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Alternative comedy was formed around The Comedy Store and The Comic Strip clubs in London (later also Jongleurs as well as others). These were (and still are) live venues which presented nothing but comedy and, although described as clubs, membership was not necessary. Since the early 1970s there had been a tradition of comedy within club venues in the UK, whether that be working men's club s, which frequently featured cabaret involving traditional stand-up comics, or folk music clubs, which would allow a comedian take to the stage during the musical acts.
However, the alternative comedy clubs were radically different. They provided a voice for anarchic young comedians who were usually opposed to the status quo (effectively the Thatcherite Tory government of the day). Alternative comedy might be described as a manifestation of anti-establishment punk attitudes which were common at the time, and some alternative comedians performed at punk rock concerts as opening acts, or at political rallies. However, by no means all alternative comedians made political jokes or were politically influenced.
In terms of content, alternative comedy tended to rely not on racial or other stereotypes (which was the mainstay of The Comedians-style comics), or even standard punchline jokes. Instead it used personal observation and intellectual humour, partly inspired by the early live work of American comedians like Woody Allen during the 1950s and 60s, as well as comedy from the British Satire Boom such as Beyond The Fringe. Spike Milligan and Peter Cook are seen by many as the grandfathers of alternative comedy.
The British movement chimed with a similar scene in America, and New York in particular, which arose during the 1970s and came into fruition during the 1980s. In both UK and US clubs, the "stage" was usually a raised platform inches away from the audience, which made for intimate performances.
Satire and current events also played a large part of the scene. Being a university graduate was de rigueur and the original Comedy Store host, Alexei Sayle, had been a university lecturer. This successor, Ben EltonBen Elton (born May 3, 1959) is a British comedian and writer. Born in Catford, London of an immigrant family of academics, he studied at Godalming Grammar School and became a stand-up comedian and comedy writer shortly after leaving Manchester University, coined the phrase, "Little bit of politics...!" to refer to the times when he strayed away from his observation humour and into satire.
Often alternative comedy was tinged with postmodernismsupergraphics of post-modern banners contrast with the neoclassical portico of the Field Museum, Chicago Postmodernism is an artistic, architectural, philosophical, and cultural movement or condition, said to arise after and in reaction to modernism. and it can be argued that alternative comedy worked because the audience was consciously aware that it was watching a comedy performance, and were aware the performer was attempting to make them laugh. Previously comedians had relied upon the conceit of the dramatic fourth wallSpecifically in a proscenium theater, the term fourth wall applies to the imaginary invisible wall at the front of the stage in a theater through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play. In an arena theater, or theater-in-the-round all.
Audiences at the comedy shows usually became part of the performance. Comedians were heckled and often their skill was measured not only on the quality of their jokes but on their ability to think up witty put-downs to silence the (usually drunk) hecklersA heckler is a person who shouts an uninvited comment, usually disparaging, at a performance or event. Heckles are particularly likely to be heard at stand-up comedy performances, where the temptation for certain personality types to unsettle or compete w (in a BrechtianFor information on the German author, please see Bertolt Brecht. Brecht is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Brecht proper, Sint-Job-in't-Goor and Sint-Lenaarts. On January 1st, 2004 Brecht fashion, the bar was kept open throughout the performance and, although the house lights were dimmed during performances, the audience encouraged to visit it whenever they wished). Jo BrandJo Brand (born 1957) is a British comedienne. She is a regular guest on such television shows as Have I Got News For You Whose Line Is It Anyway Never Mind The Buzzcocks and QI''. She has had several solo television series. She formerly worked as a pyschi was particularly skilled at dealing with hecklers and Ben EltonBen Elton (born May 3, 1959) is a British comedian and writer. Born in Catford, London of an immigrant family of academics, he studied at Godalming Grammar School and became a stand-up comedian and comedy writer shortly after leaving Manchester University later would describe the rapid 'motormouth' style of his delivery as an attempt not to allow the heckler to get a word in!
Improvisation was also popular in alternative comedy clubs and was (and still is) practiced by the likes of Paul Merton, Steve Frost, Josie Lawrence and Jim Sweeney (the entire team is known as the Comedy Store Players ).