Georgette McCready enjoys an evening of festive mirth at Bath’s best comedy venue
When you’re self-employed or wfh alone, the question of what to do for your Christmas office party can be a tricky one. Where are you going to get the chance to wear that sparkly top or reindeer jumper?
Luckily for us, Komedia Bath has the Christmas party business all wrapped up. Whether you’re a solo trader bringing along a mate or partner, or you’re part of a team that expects to go out together for a bit of seasonal bonding, an evening at one of the Krater Club Christmas Specials will provide everything, from festive food and party hats to dancing, and best of all, the chance to enjoy a couple of hours of live stand-up comedy.
My partner and I went along for the show. We booked front seats on the balcony, where we were able to rest our wine glasses and elbows for a ringside seat. Below us, tables were laid out to give everyone a good view of the stage and the sound system in Komedia is excellent so you can clearly hear the gags from the stage.
The Christmas Club Special is like watching TV’s Live at the Apollo in person – except a lot more spicy because you have a live and unpredictable audience. It must take nerves of steel to get up on stage and deliver a ten or 15 minute routine – as headliner Jimmy McGhie said, it’s like a supply teacher taking on an unruly class of teenagers.
There were three acts. Charlie George, who also played the role of MC, quizzed us to see if we came from a worse town than her home town of Swindon and took us back to the days when foam parties were ‘a thing’.
Ignacio Lopez followed, with a fast-paced routine riffing on being part Welsh and part Spanish, and reflecting that the Brits’ capacity for drink had bankrupted Spain’s all-inclusive holiday industry. Do check him out. I particularly enjoyed his Christmas version of Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit.
By the time headliner Jimmy McGhie confidently stepped into the spotlight, there were a couple of people in the auditorium so full of Christmas spirit they thought they should be getting all the laughs. I admire a comedian who can deal this well with a heckle or two, while at the same time gunning for the modern gentle parenting style, taking a pop at middle aged men with expensive lightweight bikes and insisting that Bath is posh – ‘look at all the gilets and rugby shirts!’ he retorted. Fair point.
Our balcony tickets were £17.50 each and a bottle of Merlot was £20, but if you want to upgrade, festive meal deals are available at dates throughout December. And if you don’t have to get home for a babysitter, hang on while staff clear the tables away and hit the dancefloor to unleash your inner Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
Krater Comedy Club Christmas Specials run every Friday and Saturday night until 16 December, with tickets from £17.50 for the show only, or add on the Christmas meal option. All tickets allow access to the after-show dancefloor party.
There’s also a New Year’s Eve Special, with live comedy, food and the chance to dance your way into 2024!
The gloriously camp and cheeky Ministry of Burlesque Christmas Cabaret, Friday 22 December, offers an evening of comedy, music and scantily clad showgirls.
Bingo, as you’ve never played it before, with all sorts of mischief and joke prizes, returns on Tuesday 5 and 12 December, and on Saturday 23 December, as Bingo Lingo steps into Christmas. And, if your kitchen disco doesn’t give you enough space for your dance moves, join in the Big Disco Christmas Special late night parties, from 11pm to 3am every Saturday at the Westgate Street venue.
To book visit komedia.co.uk or tel: 01225 489070.