Two new guides launched

Two guides have been published to try to make the comedy circuit a safer place for comedians to work.

One of the booklets offers tips to stand-ups on how to protect themselves, while another gives tips to promoters on what they can do to make their gigs safer.

They were created by comic Alice Frick, pictured, academics Sophie Quirk and Oliver Double, and graphic design lecturer Matt Dixon, all based at the university of Kent.

It was launched yesterday at an event at London’s Museum of Comedy entitled Reclaim The Comedy Night, in which female comedians shared horror stories of being followed out of gigs or confronted in venues by aggressive punters.

Others told of promoters only offering gigs if the comics slept with them, being stuck in car-shares with male comedians who turned out to be toxic or intimidating, and of online abuse, including trolls targeting venues they were due to play calling for them to be cancelled.

Tips for promoters include:

• Sharing details of the gig location and the safest way to get there

• Ensure gigs do not overrun

• Book diverse line-ups

• And let acts know in advance who they are sharing the bill with in case they are do not feel safe with other acts.

Frick made this video with the help of fellow stand-up Shazia Mirza and cabaret performer Lauren Karl to share the advice.

Meanwhile, the guide for comedians offers tips on travel as well as how to deal with worrying colleagues or abusive threats from the crowd.

Both booklets also advise how to be an ‘active bystander’ to de-escalate situations or deal with them as they arise.

One in six workers in UK live comedy have seen or experienced some form of workplace sexual harassment, according to Get Out Live Comedy – an initiative that aims to act as an HR department for the disparate industry.

The group worked with the University of Kent initiative, called Safer Backstage, to create the booklets.

Digital copies are available here – alongside other related resources.

Published: 17 Nov 2025