As comedy fans in Newcastle are set to enjoy another weekend of live entertainment at The Stand, the company boss is warning that the industry is on the brink of collapse.
Eva Mackay, director of the comedy club which also has two branches in Scotland which are not yet allowed to reopen under Scotland's guidelines, has outlined her fears for the future in a newsletter to supporters.
With The Stand' s venues in Edinburgh and Glasgow remaining closed, comedy website Chortle reported that Mackay is calling for urgent help from Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government in the wake of enormous trading losses during the coronavirus lockdown and she added: "Our world-leading comedy industry is on the brink of collapse and runs the risk of being forgotten by emergency Government arts funding."
The Newcastle branch of The Stand reopened this August for socially-distanced gigs in its outdoor courtyard which have been proving a huge hit with fans desperate to see the return of live comedy.
Last weekend, stand-up star Carl Hutchinson performed in a marathon of six shows over two days, with a changing line-up of fellow comics, including local favourite Gavin Webster and a surprise visit from Chris Ramsey who created even more of a stir when he treated the audience to drinks.
Like the Scottish branches, the Newcastle club has been hosting Saturday Night Live shows online during lockdown but the return of live gigs is seen as vital in clawing back some lost revenue, despite the fact that they can take place only with reduced capacity.
This Saturday sees another round of comedy, with two performances of The Saturday Night Show featuring local talents Nicola Mantalios and Mike Milligan plus John Whale and Si Beckwith.
In response to Eva Mackay's warning, comedy fans have been sharing their concerns for The Stand on social media, with one tweeting: "It's terrible that they even have to ask as comedy is an art form just like theatre, art galleries, film, tv and museums" and another saying "Stand Newcastle has brought me so many laughter filled nights and introduced me to so many comedians I wouldn’t have known about. The atmosphere there is my absolute favourite."
Amid calls to save live comedy, another added: "The Stand is one of the jewels of Newcastle entertainment - we can’t lose it."
The shows this Saturday, August 22 at The Stand in Newcastle will take place at 5.30pm and 7.30pm. The later show is now sold out but there are tickets - offered in 'bubbles' of two or four - still available for the earlier performance. See here.
Anyone wanting to make a donation to The Stand company can do so here.
