Spalding’s South Holland Centre Charity Open Mic Night Show gives opportunities to new or experienced comedians – and our Jenny is giving it a go

I have decided to put my money where my mouth is and perform at the Charity Open Mic Night Show in Spalding.

It is right up my street having performed musical comedy since 2011 and gives me a chance to tread the boards at the South Holland Centre on Friday, January 26.

Though I haven’t gigged for a while I feel that open mic nights are really important opportunities for those wanting to give stand-up comedy a go.

With stage time like this, acts whether experienced or not can try out material and get the bug for performing comedy.

I wanted to be a stand-up at the age of 16 but as a vicar’s daughter it wasn’t perhaps a route I considered to be viable.

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Having a sense of humour is an important family trait – but transferring that to a stage and audience is an entirely different ball game.

So at the ripe age of 35 I decided to get it out of my system and entered a Funny Women competition.

Since then I have lugged my piano around London and various other cities singing my songs for the best part of ten years.

It was just something I had to do and highlights include winning the brutal King Gong show at London’s Comedy Store where I performed every year for 10 years in an open spot after that glorious gig.

I was told at the time that it is rare for a woman to win it – 400 in the audience baying and heckling – and I loved it.

When I moved back to Norfolk I started Pretty Funny Comedy, organising comedy nights to raise funds for charities and particularly to give stage time to acts.

Due to the Covid pandemic, and being made redundant from my theatre job, I had a change in direction and started writing a comedy column Beake Speaks for the Lynn News.

I worked for the Lynn News up until July before being relocated to the Spalding Guardian and Lincolnshire Free Press where I now find myself enjoying becoming a ‘hardcore journalist’ (see Bridget Jones).

Other highlights of being involved in comedy include interviewing Clive Anderson, Jenny Eclair, Iain Stirling and meeting my own comedy idols such as Paul Tonkinson, a Comedy Store regular MC and getting to meet Jennifer Saunders.

Lowlights include a gig I ran when the police came in and arrested a guy sitting on the front row.

I love supporting live comedy wherever I can and the South Holland Centre is a lovely venue – check out Anglia Comedy Co Best In Comedy nights there.

Most of all these types of nights give the chance for stars of the future to have their first gig.

Hey, it could be you!

If you want to take part in the event email Samantha.Bradley@sholland.gov.uk in advance – and I’ll see you there.

Visit https://www.southhollandcentre.co.uk/ for further details.

Are you willing to join Jenny at the open mic night? Tell us in the comments below