Tuesday 23rd October saw over 160 people have a fantastic time at Birmingham Friends of the Earth’s eagerly-anticipated comedy gig; There’s Something Funny in the Honey. There were laughs a-plenty as local comedians Joe Lycett, Ben Davids, Karen Bayley, Mickey Sharma, Andy White, Gareth Berliner, Kiruna Stamell and James Cook entertained a packed Glee Club with their exceptional comedic talents.
There was already a sizeable queue outside the Glee Club when the doors opened at 19:00. Once doors opened, guests filtered into a main room lovingly decorated with black and yellow bunting, and with a Birmingham Friends of the Earth or Bee Cause beer mat on every table.
Once all guests had arrived and had got their drinks, compere Joe Lycett got the show underway at 8pm. First-up was Ben Davids with his ample supply of one-liners, followed by Karen Bayley’s risque 10 minute set. Next came the first interval, and a chance for comedians and punters to get some well-earned refreshments, as well as try their hand at the first half of the Name that Bee-Related Song Quiz.
After the interval it was the turn of Mickey Sharma to make the audience laugh with his many jokes based on his time in India, followed by Andy White who entertained us with his funny anecdotes about being a dad. Then came the second half of the Quiz and a final chance for a beer at the bar in the second interval.
Joe Lycett then introduced BFoE campaigner Shaz Rahman, who talked about the work that BFoE does and reminded everyone what the gig was about, as well as thanking the gig’s partners including the Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust, Warwickshire Beekeepers and the Glee Club. Joe Lycett made sure that Shaz entered and left the stage to a standing ovation, well deserved for all Shaz’s hard work in project managing and organising the event.
Once the serious stuff had been done, the show moved onto the penultimate set; double act Gareth Berliner and Kiruna Stamell, who made several jokes about being a newlywed couple and the assumptions that go with it. The final set was James Cook, who made us laugh with his anecdotes about watching football with his dad and his daughter.
All that was left was for Joe Lycett to announce the Quiz and Raffle winners, before comedians and audience headed for the pub, and tired volunteers headed home. The event was a great success raising awareness of (and money for) the bees, and is certainly something we could revisit in the future.
A great event like this does not just happen by magic of course, and a big thank you goes out to all the comedians: Joe Lycett, Ben Davids, Karen Bayley, Mickey Sharma, Andy White, Kiruna Stamell, Gareth Berliner and James Cook, who gave up their time for free to support Bees and Birmingham Friends of the Earth.
A massive thank you as well to all the volunteers who worked so hard in the run-up to the event and on the night, with a special thank you to project manager Shaz Rahman. Last but by no means least, a big thank you to those who bought tickets, came to the event, and enjoyed themselves, was really great to see so many people having a good time.
And for anybody who would like to have another fix of Friends of the Earth comedy nights, then make sure that you check out national Friends of the Earth’s gig Laugh or the Polar Bear Gets it , on 22nd September at the Hammersmith Apollo.
