It’s a home for longer, more considered pieces than you might find elsewhere on the site. Debate can be found in the forums, and you can always leave comments and acts on shows be left on their appropriate pages.
But here you can find – or contribute – longer pieces of comedy journalism. General comment pieces about particular aspects of the comedy scene are encouraged more than reviews of individual shows or performers, though we may also use these.
The opinions in the articles here are not necessarily those of Chortle, but offer a chance for others to have their say.
We invite contributions. Pieces should be at least 500 words in length, in a similar tone to something you might read in a broadsheet newspaper, and emailed to steve@chortle.co.uk. We reserve the right to edit pieces – although we will be careful not to change the meaning of anything – or not to use them at all. By submitting an article you grant Chortle indefinite licence to use it freely; though you retain the copyright on it to use it elsewhere.
Note that one of our key rules in reviewing live comedy is not to repeat any of the jokes you hear on stage unless it is absolutely vital to make a point.
As an incentive, we will also pay £75 each month to the piece that, in the opinion of Chortle, combines the best writing and most incisive views. The winner will be announced here on the 15th of each month, starting in January 2008.
So get writing!
Winners so far
January 2008: Michael J Dolan for What's Wrong With TV Comedy
February 2008: Bill Bruce on serious comedy
March 2008: Dave Cohen on 20 years of new material nights
April 2008: Michael Monkhouse on why English is the language of comedy
May 2008: Andrew Watts on 'gag hags'
June 2008: Dave Cohen on satire
July 2008: Dave Cohen hails Alexei SAyle
