Below The Line: Access Comedy

Below The Line: Access Comedy is the result of a fusion of comedy fans - and one actual comedian, me - who want the same thing. As the name suggests, that thing is greater opportunities for more people to see live comedy: whether that's in the room, or online. During the pandemic, there were a lot of initiatives to find new ways of offering comedy: far more internet content than ever before, shows in unusual locations, new collaborations and cooperations. (Below The Line sprang up originally as a fan community around one of these online shows, and gradually broadened its scope.)

All this represented progress - in a difficult time for everyone - and for a time, the comedy industry took on board the lessons about the huge appetite for entertainment among people who, for whatever reason (social, financial, health-related), have traditionally found it hard to get to shows. But not all those lessons were consolidated. There is still not enough of an effort being made to bring everyone under the umbrella of comedy audiences, and not enough resources going towards it.

This fund focuses on redressing that balance - whether by continuing BTL's work of 'paying it forward' to get under-funded people in to shows, or by helping venues with resources or expertise which make them more accessible, or by putting on more online work to reach more and more people excluded from traditional comedy spaces.

Thank you for your interest and support. Comedy is for everyone to share. I want to use my position to drive that forward. This fund will play a huge part in that.

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