17 hours ago
Exeter Comedy Festival brings 'big names in intimate spaces'
In 2022, comedians Charlotte Evans and Will Adamsdale began what was then Exeter's only regular new material comedy gig. Held in a tiny cafe, they said often the only noise in crowd was from a loud refrigerated meat years later, Locally Sourced comedy has evolved into a four-day festival with more than 60 acts performing across 15 Evans said: "We never set out to make a festival, we just wanted a regular night to perform comedy.
"It makes me so proud to see acts who started in front of the meat counter selling out their solo shows."Tim Key, Bridget Christie and Mark Watson were some of the big names performing alongside strong local acts at the festival which began on Thursday.
The success of the festival was depended on by comedians who said they were becoming increasingly priced out of the well-trodden routes to success. The cost of attending the Edinburgh Fringe, which served as a cheap breakthrough for so many top British comedians, has soared in recent years. In 2024 comics spoke out against "soaring costs" and "pure greed" which had prevented them from performing or making money at the festival.
'Relentless Edinburgh churn'
Comedian Greg Winfield, from Barnstaple, decided to go on a solo tour with his show Whatever You Say, attending the Exeter Comedy Festival but not comic of eight years said: "I think the old school way of doing comedy, of either moving to London or being on a relentless Edinburgh churn, is probably less important these days."[Exeter Comedy Festival] the finest comedy festival in the South West - I challenge others to raise themselves to this level."All 15 venues at the Exeter Comedy Festival were independent ranged from a cocktail bar, a vegan cafe to a barber shop, which was converted into a performance space.
Alongside their shows, a number of comedians submitted pieces of art for a festival by Karen Lockhart, it features pieces by Spencer Jones, Emma Hughes, Olaf Falafel and others. Ms Lockhart said: "I wanted to give an outlet for all these comedians who also have something else going on."
'Reduce the hierarchy'
Festival organiser Georgia Thomas predicted the festival would continue to grow but it would stay true to having "big names in intimate spaces"."We wanted to create a festival similar to the shows you can see in Edinburgh and London without having to travel so far," she said."Having big names in intimate spaces helps reduce the hierarchy which is good for them, good for local acts and good for us."We'll keep the intimate vibe but grow the festival to benefit comedians, audiences and local businesses."
