The Comedy Defect

Dane Baptiste (Comedian & Writer)

A provocative and original stand up comedian, Dane Baptiste was the first Black British act to be nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy Award for his debut solo show. His second solo show was also met with critical acclaim and sold out at the Edinburgh Festival, leading to his first nationwide solo tour. This was followed by a world tour of his third solo show, G.O.D. (Gold. Oil. Drugs.). Dane’s extensive TV appearances include Live at the Apollo (BBC Two), Mock the Week (BBC Two), 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4), Frankie Boyle’s New World Order (BBC Two), Roast Battle (Comedy Central), Tonight at the London Palladium (ITV1) and Live from the BBC (BBC Three). He hosts his own podcast, Dane Baptiste Questions Everything, and his latest show, Bamous, debuted to critical acclaim on BBC Three. www.danebaptiste.co.uk

Darius Davies (Comedian)

The 2017 English Comedian of the Year finalist, Darius Davies is a regular performer at all of the major UK comedy clubs and has also toured internationally. With a particular style akin to a performance poet or faith healer, Darius commands his audience with wonderful charisma – an American style comedian with British soul. A distinct voice in a sea of ubiquity – Darius is fearless in his belief in what is funny and forging his own path. This is high energy, captivating stand up comedy fuelled with passion, soul and wit. Darius Davies is also the host and co-creator of the hit sell-out Edinburgh show, Hate ‘n’ Live along with fellow comedians Justin Panks and Leo Kearse [https://www.glee.co.uk/performer/leo-kearse/]. Competitions English Comedian of the Year Finalist 2017 Laughing Horse New Act of the Year Finalist Hackney Empire New Act of the Year Finalist Reading Comedy Festival New Act of the Year Runner Up Leicester Square New Comedian of the Year Finalist ★★★★★ ‘Brilliant, hilarious, outstanding' Broadway Baby ★★★★ 'A knockout sensation!' Broadway World ★★★★ 'Bewitches the audience' The Wee Review ★★★★ 'A near faultless and original set' ScotsGay 'Full of verve, slightly channeling Russell Brand in his mischief, style and energy' Chortle   YouTube & Instagram: @persianofinterest www.dariusdavies.com

Zahra Barri (Comedian & Writer)

Zahra hit the stand up scene in February 2011 and has since been a 2013 Bath New Act of The Year Finalist, a Funny Woman (in association with Company Magazine) Finalist, Laughing Horse New Act at Brighton Fringe Finalist, Comedy Cafe New Act 2012 Finalist, beaten ‘The Frog’ at The Frog and Bucket and reached the Semi Finals of The Picadilly New Act of The Year Competition. She has also gigged with Gail Porter and supported notorious ‘Best Seller’ and International Drug Baron (!) Howard Marks; and she has opened for Tiffany Stevenson, Dana Alexander and Kate Smurthwaite. ‘Zahra Barri who is Irish/Egyptian: a combination which makes stand-up comedy an almost unavoidable career choice, and had some unexpected Muslim viewpoints on blind dates and bikini waxing, and a terrific gag about the similarity between stand-up comedy and terrorism’ – Venue Magazine ‘Terrific’ – Venue Magazine ‘Zahra Barri, a cool Rita Rudner…’ Alan Nixon Channel 5 Head Of Comedy and Entertainment and Director of Absolutely Productions Mailing List: www.zahrabarri.com [http://www.zahrabarri.com]

Stephanie Laing (Comedian)

Stephanie started performing in April 2007 on the Scottish comedy circuit. She quickly established herself as one of the most promising acts of her generation on the circuit, and in 2015 appeared as a finalist in the prestigious Leicester Mercury Comedian Of The Year competition. Stephanie is best described as goofy and peculiar, and her comedy is partway between the needy oddness of Maria Bamford and the upbeat affability of Josie Long. Her material is a mix of silliness, filth and unusual observations, underpinned by a disarming honesty which makes her seem charmingly vulnerable. Now a regular on the circuit Stephanie has also become a stalwart of comedy festivals across the country having appeared at Brighton Fringe, Leicester Comedy Festival, York Comedy Festival, Bath Comedy Festival, Women in Comedy Festival as well as appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe every year since 2010. Not content with just performing in the UK Stephanie has also appeared at UCB in New York & The Laugh Factory in L.A. Most recently in 2018 Stephanie took her solo show ‘Mad About The Boy’ to the Melbourne, Adelaide & Perth comedy festivals. Stephanie can currently be seen performing for the likes of  Laughterhouse, The Frog & Bucket, Komedia, Funhouse Comedy Clubs, Up The Creek, The Comedy Station. Twitter: @stephanie_laing Instagram/FB: stephanielaingcomedian

Vivienne Kay (Comedian)

Home Counties girl Vivienne Kay recently entered the world of stand up and brings a delightful charm undercut by wit and cynicism to shows throughout the UK. Don’t let her apparent virtue fool you. Described as having ‘funny bones’, she mixes an innocence with unexpected darkness in gag filled sets. “Vivienne Kay has plenty to say ... think Joe Pasquale on helium ... a winning, slightly vulnerable persona” Chortle. “Solid comedy” The Wee Review. “Quirky, on the money style… a talented comedian who makes the audience feel at home” Suffolk Punch Comedy Club. Bath New Act 2018: FINALIST / Get Up Stand Up 2018: SEMI-FINALIST. Twitter & Instagram: @viviennekay