THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT BEING EARNEST: COMEDY IN THE AGE OF WOKE

Cancel Culture, White Privilege, Social Justice, BLM. We’ve all heard these terms and seen news reports of people affected by the uncompromising new puritanism. Say the wrong thing, have a wrong thought and the weight of Wokery will descend with merciless force.

In previous times we’d have made a joke of it, highlighting its absurdity. But now comedy itself is increasingly censored, controlled by the deadly serious for whom nothing is ever a laughing matter.

At this one-off event, well-known comedians Mark Steel and Simon Evans will discuss what it’s like to make your living from irreverence in an austere age, how they have reacted to the new tenets and what we can all do to avoid keeping a straight face.

Chairman: Savilian David Oldroyd-Bolt

Mark Steel

A few years ago, it seemed unlikely that the UK would vote to leave the EU. We had a reasonable opposition to the Tory Government; Donald Trump was a buffoon who surely wasn’t going to beat Hillary Clinton and Mark was living the married suburban ideal, since then it’s all gone down the pan! But don’t worry as Mark thinks every little thing’s gonna be alright.

Mark’s sell-out show Who Do I Think I Am, revealed his natural father was a world backgammon champion. Now the star of Radio 4’s Mark Steel’s in Town, (and newspaper columnist of the year), he’s touring a show which is guaranteed to make the world seem even more bizarre than it is.

Mark has written and presented many series of Mark Steel’s In Town on BBC Radio 4 and toured it live around the UK. Mark has presented the BAFTA nominated Mark Steel Lectures for BBC Two, is a regular on BBC

One’s Have I Got News For You and Radio 4’s The News Quiz.

Simon Evans is one of the UK’s most respected and best loved comedians. Familiar from TV and radio appearances, as well as for his live tour shows and festival appearances, he is particularly popular on the corporate and after dinner circuit. He has been at the top of his game now for over twenty years yet at this year’s Edinburgh festival was unanimously agreed to only be getting better.

Simon is the star of Live at the Apollo, Mock The Week, BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, The Unbelievable Truth & Simon Evans Goes To Market. Simon has made appearances on This Week, Question Time, Celebrity Mastermind, Pointless Celebrities and Mastermind The Professionals.