Community
“I enjoyed everything!”
“Told some jokes on stage. ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES EVER!!!”
At one of our workshops we practiced walking onto the stage as a comedian. We chatted about the importance of feeling confident in yourself and excited to tell your stories.
Here’s an example of an EXCELLENT walk on by helia!:
We believe comedy can be a powerful tool for developing confidence and resilience. We also believe in its power to disarm and challenge audiences, introducing them to new perspectives, stories and lived experiences that may differ to their own. It is our responsibility as a leading regional comedy organisation to create space for voices which are typically marginalised from comedy to flourish. We recognise that this is something we will never be finished with. There will always be opportunities to work with, learn from and have our perspectives challenged by new groups and this is something which excites us about the future of North East Comedy!
Groups and Organisations We’ve Worked With:
Selected projects, partnerships and collaborations:
The Shieldfield Youth Programme (2022 - Ongoing)
We started working with The Shieldfield Youth Programme because of Elaine’s previous role in the group working as The Community Producer for The NewBridge Project. The young people have over the years taken part in numerous Stand Up Comedy Workshops, even incorporating their routines into the annual Shieldfield Youth Programme Talent Show! We have done workshops with the entire group alongside focused sessions for the Over 10 Girls which focused on stage presence and confidence in telling your story. Linking up with our Tyne to Stand Up Gala, we’ve invited the young people and other members of the Shieldfield Community for a backstage tour of The Tyne Theatre and to watch the show.
BBC Comedy grant (2023)
In 2023 we were delighted to receive a BBC Comedy Grant to deliver a series of workshops and events to encourage more representation of voices from the local LGBTQ+ community. With grant we hosted comedy writing and performances with an adult group and in collaboration with Dawdon Youth Programme.
.
The young people in Dawdon had our facilitators buckled with their hilarious stories and jokes! There was definitely some comedy starts of the future in that group!
Our adult group came through an open call and we’re proud to say produced some of the finest comedy performers in the region. Many of the group have gone on to produce their own comedy nights, feature on our pro gigs and others in the region and even get nominated for awards. Sean Barnham who we met as a participant in these workshops went on to be nominated this year for the National LGBTQ+ Comedy Competition Comedy Bloomers.
