Poetry, Steve Coogan, and the
Birth of Alternative Comedy

The 1990's were the years when comedy became 'the new rock'n'roll'. No longer was the issuing of amusing one-line put-downs the sole privilege of racist, sexist middle-aged men for there was to be a popular movement promoting a new wave of intelligent, politically correct humourists

I believe to this day that I had a reasonably enlightened view of how alternative comedy was born. There was during the early to mid-1980's a small number of alternative cabaret and poetry venues that were beginning to make themselves known. Notably I was aware of the 'Apples and Snakes' venues in London and Nick Toczek's inspired events in Bradford, and subsequently I became prominently involved with the 'Stand And Deliver' poetry and cabaret events in Ashton Under Lyne. Indeed, my initial adverntures in music promotion were a mix of performance poetry, acoustica tunesmiths and new wave comedians.

Stand And Deliver was always a team based project. A most prominent motivator during my time with S&D was poet and playwright Kevin Fegan. Our agenda was to justify our small pocket money sized Arts funding budget by booking poets and writers who were respected in literature circles. These of course had a limited appeal, especially to myself, and so it was the local support slots that provided openings for wannabe poets, acoustic songwriters and the all new alternative comedians.

Sounds rather dramatic I admit, but then in exchange for a couple of quid for his bus fair, up stepped a young comedy impressionist who thus far had not found an intelligent audience for his sharp wit, clever sketches and subtle impressions.

His name was Steve Coogan and he wasn't alone in finding as he ventured onto the alternative cabaret circuit, audiences who were crying out for an entertaining reaction to the tacky Tarbuck, moronic Monkhouse brand of staid, cliched humour that had been the scourge of popular entertainment.

Rumour suggests that there is a book that credits me with being if not the first, then certainly amongst those who 'discovered' Steve and encouraged him at this time. I'd rather it be told that there was a most wonderfully supportive environment for the new comedy that was born out of performance poetry and creative writing groups. Indeed, there are many more who took to the stage during that time who have gone on to establish national credibility as professional writers and performers. I personally can also cite the careers of Caroline Ahearne, actor John Thomson, playwright Kevin Fegan and comedy writer Henry Normal as being at an early stage of important development when they were finding a comfortable stage on which to perform at Stand And Deliver and Stereo Graffiti nights between 1986 and 1990.

I will at this point however mention the writer, former promoter and agent Sandy Gort, who at all points in the story told here, had been a prominent driving force in promoting new acts on an alternative tip.