Vote 'No' to Scottish cliches
Adam Ramsay urges comics to take a smart look at independence
03/07/2014 … Dear comedians coming to Scotland,This year, as ever, Edinburgh hosts the biggest arts festival in the world.
Latest Opinions
Chortle's Opinions section is an arena for fans to share their views on any aspect of comedy.
We invite general comment pieces about particular aspects of the comedy scene (although reviews of individual shows or performers tend not to be suited to this section except in very rare circumstances). Contributions 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.
Thu 03 July 2014
Wed 02 July 2014
Failing is fun!
Sheraz Yousaf says bad gigs make good lessons
02/07/2014 … Let's face it, some open mic nights are pure pain for us comedians.
Tue 01 July 2014
Comedy folk aren't dishonest, just polite
Tim Ballantine defends the circuit
01/07/2014 … Last week, Emily Snee wrote about why she is quitting comedy.
Mon 30 June 2014
'Being honest means I am being vulnerable...'
Juliette Burton on baring her soul on stage
30/06/2014 … I hate offending people.
Thu 26 June 2014
Why I'm quitting stand-up
Emily Snee says the delusions and dishonesty are toxic
26/06/2014 … At my first few gigs, the comedians and promoters around me were enormously kind and encouraging.
Sun 15 June 2014
Why am I doing a free Fringe show? Because I can
Andy Field on the hour no one's asked for...
15/06/2014 … I'm doing a solo hour of stand-up comedy at the Laughing Horse Free Festival at Edinburgh this year – and I've never performed for that long before.
Thu 12 June 2014
Eight eccentrics you'll see at open mic nights
A spotters' guide, by Jay Islaam
12/06/2014 … In the last nine months, I’ve spent most nights of the week travelling up and down the country performing at open mic comedy shows to audiences big and small.
What I learned from Rik Mayall
Dave Cohen on a personal inspiration...
12/06/2014 … It's been difficult over the last two or three days to avoid the tributes to Rik Mayall, just about everybody I know in comedy has either commented on the Rik they…