Observations: Prepare to shed tears of laughter as Laughterinoddplaces calls it a day
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.One of the underground gems of the comedy circuit, Laughterinodd places, is doing an Eric Cantona/ Harper Lee/The Office and calling it a day in its prime. As the name suggests, it is a comedy night in unorthodox venues, such as a launderette, an art gallery, a charity shop and even a comedy critic's living room. Robin Ince, Josie Long and Tim Key are among the comics who have performed at Laughterinoddplaces shows since it visited Newington Library, south-east London in October 2006. And its finale at the Museum of London (its third visit to the museum) on 2 July features some of the circuit's biggest names – Richard Herring, Perrier Award winner Will Adamsdale, Simon Munnery and Long.
Tom Searle, who organises the nights with storytelling stand-up Terry Saunders explains why they are ending the run: "We felt we achieved what we wanted to achieve. We didn't have a specific two-year or five-year plan, we just wanted to build something new and different and we did that.
"We got a Chortle award for innovation ahead of We Need Answers, which has just got commissioned for BBC4, and we had really big numbers (700 plus people) come to our second show in the Museum of London.
Part of its success was that it found the balance between giving its fans the warm glow of belonging to a club, while welcoming newcomers and not becoming an inward-looking clique. It meant the nights were the antithesis of a lairy Saturday-night comedy club, with an atmosphere of good will, giving the comics the freedom to enjoy themselves and venture off script.
Searle reveals his fondest memories of the 21 shows: "The first was a lot of fun at the library in Elephant and Castle, there was a big Greek lady who kept threatening to kick us out, I don't think she had been told what was going on, it was quite funny."
Your last chance to share in some of the LIOD magic comes on 2 July, and, as with the The Office episodes that never were, we should appreciate its existence, not mourn its early demise.
Museum of London, Thursday, 2 July, free and non-ticketed, www.laughterinodd places.terrysaunders.co.uk
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments