Tell Us about:
Your latest show:
Sardines: In Butter is an hour-long exorcism of our innermost fantasies through a menagerie of absurd sketches and characters. Or more simply put, it’s a very silly, compilation sketch show, written and performed by three taller-than-average, funny women.
Your favourite joke you have created:
The greatest joke / sketch / character we (or some might say, anyone) has ever written was called RumpleButtPlug (RBP™). Sadly, we are no longer at liberty to perform it because the ruddy PC police threatened us with legal action if we were to ever show it again. Nothing untoward, just too impressive for unregulated human consumption.
Your favourite venue to perform at:
It’s a toss-up between Monkey Barrel in Edinburgh and The Cav in Stockwell, London. They both have lovely spaces, peculiar decors, consistently entertaining programmes of shows (including one of our favourite nights, NipSlip at The Cav), and utterly delightful staff. The only difference is that Monkey Barrel has that fresh, Scottish air and The Cav has a little crazy golf course.
The joke that was the longest to write and why?
The Sondheim sketch took a long time to land on a premise that worked. Melodramatic transatlantic characters come very naturally to us so we started with some one-liners and a deep respect for the musical stylings of Stephen Sondheim.
However, it was challenging to create a narrative for the sketch that “made sense” and “didn’t require a massive budget for elaborate set design and CGI” and “didn’t leave the audience confused and unsettled”. Eventually, we ended up with something that somehow, and don’t ask us how, comments on unstable global politics, the mental health crisis, late-stage capitalism, and the power of art to uplift and inspire. Now, it’s the opening sketch of In Butter, with the hopes of setting the eccentric and irreverent vibe that is the rest of the show.
Comedy hero:
With three of us in Sardines, we each have very different comedy favourites all iconic in their own rights. Interestingly, the place where our Venn diagram overlaps tends to be 00s kids TV stars and pop culture, namely Horrible Histories, A Very Potter Musical, that Devil Finger kid. Really formative, influential figures in our comedy careers.
Dream venue to play at:
There are plenty of iconic stages that every comedian dreams of performing on. Regardless of the size of the room, selling out spaces where we’ve sat in the audience and watched our favourites perform, would feel amazing. Having said that, we’re literally frothing at the mouth for anywhere that would have us.
Describe the feeling you get when you walk on stage to do a show:
We’ve often just had a pre-show Full-Fat-Coke (or a refreshing lime soda, preferably cordial and fresh lime) so we’re usually absolutely buzzing, reaching heights of tummy bubblage that have never before been reached. So, by the time we walk out on stage, we feel spiritually connected to each other in our efforts to not burp and fart the audience into extinction. Other than that, we’re just happy to be out of the house.
The hardest joke to perform and why:
We’re prone to the giggles towards the end of the show, when delirium and exhaustion are about to set in. We’re yet to make it through the final sketch, Janky, without breaking. And if you have ever seen Cecilia in her tiny wig then you will understand.
Essential items you always take on tour with you?
- Copies of our Sar-zine.
- Accidentally incredibly coordinated on-stage outfits, despite a persistent lack of planning.
- And props. When we started out, we swore we wouldn’t become prop-comics but some people just have greatness thrust upon them. Now we traipse around the country with a stash of bits, bobs and craft supplies that would overwhelm a small Victorian child.
Describe your fans in three words:
Beautiful buttery baddies
What we can look forward to from you this year:
We’ll be performing our hour, In Butter, and shorter sets at comedy nights around the country so look out for a show in your city. New editions of the Sar-zine are coming soon. And there are plans for some very elaborate merch.
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