Last year, I sent a disappointed, (OK, pissed off) tweet about the theatre in my hometown of Harrogate, North Yorkshire. I was annoyed because during a week long Comedy Festival I could only count a measly three female performers; Shappi Khorsandi, Diane Spencer and Frisky from Frisky & Mannish. There was a total of 30 comedians on the bill.
It did irk me. Firstly, because I had recently been part of Adelaide Fringe Festival, Melbourne Comedy Festival and the Edinburgh Fringel where I had seen countless funny women packing out audiences all over the shop. None of them were booked for the festival. Secondly. I wasn't on it. But, therein lies the problem as I hadn't actually asked to be on it. Can't very well blame them for that.
Fast forward a year and I'm proud to be part of the Harrogate Comedy Festival 2012 with my one-woman comedy cabaret, HOT (Nominee Best Cabaret Adelaide Fringe 2012).
Thank you Harrogate Theatre!
A valuable lesson to be learned: Stop blaming, make it happen.
Though, the lovely executive producer, Kevin Jameson, did take note of my tweet and agreed that there was a lack of ladies involved in the 2011 programme. They took the feedback on board and this year have ensured a plethora of exciting female acts such as; me (whoop), Sandi Toksvig, Marie Lawrence from Haiste & Lawrence, Kathryn Hawke, Joanna Hutt & Jenny Thomson from The Dog-Eared Company, Frisky from Frisky & Mannish, Nat Luurtsema from Jigsaw, Josie Long, Francesca Martinez, Andi Osho, and Diane Spencer. Then, Fascinating Aida, Jenny Éclair and Roisin Conaty arriving later in the season.
That's more like it.
Though in Kevin's defence and to further my previous point about ending this victim mentality, he did offer a valid reason for the lack of women in the 2011 Comedy Festival:
'I always try to offer the best range of entertainment across the year and over our three venues and this is particularly true for our Comedy Festival where we aim to showcase the best comedians on tour for a two week festival in October. However, I would like to stress that last years programme was dictated by what acts were available and certainly wasn’t based on not having female performers.'
Interesting. So about that male vs female comedian debate. There IS NO DEBATE.
I have thus devised this to do list for aspiring comic performers:
- Be funny.
- Put yourself out there.
- Work hard.
- Be dedicated.
- Practice.
- Have self-belief.
- Be positive
- Help each other.
- Stop blaming, make it happen.
Not a definitive list, nor is it scientifically proven but I reckon there's something in it.
Damsel Sophie is an international comedy-cabaret-theatre artist and writer. Her shows 'The Damsel in Shining Armour' and 'HOT' are touring Australia and the UK in 2012. For more details, click here HERE.
