Funny Women hit the heady heights of academia when we were invited to take part in Cambridge Wordfest’s 11th spring festival. On Saturday 13th April, we hosted a workshop and a showcase of some great female comedy, the likes of which have never been seen at such a literary gathering before!
The day kicked off with a ‘Stand Up to Stand Out’ workshop in St. John’s College hosted by Lynne Parker, where 16 Cambridge women discovered how the techniques of stand-up can help them build confidence for both business and everyday life. The workshop got fantastic feedback with two participants raring to do more – our next Workshop Weekend takes place in London on 18th and19th May so we look forward to seeing some familiar faces!
The sell-out showcase at the ADC Theatre featured some of Funny Women’s favourite wordsmiths and comedians: Julia Streets, Viv Groskop, 2012 Funny Women Awards winner Gabby Best, and Cambridge Wordfest patron, Rowan Pelling.
Julia Streets hosted the evening with aplomb and delighted with her vignettes about business life and funny songs including one entitled ‘Bullsh*t Bingo’, which reviewed the irrelevancies of corporate jargon. This was timed appropriately with the launch of the Kindle edition of Julia’s book The Lingua Franca of the Corporate Banker.
Viv Groskop brought her own brand of feminist rap or ‘frap’ to the stage after an impromptu session of ‘mum dancing’ followed up with tales of her children’s unique take on life, including their less-than-flattering observations about her body! Rowan Pelling’s tales of her days editing the Erotic Review and saucy limericks bemused the genteel Cambridge audience, who will no doubt view the festival’s patron in a whole new light!
Gabby Best’s characters ‘Monique’, the inept make-up artist with mathematical formulas as to how to achieve the perfect ‘Alge-brow,’ and her award-winning turn as ‘Marijana’ the Croatian fitness instructor were hugely popular with the Cambridge audience who particularly enjoyed her special free ‘yoga move’ as demonstrated on one unsuspecting male ‘volunteer’.
We were proud to bring Funny Women’s brand of humour, confidence building and sense of fun to Cambridge Wordfest, amidst its brilliant programme of talks and events in the historic surroundings of St John’s College. We can’t wait to do all over again!
To see more of Gabby Best’s new characters book your ticket NOW for her first ever ‘Work In Progress’ show on Wednesday 8th May at the Leicester Square Theatre, London. Find out more information and book HERE.
Pictured: Viv Groskop, Julia Streets
