The Comedy Biscuit is a weekly comedy night held at Gem Bar in Soho, London, showcasing new material from a number of comedians. I went to check out the scene last Wednesday:
Coming down the stairs to the basement of the fabulous Gem
Bar the first thing I see is a friendly face. And that’s not a rarity; I
struggled to find anyone without a smile at any point through the night.
The venue itself is fantastic; between the slightly gothic
décor and the exposed pipework on the ceiling it’s completely chic. That image
was topped off with some gorgeous cocktails throughout the night, although a
beer would not have been out of place at all.
Tables are snugly packed together facing the “stage”, which
is not really any more than a space at the front with a simple spotlight. But
it works perfectly. The higher tables at the back ensure everyone has a great
view, and the tightly grouped tables give it a very intimate feel.
The second the MC came on the room was laughing, and this
didn’t stop all night. You could hear the odd giggle even in the break as
people discussed what they’d just heard. Whether because of the closeness of
the tables, the exuberance of the MC or the way the comedians drew in the
audience, there was a real feeling of community. Everyone was laughing and
everyone was a part of the night, an essential piece that added up to an
excellent evening.
And let’s not forget to spare a word for the free cookies.
Little bowls up and down the bar to help yourself to. I was honestly amazed
there were some left at the break, but then again there were a phenomenal
amount of cookies compared with the amount of people there. Which was excellent;
we’re all far too used to hearing “free cookies” or something similar only to
turn up and discover that they’re grossly underestimated numbers. An extremely
welcome change of pace in the best form; a plethora of cookies.
The Comedy Biscuit; Cocktails, cookies and comedy. Amazing. I
will definitely be heading back.
Ari Carrington
Ari Carrington