It’s not just fun – it’s a way of life
TOLD by one of his teachers that “keeping the class entertained isn’t going to work for your future”, Brendan Riley went on to have the last laugh – and is now busy organising the ninth annual Southport Comedy Festival.
One of the most popular and successful events in Southport’s calendar, the comedy festival is now 18 days long, running from October 3 to October 20 and has seen some of comedy’s biggest names and breakthrough acts.
This year’s line-up includes Alexei Sayle, Jimeoin, Paul Sinha, Robin Ince, Tom Binns, Hal Cruttenden, internet sensations Farmer Michael and Kathleen and the “King of the Festival” Jason Byrne, all appearing with brand new shows.
Other big TV names appearing include Daliso Chaponda, Sindhu Vee, Geoff Norcott, Darren Harriott and Irish TV star Neil Delamere.
Dad-of-two Bren runs the festival with his wife, Val Brady, 44, with Bren having a background in comedy and Val in theatre bookings.
The 52-year-old said: “I’m better at the speaking side of things and going and meeting people along with technical things. Val is better with the organising and office side of things.
“She has a background in theatre, so when it first started, she was still working full-time and then was able to go selfemployed with the festival about six years ago.
“We compliment each other really well. We’re the perfect pair really!”
Bren knew he wanted to be a comedian from the age of 10 and was influenced by stars such as Frank Skinner and Alexei Sayle.
His mum and dad hail from Liverpool, but Bren was born in Southport and went to Holy Family School.
He said: “I didn’t really care much for school. I was always a bit bored so I used to just entertain the class. I think education has come a long way since then though and is much more engaging.
“I did have an English teacher who was really supportive but I recently found a school report where another teacher thought entertaining wasn’t going to work for my future.
“It’s always been comedy for me though. I didn’t want to do anything else. I just always had a knack for remembering good jokes and love to tell stories.”
Bren has used those abilities over the years to build a successful comedy career, going out to entertain troops in Afghanistan and performing in China and Europe.
His first gig was at the Citadel in St Helens in 1990, with Jo Brand and the late Felix Dexter.
He said: “I was nervous but it was in the way of putting pressure on myself as this was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I’ve never been too concerned with if people didn’t laugh.
“Weirdly, I always worry more about forgetting my material than the idea of noone laughing.
“I do love making people laugh, don’t get me wrong, but everyone has their own fears about public speaking and forgetting is mine. It has happened where I’ve forgotten but I’m quite good at improvising so I let that take over.”
This kind of experience is what he puts into his workshops in the six-week run up to the festival for six weeks ending with 10 people making their debut in front of friends and family at The Waterfront Southport on Saturday. October 12.
“My first introduction to comedy was a 10-week comedy course in 1990, which was good, but it didn’t have a final show at the end of it. My first gig was a good month after it. So with our workshop, I wanted to make sure it did.
“We prepare our comedians for the show and help them maybe get over some of their fears about performing.
“One of the best ways to get over any public speaking is to plan what you are going to say so we rehearse and rehearse until the point where they may be bored of their own routine.
“But that’s good because if they do panic with nerves, they have got it so built-in they will find their way.
“My motto to them is always, it’s not much as much about making an audience laugh as it is keeping them entertained.
“There are plenty of comedians, such as Alexei, where when you listen to them, they are not only entertaining but really informative too. When you think of it like that, it takes the pressure off a bit.
“It’s about being yourself too.”
Southport Comedy Festival is very much community spirited, and although there are a few big sponsors involved now, such as Merseyrail, it started out with five Southport sponsors and grows and retains local sponsors every year with the number now being 25. Bren said: “It’s a festival that’s really personal to me. My own dentist is a sponsor.
“I’m a comedian first and I have learned all about this business stuff as I’ve gone on. My first business meeting I went in trainers and now I probably have more business shirts than gig shirts.
“In the first year, we were a week-long festival and it’s through the help of our local sponsors that it has managed to grow and attract more sponsors such as the bigger ones like Merseyrail.
“The Southport Visiter was also very supportive when we first started and we have kept up that relationship ever since. “Southport is really good for this type of event though with loads of lovely hotels and B&Bs, restaurants and the waterfront and fair.
“We want to always keep the ticket price low too, to keep people coming out and coming to shows. I think the size it is now it what it needs to be, so every year we’re just going to come up with fresh ideas and fresh faces.”
To find out more about the 2019 Southport Comedy Festival, visit www. southportcomedyfestival.com See P28&29 for a full guide to what’s on.