”I felt incredibly empowered after performing… It’s difficult to describe how much performing in that space meant to me. I was so scared beforehand, I’ve never done anything like that before… [But] after the first laugh I managed to relax… and enjoy it because it felt like they were laughing with me, not at me and they genuinely seemed to enjoy it
(participant, 2019)

THE STORY

Radicle Comedy is a participatory project that invites women to experiment with comedy, humour and laughter in a safe and supportive environment.

It was set up by Natalie Diddams in 2016. Natalie is a Manchester-based theatre director and academic researcher, who recently completed a PhD on the importance of humour within fourth wave feminism. The thesis can be accessed here.

Over the past 5 years, Natalie has developed a ‘radicle’ approach to writing and performing stand-up comedy. By giving each participant the space to grow and develop in their own way, this approach has diversity, creativity and solidarity at its heart.

THE LATEST

The Women’s Comedy Workshop is currently underway, and – due to covid-19/the apocalypse – it is taking place online. Natalie, Sophie and Isma are taking a group of women through a basic introduction to stand-up comedy, and there will be an online performance on Saturday 27 February

Natalie is also partnering with Natalia Gul Jilani – a Karachi-based comedian – to deliver a series of online comedy workshops to women in Pakistan. The workshops are being hosted by NAPA: Pakistan’s National Academy of Performing Arts. A documentary film about the project is scheduled to be shown at Women of the World Pakistan on Monday 8 March. There will also be a live online performance event on Friday 12 March, which will form part of NAPA’s Laughter Festival.

 

The Women’s Comedy Workshops Bradford – Online Showcase

Join us for an evening of original comedy from the Women’s Comedy Workshop on Saturday 27 February.

Once you’ve reserved your tickets…

A few minutes before the event start time (20:00), you can log into Eventbrite, go to the event page and click “Join now”.

Purchase ticket to online performance - Saturday, 27 Feb

Our Core Team

The team is situated across two locations;
Bradford, UK and Karachi, Pakistan.
Natalie Diddams
Natalie is a theatre director and has a PhD from Manchester Metropolitan University, where she researched women’s empowerment through comedy. Sophie is an experienced education facilitator, with an interest in comedy and power.
Natalia Gul Jilani
With a dental degree Natalia is everything but a dentist, she followed her passion and pursued a career in acting. Currently part of a famous Tv show “Time out with Ahsan Khan” as well as performing stand up comedy at The Jungle, an enterprise she runs to revive the culture of arts & entertainment in Pakistan.
Isma Almas
Isma has performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, London’s Barbican Centre for Stonewall and Bradford’s Literature Festival. A much-needed voice in comedy, audiences love Isma’s friendly, Bradford-infused, preconception-shattering style.
Sophie Collins
Coming soon!

If you have any questions about the project, or if you would like to be added to the mailing list, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Natalie on radiclecomedy@gmail.com.