Comedy takes to the streets...

Inventive comedians stage a gig outside a block of flats

Two comedians have put on an impromptu stand-up show outside a block of flats – and went down a storm.

As venues remain closed indefinitely, Damian Clark and Danny O’Brien satisfied their compulsion to get on stage by performing sets in the communal area in front of buildings in the Irishtown district of Dublin.

They delivered their gags from a cordoned-off section of the courtyard to ensure social distancing – as the audience kept their distance by watching from the balconies of their own flats.

Clark joked on social media: ‘Finally a 4 storey theatre with balconies (and cheap drink).’

Finally a 4 storey theatre with balconies!! (and cheap drink) 😄 #comedy #Ireland #COVIDー19 pic.twitter.com/iaG2MKurGd
— DamianClark (@DamianClark) May 12, 2020

‘[It] felt like a gig at the Colosseum, except if they don’t like a joke they can throw a toaster at ya.'

The stand-ups, who live locally, were encouraged to perform as part of a regular bingo session the community had already set up, run by O’Brien’s friend Derek Buckley.

Clark told Chortle: ‘The set-up was already there and since Danny and I both live around the corner, we thought we’d give it a shot.

'The last thing you want when doing new material are kitchens full of food scraps at the ready. But luckily the sense of community was so strong at these flats in Irishtown that it was too fun. Like any gig, once that fist joke lands you can ease into it & have fun.

‘Another block of flats up the road had a similar set-up, so we actually doubled on the same evening.’

'My favourite audience participation game was "Which Neighbour..." where people yell out who is the noisiest, has the worst taste in music, always forgets bin day etc. I have the bug for it now so I may just bring a portable PA system around to buildings and start launching jokes at them. '

Both comics were wowed by the reaction of the crowd, and O'Brien tweeted: ‘What a gig! What a community!’

Free pizza and ice lollies, plus other entertainers including Freddie Mercury tribute act Mark Fagan added to the celebrations.

And it could be the start of a new way of doing comedy.

Australian-born Clark added: 'In the last 24 hours we’ve had more requests to do street parties and flats, so I’m stoked

'As long as the residents know and want comedy of course - and it’s not lashing rain - that would be less stand-up and more like a mangey wet dog howling at the neighbours.'