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.
© Ardfern/CC BY-SA 3.0 'Use it or lose it' as best you can, writes Steve Bennett
24/08/2020 … This weekend’s news that The Stand comedy clubs are teetering on the brink of collapse has brought home just how urgent and vital the various campaigns to…
© Pierre Rosa / Pixabay Sebastian Bloomfield on stand-up comedy and the quest for cultural credibility
04/08/2020 … Arts Council England has recently taken the unprecedented step of including comedy as a form of theatre under the terms of the Culture Recovery Fund, part of the…
Bethany Dawson and Tobias Soar call for a greater range of disabled characters in TV comedy
09/07/2020 … In British television comedy, disabled people are often the butt of cheap jokes: from the severely sight impaired Mr Magoo to the use of mental health problems for…
...it did for me, writes Connor Wallace
07/07/2020 … In 2016, I thought I was finished with comedy.
Let's go beyond social media chatter and nail all the creeps, whoever they are, argues Chelsea Hart
30/06/2020 … Over the past few days, it seems as if a new reckoning has swept through the comedy circuit.
Janet Bettesworth on why she can't be doing with stand-up via video link
27/05/2020 … A brave and talented promoter, whom I’ll call Graeme, has recently announced his plans to create a Zoom comedy night that really works, sourcing fresh technology…
© Unitas Photography Learning a new medium can only be positive, argues Steve Hofstetter
21/05/2020 … With the global pandemic, many comedians have turned to virtual shows for the first time.
By James Brassett from the University of Warwick
18/05/2020 … The return of writer, presenter and social critic Charlie Brooker has filled a hole in the universe of misery that has overwhelmed our TV screens of late, resurrecting…
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