The supporting acts spill the beans on their comedy roots and inspirations.
How did you first get into comedy?
Jack Bartlett: I've always been fascinated by what makes people laugh. Even when I was at school, I was reading up on comedy and trying to work out why certain things were funny. Eventually I realised there was only one proper way to research it - get up on stage and have a go myself!
Alex Rossi: I wanted to make people laugh - or, at the very least, leave them feeling mildly amused!
Lauren Buck: It actually started because I wanted to build my confidence for acting auditions. I signed up for a comedy course thinking it would help with that… and it turns out I'm not too bad at making people laugh! 😆
Grant Allen: Well, I'd just come out of the Navy and suddenly found myself with a lot of evenings to fill. I wasn't really sure what to do with myself, and comedy turned out to be the answer.
Who or what inspires your comedy?
Jack Bartlett: Definitely my family and friends. They've always encouraged me to see the funny side of life, and that's had a huge influence on how I look at the world.
Alex Rossi: Mostly just trying to cope with the general absurdities of everyday life. There's plenty of material out there if you keep your eyes open.
Lauren Buck: My partner, my family and my friends are a huge influence. Basically, my wonderfully chaotic life and equally chaotic personality provide plenty of material!
Grant Allen: There's a quote from Keith Moon that's always stuck with me: "I like to see people laugh, but I love to make them laugh." That pretty much sums it up.
Who would you call your comedy hero?
Jack Bartlett: Jimmy Carr. I really admire his style and delivery.
Alex Rossi: Harry Hill. No hesitation there.
Lauren Buck: Greg Davies, Lee Evans, French and Saunders, and Fern Brady. A dream line-up!
Grant Allen: It's impossible to pick just one! Different comedians have inspired me for different reasons. Billy Connolly, Bill Hicks, Richard Pryor and Patrice O'Neill have all had a huge influence on me.
Is there anything you won't joke about?
Jack Bartlett: Politics. I think it can divide a room far too easily, and I'd rather bring people together than create tension.
Alex Rossi: Politics. I think comedy should be a break from the world's problems, not a reminder of them.
Lauren Buck: I don’t think I have many absolute taboos in comedy, but I do feel very strongly about material involving sexual abuse and baby loss. I know this is more something I’ve encountered on the open mic circuit than in professional spaces, but they’re subjects I personally struggle to see as funny. For me, the issue isn’t that comedy can’t explore difficult or painful topics, because it absolutely can, but those particular areas feel so deeply traumatic that I find them very hard to laugh at and I also stay clear of deeply political material.
Grant Allen: It's not so much that any particular topic is off-limits. For me, it's lies that cross the line.
None of you are based on the Isle of Wight - have you visited the Island before?
Jack Bartlett: Yes! I used to come over as a little kid with my grandad. We'd go to Blackgang Chine every year, and I absolutely loved it. They were brilliant trips and I've got some really happy memories of them.
Alex Rossi: Twice! Once on a school trip, where a teacher turned my best friend into a roundabout. The other visit was because I wanted to see the steam railway.
Hang on... turning your best friend into a roundabout? That definitely needs some explaining!
Lauren Buck: Yes! I was born in Portsmouth, so I've probably been over to the Island quite a few times over the years. I know my nan is a big Isle of Wight fan! More recently, my partner and I actually made our first trip there together last year… which makes it a pretty memorable place for us. 💖🤮 Haha!
Grant Allen: Yes—but only for gigs so far.
Thank you all for talking to me - looking forward to the gig!
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