Description
Stand-up comedy is one of the simplest theatre forms in existence. The comedian stands on a (usually) bare stage, talking straight to the audience in the hope of getting laughs. Yet it has never been more popular, with national scenes developing across every continent except Antarctica. In this insightful and accessibly written volume, diverse chapters explore the subject from many angles, ranging from national scenes, live venues, and recordings to politics, race, sexuality, and the question of offensiveness. Chapters also consider the performance dynamics of stand-up in detail, examining audience, persona, and trauma. Interspersed throughout the chapters are a series of originally commissioned interviews with comedians from nine different countries, including Maria Bamford, Jo Brand, Aditi Mittal, and Rod Quantock, providing rare insights into their craft.
Diverse academics explore stand-up accessibly from multiple angles, accompanied by sections of amusing, insightful statements by comedians.
About the Author
Oliver Double is Reader in Comic and Popular Performance at the University of Kent, where he established the British Stand-Up Comedy Archive. His books include Stand-Up! On Being a Comedian (1997), Getting the Joke (2005, 2014), and Alternative Comedy (2020). A former professional comedian ('Surprisingly Funny' - Guardian), he currently comperes Funny Rabbit Comedy Club.
Reviews
'This book is an essential guide to the wonderful, rich, wild, silly world of stand-up.' Josie Long, multi-award-winning comedian
Book Information
ISBN 9781009009737
Author Oliver Double
Format Paperback
Page Count 316
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Series Cambridge Companions to Theatre and Performance
Diverse academics explore stand-up accessibly from multiple angles, accompanied by sections of amusing, insightful statements by comedians.
About the Author
Oliver Double is Reader in Comic and Popular Performance at the University of Kent, where he established the British Stand-Up Comedy Archive. His books include Stand-Up! On Being a Comedian (1997), Getting the Joke (2005, 2014), and Alternative Comedy (2020). A former professional comedian ('Surprisingly Funny' - Guardian), he currently comperes Funny Rabbit Comedy Club.
Reviews
'This book is an essential guide to the wonderful, rich, wild, silly world of stand-up.' Josie Long, multi-award-winning comedian
Book Information
ISBN 9781009009737
Author Oliver Double
Format Paperback
Page Count 316
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Series Cambridge Companions to Theatre and Performance
