Birmingham Comedy Festival 2022: Meet the Brummie comedians who are really having a laugh

Birmingham’s very own comedy festival is on. Running until Sunday 16th October, the festival brings together some of the best acts in the region and some of the biggest names in contemporary stand-up. We went along to Glee Club ahead of the Breaking Talent Award to find out more.

James Cook, compère for the Breaking Talent Awards, said: “Well, we felt at the Birmingham Comedy Festival that we needed to highlight a lot of the talent that was coming through. And we wanted to shout about it. So we came up with the idea for the Breaking Talent show.

“And it’s not like a new act competition, where people can just enter it. To be in the competition, you have to be nominated by someone from the local comedy industry. So that could be someone who runs a comedy club, or it could be one of the established acts around here. And so we’re always keeping an eye out for who looks like they’ve got something about them. It’s just nice to be nominated.”

This year saw Castle Bromwich’s own Hannah Weetman take home the coveted award which was launched to help propel local talent. The region has an often overlooked comedy scene that is determined to make it’s mark as confidence grows within Birmingham’s creative quarters.

Jules O’Brian, one of the nominees in the Breaking Talent Award, said: “It’s very close knit. We all know each other now. We all tend to sort of bump into one another at the same gigs. And we’re quite a supportive little community.”

The Birmingham Comedy Festival sees events across the city up until Sunday 16th October, drawing in talent from near and far. What started as a passion project has since flourished into a staple of Birmingham’s creative scene.

James said: “I think we’d like the Birmingham Comedy Festival to not just be a focal point for the comedy scene and the comedy fans in Birmingham, but for the whole city to know about it. At the moment. It’s like a boutique festival. And what we want it to be is a mega store.

“We need more people to know about it. I want to shout about how good the Birmingham comedy scene is. I want more people to know that it’s here. And the Birmingham Comedy Festival is a great way for us to do that.”

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