Blizzard Comedy is a lot of work. I believe in the need for its existence just as strongly if not more so than I did when I started it. But I can’t lie, sometimes, it gets too much, and I struggle getting everything together in time to curate a show up to the standard I’ve set myself, let alone implement the dozens of ideas and things we want to improve.
It’s all worth it though once we get to showtime and I get to see act after act killing it and having so much earnest fun on stage, and a room full of comedy nerds having an intimate safe space of great comedy from a range of cool performers and unique voices having one of their best gigs, as they always seem to with us. (Intimate safe space is also how I’m going to market my next orgy btw.)
Acts and audience alike always seem to tell me unprompted how much they love doing and watching our shows. Not to humblebrag, but it’s that that really keeps me going with this even when I’m exhausted and disillusioned and need a hecking rest. It reminds me that as much as I think this is just a self-indulgent project you’re all tolerating to be nice, nah, you all genuinely seem to love Blizzard, and I appreciate you all immensely whatever part of the community you are.
This week’s show fell smack bang in the middle of a heatwave, storm, and Manchester City’s parade for playing a good football or something, I don’t know. With that in mind, I fully expected another minimal turn out, but I was pleasantly mistaken by the modest yet reasonable turnout we had. They were all the best ones because if you were just listening to the gig, you would’ve assumed it was a full room. We genuinely have the best audience in the world, and I’m so grateful for every one of you.
I’m also incredibly grateful in awe of the stacked line ups we keep managing to put on somehow, including this week’s guest host Umby Winters.
Umby makes this job look so damn easy with how expertly they flip between delivering creative and insightful stand-up and confident improvised crowd work so perfect that I’d assume was planted if you didn’t know better.
Umby is a true all-rounder, a considerably dynamic entertainer, the kind that you warm to immediately on multiple different levels, including the weird ones that are probably best left unexamined outside of therapy.
They absolutely nailed the vibe of the show, and like a good MC should, elevated and enhanced every single one of our acts without overshadowing them or becoming forgettable in their own right.
The first one of these acts was Ash Preston. Ash is always a delight to watch, joking about looking like Charles Manson, yet being genuinely endearing and putting the audience at ease with a slew of top tier gags, and hysterical petty rants and grievances.
Ash is a prolific performer who never seems to stop topping himself (honk) (actually that could be read in a darker way, retract the honk and rewrite this bit, for the love of god don’t forget to delete this and leave it in the copy). What I mean to say is Ash keeps getting better and better and always manages to mix up his material and angles before anything gets stale. If Ash isn’t a star of the future, I’ll eat my hat. I might eat it anyway, pretty hungry for hats rn ngl, but I digress. Ash is a true living legend of comedy and seeing him before is a treat like no other.
After the interval we had Mary Cross – a new addition to the circuit, this being her 20th gig, and my god as she come a long way very quickly. Mary is incredibly natural on stage and continuing the theme of very friendly and likeable performers on this bill. Mary talks about her experiences being a gay Mum, a voice which really isn’t heard very much on the comedy circuit, and it is a delight to experience. Mary Cross is confident, charming, and charismatic. One of those people who has a real infectious sense of humour, a warm wit that really makes you all feel in on the jokes, not just that they’re being told to you.
Yeah, no notes from me, Mary is a joy to watch, and I’m so excited to see her develop even more on the circuit.
Next was a beautiful moment for Blizzard as we feature a very rare stand-up outing from Joe Hollingworth – trialling material ahead of his upcoming book release on Christmas facts. Joe is a multi-talented individual, showing his chops as a comedy director, performer, and tech guru, to the point of him being the only reason we managed to get the projector working on the night.
Being experienced in many of the backstage parts of the live comedy world really shows its perks as Joe’s set was a masterclass in joke writing. Whether playing with whimsical anti-jokes, genuinely great wordplay, sly pullback and reveals, you name it, Joe is a master craftsman of comedy. I’m so glad he’s put that to use on this superbly silly premise and can’t wait to get my hands on the book when it’s out.
I don’t think he’s likely to perform again anywhere anytime soon but give him a follow-on social @whatifbutthen anyway, as if this brief excerpt is anything to go by the book is going to be an absolute riot (by which I mean advance agreed peaceful protestors getting arrested by the met under false pretences and corrupt powers. But also, just very funny).
Closing the second section we have Annabelle Devey, who is a thoughtful and thought-provoking performer, touching on some dark topics but never making anyone feel uneasy or uncomfortable. Annabelle has a very keen eye for absurdity and delivers anecdotes in an understated way making them catch you off guard when she delivers a killer punchline. Annabelle is an insightful and engaging comic who always manages to balance having something to examine with crafting genuinely brilliant comedy around it and integrating it all together into masterful stand-up comedy. A true force of nature and definitely one to watch if you haven’t had the pleasure already.
And closing the show we have possibly the generation’s greatest entertainer in Jack Gleadow. Jack has somehow managed to master most if not all comedy stylings to create an act that I genuinely can’t see being disliked by anyone. He’s got the craftsmanship and understanding of jokes down to a point. His mind goes to some weird and creative places that no other comedian has. His observations are sharp. His anecdotes are hilarious. His stage presence is dynamic. Jack Gleadow is the closest thing I’ve ever seen to a flawless performer, and even after half an hour set when the show was overrunning I was still internally begging for more.
I don’t think there’s a person alive who wouldn’t find themselves in hysterics watching Jack Gleadow on stage. If you can prove me wrong, I can show you a person who does not know how to experience joy.
A perfect end to a stacked line-up steered by an incredible MC. I feel so blessed to not only be able to watch you work, but to work with you and provide a place like Blizzard for you to thrive.
That was the show, hope you all enjoyed! As always if you missed the live show, it will be available on Twitch.tv/blizzardcomedy from Monday 19th June to Monday 3rd July – and speaking of Monday 3rd July, why not book tickets to our next preview show on that very date in Gulliver’s NQ with two of Blizzard’s best boys Ben Hodge and Tom Short.
See you all next time!
