Culture writer Abigail Meardon previews Birmingham Comedy Festival’s upcoming Breaking Talent Award show, suggesting the sneak peaks she received from the nominees promise performances that are dynamic and varied, yet relatable and seriously funny
We are excited to watch up-and-coming comedians from the local area at the Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award 2024, happening Thursday 10th October 2024. I have been able to get a sneaky preview into what we can expect from them: You don’t want to miss out.
When I asked the nominated comedians what we could expect from their set, Gareth Williams (Shropshire) told us the audience can expect jokes that are, ‘a bit crude, a bit honest and hopefully a whole lot of laughs!’
Rich Spalding (Kidderminster) stated, ‘I would say relaxed storytelling with a cerebral touch’. If that doesn’t whet your appetite, Tom Towelling (Birmingham) gave an intriguing three adjective preview to describe his show, ‘Deliciously rich and creamy’. Whether he is serving us carbonara, or some hilarious punchlines, I am sure we are in for a treat.
The night will be a great opportunity to lift up voices from the West Midland community
The comedians will certainly take us on a journey. Dom Bant (Coleshill, Warwickshire) told us to expect ‘Volatility and melancholic’ jokes in his set, as well as ‘jokes about my wife leaving me (she hasn’t, at time of writing)’. Bant assures us it will be ‘an all-round fun fest for the whole family’. Lin Smith (Worcester) revealed to us that her set would be ‘a heady blend of fruity vignettes and sad bangers served dry and delivered at breakneck speed. Like watching depression and anxiety duke it out in real time (because that is literally exactly what is happening)’.
The night will be a great opportunity to lift up voices from the West Midland community. Smith shared that she had spent two years in the West Midlands ‘haunting the smoking areas at new material comedy nights.’
Interestingly, for many, the journey to stand-up was an unexpected one. Surprisingly, not all the comedians are a fan of comedy. ‘I don’t like comedy,’ Bant explained, ‘comedy is for children and the newly divorced. I’ve only ever seen two acts do comedy live, they were the grandfather of Birmingham comedy James Cook and the late Dick & Dom (no relation)’. He isn’t alone in the unexpected turn to stand-up comedy. Williams was initially interested in ‘improv and sketch comedy’. He reflects on this: ‘How times have changed!’
The comedians will certainly take us on a journey
Relatable and down to earth, the comedians shared why they got into comedy. When Spalding first began, ‘it was in 2017, and it went well enough that I got a false sense of security then bombed really hard the next time round’. The comedians seem to not take themselves too seriously and are up for a laugh, all good qualities in a comedian.
We are clearly in for an entertaining night of great giggles and gasps from our up-and-coming local comedians. Birmingham Comedy Festival’s Breaking Talent Award will be a great way to support the Birmingham community, whilst also being something fun to get up to on a Thursday night. If you haven’t already, take this as a sign to book your tickets and be prepared for some serious laughs.
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