Introducing: Bubble at the Barge

Bubble Comedy has been set up by local stand-up comic Jo Duncan, and kicks off this month aboard the Grain Barge bar and restaurant on Hotwell Road. Here’s Jo to tell us more.

Tell us the Bubble Comedy story: who, why, when, where?
A year ago I was a teacher in London. I started doing stand-up comedy by accident, and ending up quitting my job and taking a chance on something I’d always been terrified of. It’s been a rollercoaster, but I don’t regret it for a minute.
Bubble Comedy has changed hands a few times. It started last year as a loose collection of people interested in putting on comedy nights. We had a different name back then, and we didn’t have a clue what we were doing. Our venues often had audiences of one or two – or no mic stand or speakers.

And how did you arrive at the Grain Barge?
I first started going there when I moved to Bristol last year. At the time I didn’t really know anyone, and went down there once a week and did comedy to cheer myself up. Most of the other acts were doing lovely acoustic music, and were patient with me while I told badly cobbled jokes about Tinder and teaching.
Open mic nights mean a lot to me, I think they are essential for allowing comics the time to improve. The Grain Barge is a wonderful venue, and means a lot to me too. It’s such a beautiful setting for a comedy night to take place.

Tell us about your first night there on April 20.
Our first lineup includes Amy Howerska, whose comedy is razor-sharp – she’s genuinely the funniest female act I’ve ever seen. Pete Dobbing hosts Bristol Underground Comedy at the Loco Klub, and is hilarious and wonderfully thoughtful. And it’s hard to describe The Death Hilarious, but they’re generally regarded as the best up-and-coming act in the south-west: biblical, other-worldly and exotic to watch.

Then there’s local comic Klaus: I’m such a fan that he and fellow Bristol act George Erlanger will be running a monthly comedy open-mic night at the Grain Barge too, starting on May 4. They’re young, enthusiastic, and amazing comedians. We’ve also got one of Bristol’s best comedians, Oppo Comedy’s George Rigden, to host.

You’re keeping ticket prices low, at £5. How are you managing that?
To start off with, I’m really keen on getting people to see more good comedy in Bristol. I don’t expect to make a profit, I just want enough to pay the acts for performing. There’s already so much amazing stuff happening in Bristol in comedy at the moment, so we really want to be a part of that. The ethos is just to get the best possible comedians performing mid-week, so a local audience can see something really special. I’m really excited for it to start.

Bubble at the Barge kicks off at the Grain Barge on April 20. For more info, visit www.facebook.com/events/941512472551627