Dartmouth Comedy Festival 2011
Left Lisa, Right Sarah
A Laugh a Minute - Planning Dartmouth Comedy Festival
Dartmouth Comedy Festival celebrates its fifth birthday in March and it’s growing up fast, with acts and agents now contacting the Flavel to ask to take part, such is its burgeoning reputation.
That’s certainly put a smile on the face of Lisa Chandler, the Flavel’s marketing and programme manager, who, with artistic director Sarah Hackford, has the job of organising Dartmouth’s annual comedy showcase.
The pair devote a lot of time to research – hours spent in front of the television laughing. If it doesn’t make them laugh, it doesn’t get in the festival. And this year they are delighted that two of their favourite comedians are headlining – rising stand-up star Chris Addison, of Mock The Week and Have I Got News For You, and veteran comedian Arabella Weir, who famously asked on The Fast Show “Does my bum look big in this?”
“If they make us laugh we want them in the festival, and we are really happy to have Chris Addison and Arabella Weir coming to Dartmouth this year – they are very different acts but both big names…and hilarious!” Lisa said.
“Sarah and I work well together organising this because we both want to achieve an eclectic mix of comic styles, and while we find similar things funny we also have different taste. I’m probably more naughty and basic – Sarah is more highbrow and intelligent (I probably shouldn’t say it - she’s posh!)”
The pair have both become excellent talent spotters. Acts are booked up to a year in advance so it’s a gamble working out who will pull in the crowds. While Arabella Weir was already well known, Chris Addison was a fledgling TV performer when he signed up for the Dartmouth Comedy Festival. In 2010 he was everywhere. Impersonator Anil Desai was an unknown. Now he’s a big hit as the Stand Up Chameleon: “He’s amazing – his face is so mobile and animated, and he’s so quick. His show promises more than 50 famous faces in 55 minutes.”
Past successes include Russell Kane, Greg Davies and Michael McKintyre – huge names now but not so well known when they signed up to grace the Flavel stage in previous years.
Lisa can’t suppress an anticipatory chuckle as she browses the programme for the forthcoming festival: “The Joy of Wine is going to be a really funny show – with the bonus of free wine! And Andrew Clover is very amusing. He has done a lot of acting and writes for the Sunday Times. By the time the audience leaves he promises we will know the seven rules of relationships. As for Boothby Graffoe, he is brilliant and has been to Dartmouth before. His is one of the best shows we’ve ever had here.”
There are some changes to the festival format this year; slightly scaled down and further into Spring, giving everyone the chance to get a little more financially back on their feet after Christmas.
Lisa said: “It was a conscious decision to reflect the economic climate. When we thought about the town and its population, it was clear that there are only so many people to go around. You can’t keep asking the same people to spend and spend. In the past we had conflicting events on the same night – too many things to choose from and people maybe felt they were missing out. This year we’ve put the Flavel back as the hub of the festival, with Café Alf Resco and The Royal Castle the only other venues.
“Changing from February to March was another difference. Hopefully it is better timing – everyone will have had an extra pay packet! The Flavel is a charity – it would be embarrassing to ask people to pay again and again in the current financial climate.”
Lisa added: ”We are very lucky with comedy. It is the Flavel’s bread and butter, particularly as our reputation grows. We can attract big names at a relatively low cost, which you can’t do with other genres. It would be impossibly expensive for big chart acts to come here, but comedians need smaller venues because it’s the way they constantly try out their new material. It’s the nuts and bolts of the way they work.”
Sarah and Lisa spend a lot of time contacting agents, and festival patron Peter Richardson often springs surprise friends of his on the two women at the last minute – who could forget Eddie Izzard two years ago, a very late addition to the programme, and Keith Allen last year. Keep your ears open for late announcements. A lot of acts like to communicate directly, and many have been seeking comedy slots in Dartmouth, not just in the festival but at comedy nights throughout the year. Among those who got away in 2011 is Miranda Hart, who hails from Torbay, and who sent a personal email saying she’d have loved a chance to perform in Dartmouth but she’ll be away filming in March. “Probably in Hollywood if you look at how her career has taken off!” said Lisa.
While Sarah lives in Blackawton, Lisa moved to Dartmouth from Tamerton Foliot at the age of four, 36 years ago. She grew up watching endless comedy on television, loving Morecambe and Wise, Fawlty Towers and the Generation Game.
These days she lives in Seymour Drive with her husband and two children, and is delighted that the Comedy Festival has so many child friendly events: “A couple of years ago we had Professor Bum and Dr Wee who were hilarious and the children loved them. It was a sell out. This year the same pair are back, but this time doing Fairly Tales with workshops beforehand. It’s going to be amazing.”
She added: “Sarah and I both agree that comedy has always been very important to us. I certainly base my life, my relationships and friendships on people who make me laugh. I like easy company and laughter – simple needs. Life’s too short to spend it with people who don’t make you laugh.”
First Published March 2011 By The Dart
For more information about the Festival call 01803 839530 or go to www.theflavel.org.uk