Comedy

Times have changed a lot since multi-award-winning comedian Jo Enright started out on the comedy circuit in the early ’90s. Then there were only a handful of female role models to look up to. However, with so many women coming through, she sees it as a ‘golden age’ for the female comic.

Time Out: What was your earliest memory of making someone laugh?
Jo Enright: ‘That was when I almost lost my first ever after-school job. I had made my mate Vicky Comaskey laugh so much, she’d wet herself all over the floor. We were employed to Sellotape two pence pieces onto the front of Benson and Hedges cigarette packets so they could be sent out to pubs and put into cigarette machines. It was mind-numbingly boring, repetitive work and the only way to survive a shift was to make each other laugh. I’ve never forgotten that particular shift because it gave me such a great feeling – not the ‘standing in someone else’s wee,’ bit but the joy of watching Vicky absolutely crack up at something I’d said. I can’t even remember what it was – all I remember is trying to convince Mr Colman, the owner, that we’d “accidentally” spilt a can of pop, even though there was steam rising from Vicky’s leg warmers.’ Feature continues

TO: Who were the women that inspired you to become a comic?
JE: ‘Growing up, I didn’t actually know anyone who performed for a living. I knew plenty of really funny people; my dad, my eldest sister, my best mate Lorna could all kill me with a single line. They still do. But mainly it was the people I saw on telly like Marti Caine, or shows like ‘Laverne & Shirley’ and ‘Wood and Walters’. Without knowing it they were giving me permission to be funny and female. When I actually started on the circuit there were very few women working full-time but the ones that were set the bar very high, like Hattie Hayridge, Jo Brand and Linda Smith. They were the trailblazers.’

TO: It’s often said that it’s harder to be a female comic on the circuit, is that true?
JE: ‘That is the traditional thinking, but I think stand-up is difficult whatever your gender. It takes most comics a long time to hone a good set and establish themselves. Women, who are often the primary carers for children, sometimes have to balance motherhood with writing and touring, which can be a challenge. Personally, when I first started travelling to and from gigs late at night on public transport I never felt particularly safe as a woman.’

TO: Do you think there is a difference in the male and female sense of humour?
JE: ‘Not really, male and female comics tend to cover very similar subject matters albeit sometimes from different perspectives. You might get a different take on subjects like divorce or domestic violence for instance. Of course there are some subjects which are solely female territory, especially if the female comic is drawing on her own life for material, like being a single mum or having breast cancer. However, when the writing is solid and the delivery is strong it doesn’t alienate male members of the audience. People usually find it refreshing to have a variety of performers doing a diverse range of subjects.’

TO: So why do you think there are more women in comedy now?
JE: ‘There are several reasons. One, there has been a massive increase in people of both sexes choosing to go into stand-up since I started out. Secondly, I think television has helped a lot, showcasing the talents of female writers and performers. The likes of Caroline Aherne, Ronni Ancona, Catherine Tate, the Smack the Pony team, 3 Non Blondes, Jocelyn Jee and Julia Davis have given, and continue to give, viewers a greater awareness of the diversity out there, increasing the appetite for more and more creative funny women on our screens and in the clubs. That’s inspired increasing numbers of new female writer/performers to have a go.’

TO: So who are the best of this new crop of performers?
JE: ‘I won’t pick a “best” one as such, because I don’t like to compare performers, especially female performers. As women we are conditioned to compare ourselves to one another all the time. And I’m not playing that game. There are many great females on the circuit at the moment and they’re all unique. I mean, is the amaryllis a better flower than the oriental lily? At the moment, though, I am particularly appreciating the world of Shelagh Martin. She’s smart, silly and beautifully absurd. Lines like, “Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are – well, the clue is in the previous line” bring me joy, especially when delivered in Shelagh’s thoughtful, slightly deadpan way. I also really enjoy Sarah Kendall’s stuff. She’s got this one line, “You know when you’re at the scene of an accident and people are screaming out, ‘Is there a doctor?’ Have you ever been tempted to just have a crack at it?” That makes me laugh a lot. Oh, and, of course, there’s Joanna Neary and… the list goes on and on. There are just so many inspiring women out there at the moment.’

Jo can be seen at the BrouHaHa Comedy Club, January 23 and in the upcoming BBC2 series Lab Rats.