Full House and Big Laughs at Thatcham Comedy Club

A full room at Thatcham Rugby Club set the scene for the latest Thatcham Comedy Club night, with a really good mix of people in the audience.

Graeme Coulam was hosting and did a great job of holding it all together. He kept things moving without it ever feeling rushed, and had that relaxed, quick-witted style that just puts everyone at ease. There was a bit of back and forth with the crowd as well, which always helps bring the room together.

Neil McFarlane opened the night with a very deadpan style. It was quite understated, but it worked, and the audience were with him from the start. It was a solid opening set and got things going nicely.

Carly O’Connor was probably my personal highlight alongside the headliner. She was really quick, very chatty, and her set just flowed from one thing to the next without stopping. A lot of her material was around relationships and family, and it felt quite bold and honest. At times it seemed to land especially well with the women in the room, but overall she got a great reaction and kept the laughs coming.

Alistair Barrie closed the night and you could see straight away why he was the headliner. His set was really sharp, quick-fire and polished, with loads of strong punchlines throughout. A lot of it focused on modern life and the kind of everyday things everyone recognises, he definitely got some of the biggest laughs of the night and finished things on a high.

The venue itself works really well for this kind of night. It’s informal, easy to get to, and being able to park right outside for free is always a bonus.

All in all, it was a really good night out with a strong lineup, a great crowd, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to go back again.

The next comedy night is already lined up for May, with a new set of acts coming to Thatcham.