Contribued by Leah Stone
I have always loved writing and comedy and felt that it was one of the only places where anyone of any background or circumstance is encouraged to speak freely and expressively about their own experience.
I did the Frog and Bucket stand up comedy course in 2020 and with that first ever 5 minute performance I was shortlisted for the northwest regional heats of the BBC New Comedy Award 2021.
After that early peak, I did bits with Laughienda and Funny Women but struggled to find open mics that I felt brave enough travelling to and trying out on my own. It wasn’t until I did a one off all female charity gig in 2023 that I met my friend Marie and she encouraged a few of us to go to some Manchester open mics for fun.
The nice atmosphere and friendly faces helped me get up on stage and get writing jokes again after a two year hiatus. I love the culture of open mics, especially in how they are an even playing ground whether you are professional or just starting out. And the more experienced comedians have been so encouraging as I’ve tried new stuff, it’s helped my confidence a lot.
I’ve had some small creative writing accolades along the way including funding from rope ladder fiction to develop a comedy/drama and been published twice in different journals Ey Up, Again with Written Off publishing Available to purchase on Waterstones.com and sex positive zine (featured on the guilty feminist podcast), MOAN (issue 5). But that’s about the entirety of my kudos for running an open mic!
However, the fact there’s a launch night to organise at all is thanks to Marie really who charmingly suggested it to the bar manager as I hid cringing at my table,
The next day I thought, why not take advantage of the opportunity and start organising? I slapped together some posters on canva, nagged the bar to confirm a date, blackmailed a few comedy pals (joke) and we had SMILEY: the all inclusive open mic night!
I’d love to try and encourage more diversity with it if we can. I live with chronic illness which can be quite socially isolating, so I’d really love this to be a place for all; be that disabled, neurodivergent, queer, trans, non-binary comics and wannabe comics of all backgrounds, race, age, beliefs.
Any marginalised people who are new to comedy should feel that Smiley is a safe space where they can come and share their voices. I enjoy a straight/white guy point of view like the best of ‘em (and I’d love to see lots of them there too!) but more experiences means a wider variety of jokes which means more to laugh at and learn from in my experience.
I want to set up something that’s fun and positive and encouraging!
What better than a cosy-casual, monthly, female-run open mic night with inclusivity at its heart at a friendly little bar/cafe in the middle of Chorlton?
We’ve got a great line up of experienced acts too for people to enjoy at our launch night from 7pm on Thursday 16th may.
Paul Campbell is our Launch night MC and a general master of nonsense. Dom Hutchins is coming thick and fast with the incredibly inappropriate d*ck jokes and Mekkin Rolf will be there with her tiny geetar singing like an Angel and swearing like a gaddamn sailor to close us out. All that and it’s also free!
We’ve got about ten 3-5 minute slots so get down early if you want to perform and/or message the Smiley insta @smileyopenmic or just come and get a feel for the vibes. Hopefully there will be some!
