Table of Contents

Acknowledgements


Introduction UK 1979

Part One History of early alternative comedy

1. Prehistory – influences and origins
2. The beginnings of alternative comedy
3. The spread of the circuit

Part Two Alternative comedy performance

4. ‘Bits of me haven’t been finished yet’ – Reinventing stand-up from scratch
5. ‘Anti-matter comedy’ – Stylistic Innovation
6. ‘Advanced social thinkers’ – Persona and Perspective
7. ‘Comedy of direct confrontation’ – Relating to audiences
8. ‘I tell jokes which precipitate the downfall of capitalist society’ – Politics

Part Three Legacy of alternative comedy

9. Alternative comedy now

Notes
References
Index

Promotional Information

Drawing on new interviews and a wealth of unpublished archive material, this book provides a detailed history of the early alternative cabaret scene and explains its significance in radically reinventing stand-up and sowing the seeds of today’s live comedy circuit.

About the Author

Oliver Double is Reader in Drama at the University of Kent, UK. He is the author of Stand-Up! On Being a Comedian (Methuen, 1997), Getting the Joke: The Inner Workings of Stand-Up Comedy (Methuen, 2005; expanded 2nd edition Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2014) and Britain Had Talent: A History of Variety Theatre (2012), and co-editor with Adam Ainsworth and Louise Peacock of Popular Performance (Methuen Drama, 2017).

Reviews

This fascinating, well-written and meticulously researched guide to Britain’s alternative comedy revolution is probably the most accurate single retrospective of that transformative time that exists … Double conveys the excitement of these times while telling the story as accurately and succinctly as any social historian can. This book comes highly recommended.
*Chortle*

The definitive account. … If you’ve got even a passing interest in the history of modern comedy Double’s book is a must.
*Beyond the Joke*

Thank God someone's written this book, before everyone who could remember what happened died, and thank God that someone was Oliver Double, the Charles Darwin of alternative comedy.
*Stewart Lee*

Oliver Double’s enquiry is a worthy contribution to the evolving and expanding field of comedy studies. This fascinating investigation into alternative comedy uncovers both the roots and development of the alternative comedy scene, which dramatically revolutionized the comedy landscape. It is essential reading for anyone who is serious about comedy.
*Lisa Moore, Lecturer in performance and comedy, School of arts and Media, University of Salford, UK*

A very thorough, well-structured and well-explained piece of research on alternative comedy in the UK. The book is certainly suited to scholars and students interested in the performing and sociological aspects of stand-up comedy.
*European Journal of Humour Research*