Comic’s charity show jokes ban is definitely no laughing matter
2018 saw me busier than ever, writing these articles every week; gigging; creating new material for my act; arranging stand-up shows for myself and other comedians; and generally making an honest living.
I also spent too much time watching Piers Morgan’s “This show’s all about me!” breakfast TV rants that went on so long, the national and local news bulletins were regularly pushed back by 10 minutes which meant the final guest only had 90 seconds to plug their new CD/film/TV series/ tour before their face was suddenly replaced by Lorraine’s, peering from under her fringe.
I’m not making any new year’s resolutions as I already lead a life free of vices.
If you don’t believe me, ask Cledwyn, who owns the chippie, Mehmet Caradoc-Jones who runs the kebab shop next door and Mrs Betty Evans, the landlady of my local pub.
However, I would like to make a new year’s resolution for The School Of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), which booked comedian Konstantin Kisin to do an unpaid stand-up show this month (proceeds to Unicef) and then emailed him a ‘behavioural agreement form’ containing a long list of subjects he couldn’t make jokes about, including ‘ageism, antireligion and anti-atheism’ and insisted his material had to be ‘respectful and kind’!
My printable 2019 resolution for SOAS is ‘grow up!’
Have they never been to a comedy club or comedians on TV?
Do they not realise that every joke has a victim – including comedians when they’re selfdeprecatory about their own failings?
Comedy club audiences can get a little wild after a few drinks and expect and demand strong material that’ll make them laugh – not ‘respectful and kind’ tales to send them home reciting poetry.
Students who graduate from SOAS will have to leave their watched intolerance behind, otherwise they’ll find the real world a very difficult place to survive in.
Ironically, Konstantin left his native Russia to escape repression and came to Britain, the land of democracy where ‘freedom of speech’ was respected by everyone.
Not quite everyone ously, eh SOAS? obvi- Breen.
The camaraderie among the rallying community is like no other.
Long may the memory continue.