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.
...and do they put people off doing the job, asks Lily Philips
31/07/2022 … For the last six months, I have been hitting the UK circuit hard, which is lovely after sitting in my pants doing Zoom comedy shows for two years.
Comedian Jamie D'Souza shares a couple of first-hand experiences
29/07/2022 … There’s been a lot of talk about racism recently, and generally there’s been a shift in the discussion towards more intangible things.
The festival is gruelling - but the Sugarcoated Sisters have a plan...
26/07/2022 … I (Chloe) have bipolar type 2, and my sister (Tabby) has type 1 diabetes.
John Hastings has some words for comedians heading to Edinburgh next week
25/07/2022 … It has been four years since I have ‘done’ the British comedy circuit, so everything that follows may be out of date - or only ever applied to me.
Hal Cruttenden on how a personal crisis was a professional boon
20/07/2022 … This time last year, I was panicking about my next Edinburgh show and tour.
...to the delight of stand-up Aliya Kanani
19/07/2022 … Long before I began performing, I’d go out to watch live comedy.
Canadian stand-up Michelle Shaughnessy on why she quit drinking
15/07/2022 … I started comedy at a young age, before it was legal for me to drink.
© Steve Ullathorne Cerys Bradley on the exhausting travails of being non-binary in comedy
13/07/2022 … The People’s Comedy, The People’s Republic of Stokes Croft, Bristol I was psyching myself up before the gig.
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