Please join me in celebrating 20 years of Just The Tonic at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
I have had the absolute pleasure and privilege of interviewing the founder of Just the Tonic Comedy Club, Darrell Martin. The club started in 1994 in Nottingham and expanded its venues across the UK. What he has to say is fascinating and will take you places you perhaps don’t expect as he provides answers that are a real eye-opener, including tickets on sale now…
I have had the absolute pleasure and privilege of interviewing the founder of Just the Tonic Comedy Club, Darrell Martin. The club started in 1994 in Nottingham and expanded its venues across the UK. What he has to say is fascinating and will take you places you perhaps don’t expect as he provides answers that are a real eye-opener, including tickets on sale now…
1. How does it feel celebrating 20 years at the Edinburgh Fringe?
It feels weary. I have aged way beyond my years. All this laughing at shows has taken it’s toll. My face aches, as does my belly. Especially this year, what with the addition of celebrating.
2. Who were your early mentors and fave comedians
I had no mentors. I was a lonely promoter in the East Midlands. We were like an outback for comedy. Anyone I trusted as a mentor turned out to be yet another shark on the look out for young blood to devour. Trust no one. Favourite comedians have been Phil Kay, Johnny Vegas, Sean Lock, Ross Noble, Spencer Jones.
3. You like giving new talent a platform – do you have any future plans to help young comedians?
Nothing concrete planned. We are discussing this as a group at the moment, but Edfringe has come along and swept away all time and energy.
4. You are hosting Connor Burns this year who is doing really well. Would you like to see more Scottish comedians on the JTT programme? Is that important to you? Any plans to run more comedy nights in Edinburgh throughout the year?
Connor is ACE! A really fresh face for comedy,. A young comic that is able to appeal across the generations. Really great for club gigs and solo shows. We run a monthly gig in Edinburgh at the moment but are looking to expand on that. As I am now based in Edinburgh I am more aware of Scottish acts and we make it a policy to try and be booking Scottish acts into our Edinburgh shows, and then exporting them south. Our next gig is Susie McCabe on 5th October… tickets on sale NOW!
5. How do you put your own curated / compilation JTT branded shows together – does that happen before the Fringe or do you go to see shows during the Fringe, or do people approach you?
The Big Value Comedy Show is a long process to programme. But Comedy in the Dark is sort of half done before the festival starts and then filled in on the hoof during the festival., Often when bumping into people and remembering you have gaps to fill!
6. How do you programme Just The Tonic? Do people apply, do you choose your own shows, or a mix? What influences your final decision in overall programme.
We have a number of people that just keep coming back. That is growing each year., We have people that we actively seek out, and we also respond to applications. At present it is just myself doing it, but we are looking to bring someone new in for next year to help. What with my diminishing hearing, my poor vision and my failing sense of humour, my gout and lack of memory and foul odour, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep abreast of the changing tide of the comedy and arts scene.
7. What are the biggest challenges and what excites you running venues at the Fringe? Any stories for this year in particular?
This year has been a challenge because we have a new management team. But it has worked out so well. We have learnt a lot, but overall we have succeeded as a team. It is difficult to say what excites me about running venues because I am in the middle of it and it feels like a real slog. But it is calming down and we are now able to see shows. The exciting this is when we have shows on that the public love, and they show that by coming in droves and then the performers are caught in a surprise bubble of success. It feels like a privilege to host things like this. I genuinely enjoy peoples success. No real stories this year., so far. Aren’t I dull.
8. Mental health is a big issue at the Fringe. How do you cope with the challenges and demands, and deal with the performers who might be going through a hard time? And what do you do yourself to stay calm?
The fringe can be really demanding, mentally. It is a long slog, and people are investing time and money into it. And often they are pinning a lot on it. Yes… it is a rollercoaster.
I cope by not having the 1st drink.
For further reading about Just The Tonic to discover more, please check this link out here from an earlier blog post featuring the venues and a Just The Tonic link to what’s on in Edinburgh and one for around the UK.
https://bookmarksandstages.home.blog/2024/07/15/time-to-celebrate-just-the-tonic-20-years-at-the-edinburgh-fringe-festival-justthetonic-edfringe-unleashyourfringe-edfringe2024-comedy-theatre-adarrellmartin/
https://bookmarksandstages.home.blog/2024/07/15/time-to-celebrate-just-the-tonic-20-years-at-the-edinburgh-fringe-festival-justthetonic-edfringe-unleashyourfringe-edfringe2024-comedy-theatre-adarrellmartin/
What’s on in Edinburgh at Just the Tonic
What’s on around the UK at Just the Tonic Venues
Bookmarks and Stages by Lou 