Stand And Deliver
The Stand Comedy Club
The Stand Comedy Club was established in August 1995 at W.J. Christie’s pub next to Edinburgh’s Grassmarket. It started as a hobby by a few comedy fans but has grown into one of the most iconic comedy clubs in the world, not simply for the quality of acts it attracts but the sheer variety of their nights.
From tour shows to their Red Raw open-mic night – which is widely regarded as one of the best in the country – The Stand showcases comedy from the very top to the bottom of the comedy circuit across two main venues, with a third set to arrive in Newcastle in October 2011.
Arguably, they offer the ultimate comedy experience: good stand-up, a great room, a warm atmosphere, and, perhaps most importantly to punters, a tremendous reputation built on over fifteen years delivering the goods.
But it is also a club comedians endorse, too. “The Stand is phenomenal”, says North East act Lee Kyle, who recently played at their Edinburgh venue. “The rooms in both Edinburgh and especially in Glasgow are perfect for comedy, with a great ambiance. On top of that, though, it’s run in a way that manages to be 100% professional while still having a relaxed attitude.”
John Scott, who began stand-up in 2000 thanks to a comedy workshop at The Stand, agrees: “The Stand is a fantastic club to play, first and foremost because they spend time ‘educating’ an audience in how to behave in a comedy club.
“The amazing thing about the discipline The Stand brings to an audience, though, is that they don’t have to do much to achieve it. Neither of their two Scottish clubs employs security. The rules of the club are written in chalk on the wall and punters are politely told the club rules on entry. There you have it. All you need to put on a night of comedy nirvana is a stick of chalk and a polite demeanour.”
And their rooms really are set up perfectly, from the positioning of furniture to the smaller details like candle lights that re-enforce the intimacy of the venue. It is also important to note that, like many of the clubs currently operating in the North East, The Stand don’t allow stag and hen dos into their nights. “You’d be amazed at how more focused a room of people can be when 40 of them aren’t dressed as Roman centurions chanting, ‘Down in one.’”, Scott adds.
They even get the minor details right too, like giving out a physical ticket. It sounds trivial, but it not only helps with security but it’s something you can take home as a memento – another testimony of their professionalism.
So, what will The Stand add to the North East scene when their new venue opens later this year? “I’m hoping they bring a whole new audience to comedy in the region”, says Scott. “The one huge difference between The Stand and almost every other club in the UK is that they will aim to be open seven days a week, putting on a wide variety of midweek shows, including themed, sketch and current affairs. That will be the biggest impact they have on the local comedy scene – and one of the great things about The Stand is that they’ll put a lot of effort into promoting local talent, too.”
With the arrival of their purpose-built comedy venue in Newcastle, there’s a real sense that The Stand – working alongside established clubs like Ten Feet Tall, The Grinning Idiot and Hilarity Bites – could be the catalyst for a popular and even more successful North East comedy scene.
Further information on The Stand Comedy Club can be found on their website here.
