Theatre shows to beat recession

The comic says he will call in favours from fellow comics to appear at the cabaret nights, which will start in London and possibly spread around the country.

However, the news might not go down so well with other comedy clubs that he’ll be undercutting.

In an interview with The Sun, Skinner said: ‘I’ll end up on less than I was on when I performed at the Comedy Store in the Eighties but I think this is important.

‘Comedy is the best way to forget what’s going on in these dark, depressing days. People love to sit in and have a good giggle.

‘But it costs about £30 to watch a big name in the famous venues so I’ll do it at an affordable price. Hopefully it will spread to other cities.

‘We’re going to hire a theatre every Sunday and I’ll host it. It will be called Frank Skinner’s Credit Crunch Cabaret. We’re getting loads of comics and entertainers to do a skit or a song, anything that’s entertaining.

‘We just need to find a theatre to do it in, then we can start.’

Several recent comedy shows have broken the £40 barrier. Sarah Silverman charged £45 for a 50-minute set at the Hammersmith Apollo, top-price tickets for Bill Bailey’s current West End show are £47.50, and Steve Coogan’s show at the O2 on Monday is £39.50. And when Robin Williams played London last month, top-price seats were £125 – or even higher through a tout.

Published: 5 Dec 2008