Magazine

Writing Female Comedy: What works and why?

This year’s Comedy Writing Award highlighted to us at Funny Women HQ the huge diversity of acts writing and performing female comedy. From surreal League of Gentleman/Psychoville dark humour to more traditional character driven situation comedy, the range was as diverse as the women themselves.

Sarah Courtauld’s script 'The Slush Pile' was the unanimous favourite picked by the judges (both male and female,) to receive this year’s Comedy Writing Award. But it did raise the fundamental question – what is it about female comedy that is different from male comedy? Is it more subtle? More character driven? Should female comedy only relate to women’s issues or is that too insular? Are the dynamics of women’s performances from the scripted page different?

Of course there is enormous diversity throughout female comedy writing. Try to compare Miranda Hart with Miss London and you will find more differences than similarities. But there is a rich seam of self-referential material that explores the female experience. Are women holding themselves back just by writing about the experience of being a woman?

To get to the heart of some of these fundamental questions we’re holding our first ‘literary salon’ as part of the Richmond Literature Festival where some of these ideas can be explored. Rowan Pelling, Julia Streets and Viv Groskop all combine successful careers as writers with stand-up comedy, and will discuss their writing processes as well as giving us a peek at their stand-up routines. Sarah Courtauld will talk us through her creative inspiration and what makes her comedy stand out. The discussion will be facilitated by Lynne Parker who founded Funny Women in 2003. As an award-winning producer Lynne has seen a lot of women develop as performers and writers over the last 10 years so she is well placed to guide us through this discussion.

For full information about the event and to book tickets go HERE.