Anglia Comedy puts on its Best in Comedy nights all across the region, from Cambridge to Ely, St Ives to Letchworth, Peterborough to Bishop’s Stortford – and more places besides. We put some questions to Alex Lingham, the man behind the brand.
Tell us about Anglia Comedy
I formed Anglia Comedy in early 2019, almost on a whim. I was working in structural engineering at the time (that well-trodden path from construction to comedy promotion...) and we’d just had our second child.
I’d been working for my old company for 17 years at that stage, and just got the urge to do something. I wasn’t even sure what that something was until I heard that the venue in my old home town of St Ives wasn’t staging comedy any more and, just being a comedy fan, found myself picking up the phone.
Thankfully, my wonderful partner Clare let me give it a go, and for a while I ran the shows alongside parenting and my full-time job until we’d expanded enough, coming out of the pandemic, to wave goodbye to engineering and hello to late night Maccy’s drive-thrus off the M25 after shows…
We live in Newmarket, but we currently have shows in venues from London to Loughborough.
What is your background in the industry?
I had zero background within the industry when I began – I’d never even been backstage at a show and was just a big comedy fan.
I jumped in two-footed and was lucky enough that a couple of venues, The Burgess Hall in St Ives and The Maltings in Ely, gave me a chance. Then we sold out our debut shows in each and haven’t looked back.
What do you enjoy most about your job? What are the most difficult aspects of your job?
Nothing beats hearing that roar of laughter from an audience, and you can tell how much they are enjoying a show – or something unexpected happening at a show that makes it a one-off, unique experience for the crowd.
Those are the moments that people will often quote to us, out of context, on social media. I love those moments.
The least enjoyable moments are navigating all the road closures, on very little sleep, as every major road in the UK seems to have closures for roadworks after 11pm.
What do you make of the current state of the UK comedy scene?
I think the live scene is in a great place. There’s never been more comedy clubs or touring stand-ups than there are right now.
I think there’s genuinely something for everyone out there, across all genres – whether that be an established TV star at the O2 or an improv night in the backroom of your local.
It seems almost every small town (or even large village!) has a comedy night of some kind.
I know people find comedians online these days, but there does seem to be a distinct lack of stand-up on national TV at the moment.
Really the only consistent games in town are Live at the Apollo and The Stand Up Sketch Show.
Having said that, I’m not sure it always comes through brilliantly on TV – it’s always better live than through a screen.
Who are your favourite stand-ups and what are some of the most memorable gigs you’ve been to and put on as Anglia Comedy?
I got into stand-up comedy watching my dad’s Billy Connolly videos on repeat when I was a kid.
Then Eddie Izzard brought out Dressed to Kill when I was maybe 15 and it quickly became my favourite special. I used to quote it endlessly... “Cake or Death”?
I count myself extremely lucky to have put on some great gigs, with some of the best comedians around, but nothing beats the first show you ever put on.
The compere, Phil Ellis, shirtless, getting the squadie in the front row to bench press him up will live long in the memory.
Is there anyone in particular on your radar for future shows?
Too many to mention, but we’ve recently announced a show with Dylan Moran and it’s going to take all my will and professionalism to not quote old bits, or Shaun of the Dead lines at him. And I assume they would very much be at him.
I’d love to get the chance to work with Eddie Izzard or Stewart Lee one day. Fingers crossed...
The next Anglia Comedy night in Cambridge is on Saturday, 13 April, at The Leys School. Appearing will be Rachel Fairburn, Nathan Caton, Glenn Moore and headliner Maisie Adam. For tickets, visit angliacomedy.com.
