Women can stand up to male comics, top Fringe venue hopes

THE Stand Comedy Club has revealed a record-breaking lineup for this year's Fringe – with more funny women on the bill than ever before.

A third of the performers at the Stand are female – and the club is calling it a breakthrough in the sometimes macho world of stand-up comedy.

Sarah Millican and Bridget Christie perform at the venue for the first time while acclaimed comics Ava Vidal, Jo Caulfield and Jojo Sutherland return. Sutherland said: "It is brilliant. Women are really starting to make a breakthrough and be noticed and be accepted.

"There is a tradition of male domination in comedy that dates back to the old days working men's clubs – and it has taken a long time to throw that off.

"There are some seriously funny women out there – who can really hold their own.

"I also think it is great that someone like Sarah Millican – who is doing really well – chooses to come to the Stand rather than one of the bigger venues."

Also performing hour-long shows at The Stand are circuit stalwarts Susan Morrison, Tiffany Stevenson and Susan Murray and up and coming Nigerian Londoner Andi Osho.

Susan Morrison said: "Women's comedy is developing, and there are a lot of exciting female performers out there. We are now up there playing with the big boys, and our subject matter is becoming more diverse and innovative."

Stand director Tommy Sheppard said the club had a history of encouraging female talent. "We just put together a group of acts we liked. It wasn't until I put it all together that I realised that a third of them were women."