The Veterans Comedy Club is heading to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with a run of shows from sell-out stand-up comedians who are bonded by a unique camaraderie born from their past.
The Veterans Comedy Club, a newly formed community interest company (CIC), is a group of Armed Forces veterans who have completed the Royal British Legion’s ‘Recovery Through Comedy’ initiative. This programme sought to build resilience and confidence in Armed Forces veterans who had faced serious adversity, such as being physically injured through their service, or as sufferers of PTSD.
This was achieved through a stand-up comedy training programme, where the veterans, under the tutelage of comedy superstar Janice Connolly (also known for her award-winning comedy character Mrs Barbara Nice), morphed their personal experiences into stand-up comedy routines.
The culmination of the course was a three-day run of sell-out shows at last year’s Fringe at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, where disabled veterans make Remembrance symbols all year round.
Inspired by their personal transformation, the veterans founded The Veterans Comedy Club with the aim of producing more courses like the one that changed their lives. To raise awareness, they are returning to the Edinburgh Fringe for five more shows this year. From 13-15 August, they will once again be performing at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, which is situated on Logie Green Road in Edinburgh.
Commenting on this announcement, Director of The Veterans Comedy Club, Jane Britton, said: “We are thrilled to be returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year for a string of performances. This is an opportunity for our comedians to continue their self-growth, and to raise awareness of the transformative qualities of stand-up comedy.
“The support from Fringe-goers last year was phenomenal, and we hope that by waiving any ticket cost, we can command similar audience sizes to last year. Through our great new show, we also aim to gain support for our aims as a CIC and raise funds through donations.
“But what’s most important is that we get the message out there, that stand-up comedy can have an inspirational impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of veterans, their families, and anyone else who may have experienced some level of trauma.
“We are a new and small organisation with the aim of making a big difference. We hope that the tremendous Scottish public will join us for an hour of laughter and camaraderie that we genuinely don’t believe you will find elsewhere.”
Charlie Pelling, Manager of Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, and a former officer in the Royal Tank Regiment, commented: “We are delighted to be welcoming the newly formed Veterans Comedy Club to Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory. I was in awe of the wit and humour of last year’s shows, and we are excited to catch up with the comedians and hear their new material.
“At Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, we work hard throughout the year to provide Scotland and large parts of the rest of the UK with Wreaths and other Remembrance symbols, and to manufacture all items for the Scottish Poppy Appeal come November. But we always enjoy hosting events for key partners, especially those who are on a journey to make a difference.
“We look forward to welcoming members of the public to these shows and to continuing our close relationship with The Veterans Comedy Club.”
Although tickets are free, attendees should book at Poppyscotland’s website: www.poppyscotland.org.uk/operationstandup
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