Hannah Platt took second place in the 2023 Funny Women Stage Award. Hannah’s a Manchester-based comic, originally from Liverpool, and as well as being a brilliant stand up is also an accomplished writer, actor and improviser, with a frank, honest and acerbic style – Josie Long said she was “dark, damaged and hilarious.” She’s provided tour support for Fern Brady, Kiri Pritchard-Mclean, Harriet Kemsley and Lou Sanders, among others, and was also a BBC New Comedian of the Year finalist. We chatted about taking part in the Funny Women Awards, channeling feelings into comedy and what’s coming up for her in 2024.
How did you get into stand-up?
I don’t want to say ‘depression’ but… I’d wanted to do stand up for the longest time and was terrified about people not laughing. When I got very depressed I felt like I didn’t really care if people laughed or not. They did laugh – maybe because my mates came and laughed harder – and I found it a good way to channel my feelings. I wish my mates still came to every gig to do that. Where were you when I was in Bolton last week?
What was it like being a runner-up in the 2023 Funny Women Awards?
I was surprised I’d placed because my upper lip kept sticking to my teeth like one of those dogs on TikTok while I was performing, so I thought no one would vote for the weird, dog-on-TikTok girl. It turns out no one notices things like that except you. I was made up. It was a great atmosphere and all the finalists were wonderful.
Why is Funny Women important to you?
It’s a non-judgmental platform where you’re assured that the audience don’t have any prejudices against female comedians.
Tell us about your comedy style.
I’m pretty dry, dark and acerbic.
What’s next for you?
I’m looking to do my first hour show at the Edinburgh Fringe next year so I’m currently working on that, picking apart everything that’s wrong with it, having a breakdown and feverishly rewriting it on the way to every work in progress.
Who are your favourite Funny Women?
I love Fern Brady, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Laura Davies, Aparna Nancherla, Krystal Evans and Michelle Wolf.
What do you love about stand up?
It rewards different ways of looking at the world and being an individual. From a personal point of view, it’s helped me feel less alone when I hear people laugh in recognition at anything dark I say, and verbalising those feelings in a succinct way makes them easier to process.
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Images by Steve Ullathorne
