Latest 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.
Thu 20 December 2007
Tue 18 December 2007
Beware the backlash
John Phillips on the stand-ups who jumped the shark
18/12/2007 … If there’s one thing that tells me someone is going to annoy me, it’s if I mention a singer or a band, and they say: ‘Oh, I like the early stuff, before they…
Sun 16 December 2007
Laughs through a lens
Emma Lennox on capturing stand-up for the screen
16/12/2007 … There is a forbidden quality to a good night of stand up; it's best suited to small dark rooms where comics dare to whisper their unspeakable thoughts.
Fri 14 December 2007
Why comedy is the best medicine
14/12/2007 … I have a theory that stand-up comedy is a genuine therapy, tha works just as well as acupuncture or baths of mud.
Why don't we think women are funny?
14/12/2007 … Despite being an aspiring (meaning ‘unsuccessful’) comedian, I am also a neuroscientist.
Thu 13 December 2007
Compering? It's war...
13/12/2007 … ‘You are a really good on stage, I loved you as an MC, maybe one day you could even do comedy.
Wed 12 December 2007
In praise of Python
12/12/2007 … Describing Monty Python in a single article is rather like trying to summarise the complete works of Shakespeare in a media-friendly soundbite or spending three…
Mon 10 December 2007
Is anything off-limits?
Dan Atkinson on comics' responsibilities
10/12/2007 … A couple of months ago, a comic was booed off stage for making jokes in Liverpool about Madeline Mcann and Rhys Jones.