As laughter swells in the Inverness entertainment scene, could you cut it among the growing band of stand-up comics?
I’m not joking, but at the rate stand-up comedy is growing in and around Inverness it is starting to rival music as night out entertainment.
We all like a good laugh and of course it is said by many, and some medical experts agree, that it is the best medicine.
A long time stalwart of the stand-up scene in the Highland capital is Kieran Lochore who has done much to actively promote the genre, and as a result stand-up continues to expand here.
Kieran said: “This year has seen quite a growth in the Highland scene, and there are now four established comedy shows in Inverness and one in Dingwall.
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Kieran with his comedy organising partner Mike Hendry run a fortnightly workshop out of The Tooth and Claw in Baron Taylor Street, Inverness, where stand-up recruits are schooled in nuances such as sharpening your material, knowing how not step over the boundaries and upsetting your audience, and even how to respond to hecklers and perhaps use them to your advantage.
“Although the scene is still in its infancy, I think the Highlands is full of comedy talent, said Kieran. “Several performers who started out with us were down to Edinburgh for the Fringe, and have been part of the Aberdeen Fringe and the Glasgow International Comedy Festival. We also performed three nights at Belladrum festival this year.
“All Highland based performers who have started here with us have gone on to do these great events.”
Under the Highland Comedy umbrella, Kieran and Mike have several established shows in Inverness.
They include The Comedy Bothy at the Tooth and Claw (currently celebrating its 10th year running in Inverness), Comedy Upstairs, which is the upstairs of the Gellions; a new one in Rose Street Foundry called Rose Street Comedy, and La Tortilla Open Mics at La Tortilla tapas bar in Castle Street.
Kieran added: “We also have an affiliation with the Dingwall International Comedy Club, which is monthly in the National Hotel.
“We've been working very hard to establish a scene here in the Highlands and things are really gaining momentum, but even though we are doing everything we can to pull in crowds, we are still struggling for notoriety.”
The stand-up calendar remains healthy and there was a big turnout on Wednesday night (Sep 18) in the Tooth and Claw venue’s Open Mic.
When Revolution closed a popular comedy venue was lost, but the good news in that Comedy Rev is relocating to The Foundry in Academy Street with a gig on Monday coming, Sep 23.
Then Kieran says there is an exciting buzz around the town at the news that Highland “exile” and former Millburn Academy pupil Eddy Mackenzie, who has recently become best known for starring as Piglet in Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the original cult classic.
“He is making quite a name name for himself on the comedy circuit,” said Kieran, “and he is coming to Comedy Bothy at the Tooth and Claw.”
Anyone wanting a sample of the work Kieran and chums have been doing could visit social media pages for the Comedy Bothy, Rose Street Comedy, La Tortilla Open Mics, Upstairs Comedy and the Dingwall International Comedy Club.
There is also their website highlandcomedy.co.uk that shows all the gigs they've been doing and have coming up.
