Fear is comedy's greatest motor
If you're not afraid, you're not taking risks, says Lucie Pohl
14/08/2015 … After shows people always ask me: ‘Oh my god! How do you do it? I.
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.
Fri 14 August 2015
Thu 13 August 2015
Funding the funny...
Mr Drayton says it's not the Arts Council we should be lobbying
13/08/2015 … There's money in them thar comedy hills.
Wed 12 August 2015
Being called out for your sexism is not censorship
Ben Alborough says the term 'free speech' has been misappropriated
12/08/2015 … When I saw that the assistant editor of Spiked magazine had written an article for Chortle I almost exploded with raw sexual hunger.
Comedy should be a regulation-free zone
Liam Lonergan contributes to the censorship debate
12/08/2015 … Rene Girard, in his study of scapegoats, wrote that 'persecutions […] generally take place in a time of crisis, which weaken normal institutions and favour mob…
Tue 11 August 2015
The 'easily offended' are silencing today's Lenny Bruces
Tom Slater says free speech is for everyone. Even bigots
11/08/2015 … Forty-nine years ago lastweek, Lenny Bruce was found dead on the bathroom floor of his Hollywood home.
Mon 10 August 2015
Comedians are artists too
Adam Dahrouge calls for an end to Arts Council discrimination
10/08/2015 … Today, along with my co-producer on the London Sketch Comedy Festival, and with the backing of the UK Comedy Guild, we published an open letter to the Arts Council…
Sun 09 August 2015
Where 'attendance' is a four-letter word
Chris Betts on playing the Edinburgh Fringe
09/08/2015 … A lot of people have been asking me what advice I’d give to new comics going to Edinburgh, which seeing as it’s only my third year at the Fringe and my first…
Thu 06 August 2015
How I lost – and regained – my love of stand-up
Why Chris Stokes jacked in comedy to drive a van; And jacked in driving a van to be a comedian
06/08/2015 … As a comedian, I can remember vividly when I made that all important jump.