I’ve always felt that inside every priest I’ve ever met there is a stand-up comedian fighting to come out. The Eucharist, with its continued call and response, is like an old-fashioned comic taking his audience through a series of well-known set-ups and punch lines, while the sermon, with all its witty metaphors and anecdotes is essentially observational comedy with a message.
It seems appropriate therefore, that one Islington church goes a step further than this, and invites professional comedians in for a monthly gig.
Stained glass and neon lights
The Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, has got to be one of the most beautiful locations for a comedy show in the whole of London. The 200-year-old church, with its impressive dome and beautiful stain glass window, is transformed, once a month, through the addition of neon signs, orange spotlights and a live jazz band, into the venue for Live at the Chapel, one of the capital’s coolest comedy nights. Savouring the beautiful surroundings and slightly other-worldy atmosphere from your pew, you can’t help but feel a thousand miles (and indeed years) away from your average gig.
March’s Live at the Chapel, MC-ed by Dan Atkinson, featured the talents of Andi Osho, Isy Suttie, Tim Key and Adam Buxton.
TV comics shine onstage
Osho, a regular on Mock the Week, was funnier live than her one-dimensional TV performances would suggest (not that this is an impressive feat), while musical-comedienne Suttie, more famous as Dobby from Peep Show, stayed just on the funny side of whimsical throughout her enjoyable set.
Perrier perfect
However, it was Perrier award winner Tim Key with his absurd poems, and Adam ‘one half of Adam and Joe’ Buxton and his note perfect desconstruction of YouTube comments, who really stole the show, turning in performances worthy of their grandiose surroundings.
While some may find it a little odd to hear people taking the Lord’s name in vain (and a lot more besides) from underneath a pulpit, and while the stone floor means that there are certainly warmer venues in town, all in all Live at the Chapel is a truly special comedy experience, and at £16, a great value one as well.
5 stars
The next Live at the Chapel event will be on Saturday 2 April
?Call 020 7226 1686 or visit http://www.unionchapel.org.uk
