Call yourself a comic? Only if you've beaten the gong
Jonny Barrett has some words for open mic acts
04/02/2013 … The open mic circuit is mostly a cuddly affair.
2013 Opinions
Chortle's Opinions section is an arena for fans to share their views on any aspect of comedy.
We invite general comment pieces about particular aspects of the comedy scene (although reviews of individual shows or performers tend not to be suited to this section except in very rare circumstances). Contributions should be at least 500 words in length, in a similar tone to something you might read in a broadsheet newspaper, and emailed to steve@chortle.co.uk
We reserve the right to edit pieces – although we will be careful not to change the meaning of anything – or not to use them at all. By submitting an article you grant Chortle indefinite licence to use it freely; though you retain the copyright on it to use it elsewhere.
Mon 04 February 2013
Fri 01 February 2013
Dare to be hated
Chortle editor Steve Bennett on why Mrs Brown's Boys is like Stewart Lee's new project
01/02/2013 … Let’s hear it for Mrs Brown’s Boys.
Thu 31 January 2013
'Withering, hopeless, visceral'
Richard Tyrone Jones reviews his own self-hatred after attending an appalling anti-comedy night
31/01/2013 … Last night I had the misfortune to – no.
Wed 30 January 2013
Comedy saved my sanity
...And now Alfie Noakes wants to harness its power
30/01/2013 … Three years ago, along with my good friend Frank Cassidy, I launched a free open mic night in London.
Fri 25 January 2013
Where's the Kurt Cobain of comedy?
Adrian Thompson says the scene needs a shake-up
25/01/2013 … Much has been written over the past few weeks about the shifting landscape of British comedy.
Thu 24 January 2013
Let's praise the unsung superheroes of comedy
...and their goats, says Bob Slayer
24/01/2013 … Australian comedian Jimbo Bazoobi and his best mate Gary The Goat are all over the world media today.
Tue 22 January 2013
A nervous producer’s guide to working with new talent
22/01/2013 … Working with new comedy talent is a high risk venture as a television producer.
Mon 14 January 2013
Why Bottom should be top
Alex Newsome on an underappreciated sitcom
14/01/2013 … All too often when considering the truly great sitcoms, comedy fans overlook one that has never been granted the respect it deserved: Bottom, the Rik Mayall and…