The Cambridge Companion to Stand-Up Comedy
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The Cambridge Companion to Stand-Up Comedy by Oliver Double
Stand-up comedy is one of the simplest theatre forms in existence. The comedian stands on a (usually) bare stage, talking straight to the audience in the hope of getting laughs. Yet it has never been more popular, with national scenes developing across every continent except Antarctica. In this insightful and accessibly written volume, diverse chapters explore the subject from many angles, ranging from national scenes, live venues, and recordings to politics, race, sexuality, and the question of offensiveness. Chapters also consider the performance dynamics of stand-up in detail, examining audience, persona, and trauma. Interspersed throughout the chapters are a series of originally commissioned interviews with comedians from nine different countries, including Maria Bamford, Jo Brand, Aditi Mittal, and Rod Quantock, providing rare insights into their craft.
'This book is an essential guide to the wonderful, rich, wild, silly world of stand-up' Josie Long, multi-award-winning comedian
Oliver Double is Reader in Comic and Popular Performance at the University of Kent, where he established the British Stand-Up Comedy Archive. His books include Stand-Up! On Being a Comedian (1997), Getting the Joke (2005, 2014), and Alternative Comedy (2020). A former professional comedian ('Surprisingly Funny' – Guardian), he currently compères Funny Rabbit Comedy Club.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781009009737 |
| ISBN 10 | 1009009737 |
| Title | The Cambridge Companion to Stand-Up Comedy |
| Author | Oliver Double |
| Series | Cambridge Companions To Theatre And Performance |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| Year published | 2025-09-30 |
| Number of pages | 316 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |