London club to run three nights a week

Britain is getting its first permanent LGBTQ+ comedy club.

The Queer Comedy Club will open in North London in May, running three nights a week.

It has been created by comedians David Ian, Jeremy Topp, and Kate Dale, who previously ran their own regular night.

But although LGBTQ-friendly nights have long been a feature of the UK circuit, the trio said they felt establishing a permanent venue was important as  ‘a signal to the queer community and their allies that stand-up was for them too’.

Ian – pictured onstage at the club – said: ‘We were uncomfortable inviting our queer friends to come and watch us perform because we were  taking them into what was essentially a very straight and macho environment, with no guarantee about the type of material they’d hear.

‘It’s just not the sort of place we’d usually socialise in. It made us realise there was a gap in the market – and our community –   for a stand-up comedy club that would feel like their space.

‘So much of gay culture revolves around bars, clubs and drag – and we love all that – but it’s important to be able to offer something in addition. Seeing our own lives and experiences held up for delighted, joyous, celebratory ridicule can be incredibly cathartic, bonding and hilarious. We wanted to bring that to the LGBTQ+ community at the same time as giving new and established queer comedians a chance to perform to their own people."

Dale added that queer night played an important role in her coming out. She said: ‘Talking about your sex life on stage is one way of telling  your friends and family, but being able to make jokes about all aspects of our lives to an audience you know will understand has helped me process it all. And it’s fun!’

Topp joined the venture after a chance meeting with the other two co-founders.

He said: ‘I love all comedians, however queer performers have a brutal honesty, and life stories I can resonate with.  Helping newer acts feel welcomed into the scene has been a passion of mine for years.

‘After meeting Kate and David at a gig, we clicked immediately and discussed the gap we had all felt in the comedy circuit.  I immediately knew their goal of establishing a permanent queer comedy space was something I had to be involved with.’

The club will run on Mondays and Tuesdays with a free gig for new acts and new material, with a ‘big Thursday show’ with more established names, priced £10. It officially launches on Thursday May 11 with Dee Allum, Ben Pollard, Kathy Maniura and Josh Jones.

It takes place at Siorai Bar, a LGBTQ+ friendly venue in Junction Road,  Archway.

Published: 12 Apr 2023