LAST week, Reading’s live comedy scene saw four days of improv, stand-up, and roasts as the inaugural Indie Comedy Festival came to venues across town in a collaboration between Mates Rates, Stand and Deliver, and Laughter Craft.
The festival warmed up with the inimitable Paul Foot headlining a show at Reading Biscuit Factory, with support from Pernille Haaland and hosted by Rhodri Buttrick.
Friday, May 19, saw the festival begin in earnest when The Purple Turtle hosted a number of up-and-coming performers battling it out with 5-minute stand-up sets in the Reading New Comedian Competition.
Regular MC Carl Richard warmed the crowd up with his usual air of effortless amiability and casually cutting comedic sensibilities.
A broad range of styles and perspectives were represented by the 10 competitors, with accomplished sets from runners-up Vincent Lynch and Dave Wilder, both of whom mixed dead-pan styles with eclectic, tight material.
The judges, including Double-Barrelled Brewery’s Ali Everett, cast their votes and combined with the audience’s tallied votes, with Adam Hopkins taking the grand prize of £100, a paid spot with Mates Rates, a case of Double-Barrelled’s beers, and a trophy.
After taking the top spot, Mr Hopkins said that while he had taken part in some competitions in the past: “This is the first time I’ve won one.
“Everyone seems super up for it– I had no idea what the crowd would be like, but with a full room the Reading crowd was just fantastic.”
Highlights also included Tim Bigolowe’s material examining life as a Millennial living on a houseboat and a skit by Lewis Badham about taking the day off as a comedian.
On Saturday, the Double-Barrelled Brewery Taproom in Tilehurst played host to well-established names in British comedy.
As well as MC Carl Richard, the event saw Marcus Brigstocke, whose work includes The Now Show, Argumental, and Live at the Apollo and Have I Got News For You, performing a consummate set standing in for Zoe Lyons.
After a confident set by Nick Byard, including sharp skits about being the alpha male through the choice of a leather jacket, headline act Sara Barron took to the stage with the usual high energy and pin-sharp material on cultural differences between the UK and the United States.
Sunday saw a whole host of events at Milk in central Reading, with Buttrick and Steel Conquer The World kicking the days performances off in acerbic and irreverent style.
Full stand-up sets from the likes of Nabil Abdulrashid, Emmanuel Sonubi, Fiona Allen, and Glen Wool took place throughout the day, before Roast Battle UK brought The Sunday Roast to close the weekend.
Four pairs of comedians battled one another with their fiercest, most ferocious material before laying themselves open to critiques from the judging panel, with Adam Greene hosting.
Nick Byard from Mates Rates joined Emmanuel Sonubi and Rich Sloman in selecting the winner for each round and even roasting the contestants themselves.
Mr Greene said that events such as the festival: “Gives people an opportunity to see more acts outside of the mainstream.
“It also gives acts an opportunity to do an hour and stretch their legs in the way that Edinburgh Festival would, especially with rising costs.”
Mr Byard said after the event: “This was just an idea which we had during a few Zoom meetings, so for it to happen and actually sell out is great.
“Especially when you’re getting good audiences at 2pm on a sunny Sunday, we were delighted with
Host and MC Carl Richard said: “The crowds laughed, and the comics enjoyed it– I think we’ll be having a lot of comedians back for their preview shows next year.”
Jonathan Elston from Laughter Craft Comedy also added: “The weekend was full of amazing shows, but all of us bring regular gigs to Reading, without which this event couldn’t have happened.”
For all of Mates Rates’ upcoming live dates, including open mic events, visit: matesratescomedy.co.uk/events-list/
Details of Laughter Craft’s upcoming shows are available via: laughtercraftcomedy.com/upcoming-shows/
