vital.
As well as being instructive for the comics themselves, work-in-progress shows and Edinburgh previews offer a valuable chance for audiences to gain an insight into the creative process, and to see work in its nascent stage – often in small rooms and for a reduced cost.
is needed now More than ever
Photo: The Gaffe Comedy Club
The Gaffe and its sister venue, The Robin Hood will be hosting a raft of previews across May, June and July, to include Bristol royalty Jayde Adams, as well as Suzi Ruffell, Ian Smith, Ahir Shah and Sharon Wanjohi, with more likely to be announced.
Ben Pope will be previewing his new show The Cut on June 8, before taking it up to Edinburgh and then on tour in the autumn. He told Bristol24/7 how it is shaping up.
How do you feel about performing work-in-progress and preview shows?
“I love WIPs and I fear previews, I think. Work-in-progress shows have a lovely relaxed feel – you can try things and it’s genuinely ok if they fail; the audience has been prepped. And when things work, it’s feels like striking gold. So the highs are high, and the lows are not very low.
“Previews, meanwhile, promise more of a finished product. For an audience, they are a great way to essentially see the final version of a show, but more cheaply! For comedians though, you’re in the home straight, and the things that you want to change in the show are so small and finicky (but potentially vital) that they can feel like they’ll drive you insane.”
Ben Pope performing at an outdoor festival – photo: courtesy of the artist
What is the impact in terms of feeding back into the writing process?
“Absolutely vital. Most standups, if they don’t fully write onstage, are at least measuring every moment for its effect on a crowd. It’s about the tone, the different types of laugh, the pace, or that one adjective that will take a routine from good to great. Without previews, we’re just yodelling in the dark!”
As an audience member, can you sum up the value in watching standup as it evolves?
“It’s definitely a satisfying experience watching someone’s show blossom over time. I once saw an act previewing a show in June and having a full breakdown onstage. And not in a fun way. In a sad, ‘maybe-I’ll-quit’ way.
“Then, when I saw them in August at the Edinburgh Fringe, they had turned the show into one of the most hilarious, raw, spectacular pieces of comedy I saw that year. It’s a really good lesson for creativity (and life in general) – that perseverance, rest, and time, are all ingredients in the pie. You don’t know how things will turn out. All you know is that it probably won’t be like you imagined it.”
Ben Pope, The Cut – photo: courtesy of the artist
Can you introduce us to The Cut? What was the impetus for it, and how is it going as we approach the summer?
“It’s a standup storytelling show about, well, loss. Specifically – last year, I got circumcised. The show is a story about the events leading up to that decision. There are lots of jokes and mad stories about surgery and manhood and relationships of different kinds. There’s something in there for everyone, not just people with the specific equipment I’m talking about. If you’ve ever had a body, this show is for you.
“As we hit the summer, I’m feeling good about it. I’ve been working on it since last summer. It has some routines and stories in it that I’ve been waiting to tell people about for a long time. It’ll be fun.”
Finally, do you have any general expectation of Bristol audiences?
“Yes! That they show up! Is there a city in the UK with a better turnout rate for live performance than Bristol? I’d love to see the data. You guys know how to have a good time. Even the most lairy crowds I’ve had in Bristol have been largely pretty fun, malleable, up for a good show first and foremost. I’m a big fan.”
The Gaffe audience – photo: The Gaffe Comedy Club
To find out what’s on and purchase tickets to all events at The Gaffe and its sister venue The Robin Hood, follow @thegaffecomedy or visit www.headfirstbristol.co.uk.
Main photo: Jayde Adams
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