Best of Comedy at the Corn Hall

Posted on 15th June 2024

Unusually for a compere, Matt Richardson was probably the best known of the comics on the bill, and having nicely warmed up the crowd with the usual Wickerman ribbing we grin and bear from London-centric comics, he quickly settled into an assured set that centred on village life, dentists and financial gain through the deaths of aging relatives.

Australian Felicity Ward centred on her yo-yoing weight – from size six to fourteen in one easy child – and her consequent depression, in a manic routine that was both candid and fearless. Most of her routine is unrepeatable, or even summarised, our parochial country roads being the one of the few targets that can be safely recounted. This wasn’t the only culture clash to be noted. US born Janine Harouni was the second comic of the night to bring an international flavour to proceedings, with a wry, self-deprecating routine that revolved around her partner’s marriage proposal being hijacked by the small matter of a mugging.

Sarah Keyworth is not a comedian I was previously familiar with but she quickly proved fully deserving of the headliner slot. Imagine the love child of Victoria Wood and James Ancaster and you’ll be getting close to a diffident stage persona that belies a sharp and ready wit. Her hilarious routine largely revolved around her boyish looks, but she was just as happy chatting amiably with the audience, not least the same twins that freaked Hal Cruttenden last time.

With the Corn Hall’s revitalised comedy night selling out once again, Diss seems to have well and truly embraced the idea. Judging by compere Richardson’s reaction to the warm reception he received the feeling is mutual. “Everyone on the circuit is going to want to perform here”, he gushed, relieved that the journey on our notoriously tricky roads was worth it.