NICHE FEATURE: TICKLED PINK COMEDY
Working pink The UK comedy industry is going through an evolution. Women in stand-up are (finally) getting more opportunities in a long-standing boys club, and Tickled Pink Comedy is proud to be showcasing them WORDS BY TOM YOUNG
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n Leicester, Judith Critchley’s Tickled Pink Comedy Night has been shining a spotlight on the best of femaleidentifying comedy. In 2018, Judith – who lives with bipolar disorder – attended a stand-up comedy course at BrightSparks, the Arts in Mental Health group. She couldn’t have known at the time that four years later she’d have established her own comedy gig, moved online during a global pandemic (forming a partnership with a Californian comedy night in the process), run her first gig in London at 21 Soho, and produced shows for Leicester Comedy Festival, even earning a nomination for Best Promoter in 2021. Judith said: “I’d really enjoyed the course, but as a single parent, I couldn’t commit to the stand-up lifestyle of being out every night. I started my own gig so I can do it on my terms.” Having seen the lack of diversity in the Leicester
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comedy scene, Tickled Pink Comedy has been a standard bearer, creating more opportunities for female-identifying comedians. It offers representation, encourages diversity, and gives the opportunity to perform. Acts have included Samantha Day, Sonja Quita Doubleday, Hannah Silvester and over a hundred other fabulous comedians. Judith has learned on the job and continues to seek new collaborations with venues and sponsors. Her comedy night has been celebrated for its inclusivity, and the comedians are grateful for it, especially those who had felt isolated by less diverse line-ups elsewhere. “It’s a different way of doing things, and it seems to be working!” Tickled Pink Comedy have upcoming shows at Big Difference and The Y Theatre, as well as more London dates later in the year. More details at tickledpinkcomedy.co.uk.
