This is an extract from 'Richard Herring in conversation with Oliver Double', at the University of Kent for the British Stand-Up Comedy Archive (8 April 2015). In this extract Richard discusses his methods of writing and preparing for shows.

Richard Herring - Writing And Rehearsing

This is an extract from 'Richard Herring in conversation with Oliver Double', at the University of Kent for the British Stand-Up Comedy Archive (8 April 2015). In this extract Richard discusses the dividing line between life and art in relation to his 'Hitler Moustache' show (2009) and whether comedy is worth going to such extremes. He discusses the audience reaction, to this show in particular, and also the importance of using comedy to evoke debate and raise questions.

Richard Herring - Politics And Comedy

This is an edited extract from the Linda Smith Lecture 2015, given by Mark Thomas on 12 May 2015. In this extract Mark talks about his pre-show dressing room list, 'notes to self', with advice including to 'concentrate, communicate and be honest', 'never blame the audience', 'be nice to the hecklers', 'improvise', 'look for new ideas', and 'what happens in the venue is (only) the start'.

Linda Smith Lecture 2015: Mark Thomas on his pre-show list

This is an edited extract from the Linda Smith Lecture 2015, given by Mark Thomas on 12 May 2015. In this extract Mark talks about the type of acts performing during his early career in the 1980s, and the transition from theatre acts and new variety, to 'alternative cabaret' and then stand-up comedy today. Mark also reflects on the economics of being an alternative cabaret/comedy performer in the 1980s.

Linda Smith Lecture 2015: Mark Thomas on alternative comedy

Linda Smith talks about the 'naughty...but nice' advert and food being given 'good' and 'evil' personalities. This is a short extract from Linda Smith performing live on stage at the Irish Centre 1990 (c) Linda Smith Estate. Archived at the British Stand-Up Comedy Archive, University of Kent (BSUCA/LS/9/2/17).

Linda Smith on 'naughty...but nice'

An extract from Linda Smith performing live onstage at the Lescar Hotel, Sheffield, 26 July 1993, in which she talks about going to see 'Silence of the Lambs' at a cinema in Sheffield (c) Linda Smith Estate. Archived at the British Stand-Up Comedy Archive, University of Kent (BSUCA/LS/9/2/20).

Linda Smith on going to the cinema in Sheffield

This is an extract from 'Attila the Stockbroker in conversation with Oliver Double', at the University of Kent (Gulbenkian Cafe) for the British Stand-Up Comedy Archive (19 October 2015). In this extract Attila talks about how he generates his work.

Attila the Stockbroker - How his poetry is generated

This is an extract from 'Attila the Stockbroker in conversation with Oliver Double', at the University of Kent (Gulbenkian Cafe) for the British Stand-Up Comedy Archive (19 October 2015). In this extract Attila reads an extract from his autobiography ('Arguments Yard', Red Cherry Books, 2015) about how why he chose to go to the University of Kent to study Politics and French, joining his first band ('English Disease'), his introduction to punk rock, followed by a performance of his song 'Comandante Joe', a song written for Joe Strummer.

Attila the Stockboker - joining the University of Kent, punk rock, and 'Comandante Joe'

Elspeth Millar, Archivist for the British Stand-Up Comedy Archive (BSUCA), discusses the establishment of the Archive, aspects of stand-up comedy that the Archive documents, one year into active collecting, and some of the challenges of archiving stand-up comedy. This was recorded at the 'Comedy on stage & page: satirical cartoons and stand-up’ conference at the University of Kent, 14th-15th January 2016.

An introduction to the British Stand-Up Comedy Archive

‘A History Of Comedy In Several Objects’, alternatively known as ‘HistComPod’ is a brand new podcast from the British Stand-Up Comedy Archive at the University of Kent, devised and presented by Dr Oliver Double (Director of the Comedy & Popular Performance Research Centre and previously a professional comedian) and Elspeth Millar (Archivist in the University’s Special Collections & Archives).
The podcast aims to illustrate the history of stand-up comedy through objects found within the archive. Each episode features a particular item from the archive, which Olly and Elspeth discuss to show what it reveals about the art and craft of stand-up and the recent history of the form.
In this jam-packed inaugural episode, Olly and Elspeth discuss the origins of the archive, the project of the podcast and whether it’s possible to archive a performance?
The main feature of this episode is an orange which once belonged to Josie Long and was used in her performance. Olly and Elspeth engage with the decomposing citrus fruit and the significance it has, whilst touching upon Elspeth’s “archivist’s guilt”.

A History of Comedy in Several Objects

'A History of Comedy in Several Objects' episode 1 'Foodstuff'

British Stand-Up Comedy Archive, University of Kent

Stand-Up Comedy Archive

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