Stand Up For Cider 1st Heat report and exciting news about Taunton’s new regular Comedy Club!

Stand Up For Cider Blog – 18 August 2021

So, 27 July was our first heat of Stand Up For Cider for 2021.

It felt amazing to be back at our spiritual home CICCIC – The Creative Innovation Centre in Paul Street, Taunton. The chaps at CICCIC have invested in some awesome new technical and stage equipment.

The stage was all set up before the audience and competitors arrived. Our new pop-up banner, designed by Sally from Design Bean took pride of place on the stage. Proudly shouting out the names of our fabulous sponsors!

Berrys Coaches                

Walpole Dunn Accountants        

CICCIC                                  

Design Bean

ToneFM

Harry’s Cider

The room was buzzing and full of happy, smiling people. After such a long time away from the shows this feeling was immeasurable.

First to take the stage was our resident MC David Arnold. He was as brilliant as always and like the last year hadn’t even happened! I had a feeling it was going to be a fab show and it really was!

4 very different styles! George had some good material, it is always really hard to be the first on stage, I liked some of his silly jokes! Greg was like a mustard whirlwind! Fast paced and a bit filthy, had the audience in stitches. Jaleelah had some great material and was certainly not shy, powerful delivery. Last in the first half was a stalwart of SUFC, Mark Dennett, I have had the pleasure of watching Mark develop over the last few years. Very polished and with superb delivery.

We then had an interval to get more drinks, go to the loo, have a chat etc. The bar is quick and efficient and very well priced!

The second half kicked off with David walking back on stage dressed as a Deliveroo Driver! His lockdown home delivery jokes were hilarious! I loved it and so did the audience….

Our second group of contestants were Jake Banford – Brendan Common – Lucy Orchard and Matt Macaulay.

All 4 were very different again! Jake is fairly new on the scene. He specialised in one-liners and linking back to a catchphrase between them. Next up was Brenan Common, a tall, goth like fella with a very strong stage presence. Clever, funny and original, very popular with the audience. Then Lucy Orchard leapt onto the stage, a beautiful, glitterball of a woman! Turns out she is a HGV driver in her day job! Unique material and went down very well. Last up was Matt Macaulay, described by one of the audience in their notes as a sexy teacher! Good fun and some good material.

We then gathered in all the audience’s voting slips. They always choose the winner and runner up acts who will go through to the final on 10 December. Tickets are already selling fast for the final and in fact for all the heats so if you want to go, please buy your tickets quickly as numbers are limited.

While Tim and I were counting up the scores our headliner Suzy Bennett took to the stage! We love Suzy! A local lass from Plymouth who has some incredible material and always coming up with new, topical stuff. Everyone loves Suzy! You can look forward to seeing Suzy on lots more Genius stages across Somerset!

Now, drum roll please…….

WINNER – Mark Dennett

Runner Up – Greg Winfield

Wild Card – Brendan Connor

Our next heat is Friday 27 August at CICCIC – Grab tickets quickly as it will undoubtably sell out! Tickets HERE

ALSO – BIG News!! Our first Taunton Comedy Club bi-monthly shows starts at CICCIC on Friday 24 September! A stonkingly amazing Line-Up and I will be marketing it over the next few weeks. Thank you to all who support live entertainment. Please continue to buy tickets and turn up for big laughs! We really do appreciate it!