Trailer for Dying Laughing.
Painters, writers, musicians even dancers are talked about as Artists, while stand-up comedians are often regarded as mere entertainers – yet their work has probably more direct effect on an audience than any other art form. These are social and cultural commentators who at their best can change the way we think about important issues while making us howl with laughter.
A stand-up comedian is usually the writer, the director and the star performer, and unlike any other art form there is no rehearsal, no practice, no safety net, the stand-up can only work in front of a live audience – with feedback being instantaneous and often brutal. For most people baring their soul and then having an audience boo would be a life-changing trauma, for stand-ups it’s a nightly challenge.