Ministry of Absurdism

A microscopic comedian stands performs in front of a bus.

As I write, my silly comedy night, Ministry of Absurdism, is about a week away and I’m still trying to work out how I will MC it this time. Amongst other things I’ve been a sewer clown doing shadow puppetry, a mermaid, a different mermaid, a dinosaur with a dinosaur puppet, and an angry rose. Usually there’s a cardboard prop or two; perhaps a viking long ship or a painting of boobs to sneak into the gallery. This month is a music special. I have five brilliant musical comedians* including a winner and two finalists from Musical Comedian of the Year. They are going to be amazing. I however am still trying to tempt down the inspiration fairies.

Ministry is a themed comedy night that has been going for eight years now. Penny Matthews, Sarah Bridgeman and I started it because there just wasn’t enough weird in the South Wales comedy scene. It’s just me running it now, once every three months, but I like to think it’s still pulling local comedy towards the experimental side and away from the predictable ‘edgy’ jokes about Jimmy Saville yawn.

I contact the comedians a few months before the gig, and that’s when they find out the theme. None of this ‘picking what suits them’ nonsense. It’s all part of the challenge. I’ve no idea how many performers there have been over the years but some stand out moments include:

• A sea shanty played on a boot
• A mime doing stand up
• A microscopic MC
• A discussion about the taste of aliens
• A random guy walking in during the show and voluntarily drinking a concoction of mashed strawberries and underpants
• A set based on the roll of dice
• A comedian controlled by their demonic puppet
• A different comedian talking to a sock puppet and getting an audience member to feed it biscuits.

There’s also been a film noir detective, a dystopian teacher, a children’s entertainer on the edge, sketch comedy, improv and games. I guarantee there’s loads of other ridiculous things I’ve forgotten here.

So what will I do next week? It’s often like this, it’ll be two days before the gig inspiration finally strikes and I’m hastily making cardboard props or a terrible costume, or emailing Scott who runs the bar to see if he can play some sound effect or tune I’ve bodged together (sorry Scott!).

I think a lot of the comedians do this, too. I’ll get messages a few days before telling me they have a new idea, a few have even been writing their set in the beer garden while the others are performing. Seat of your pants comedy!

At its absolute best, Ministry is just on the right side of chaos to charm the comedians and the audience. You wouldn’t get this on Live At The Apollo. At its worst…well there was the gig where so many comedians dropped out beforehand (wimps!) that I rage-cancelled. Only so much stage time you can fill with a potato doing a strip tease and an emergency audience brussel sprout hunt.

Anyway, I’ll definitely have something written by next thursday. Probably. If not, the comedians I’ve booked will be brilliant anyway.

*Chris Rio, Jeff Japers, Joy Harper, Sam Hickman and Paul Dennis

Ministry of Absurdism, 9th July, 7:30, Down By Here, 210 High Street, Swansea.

Or follow the socials for future gigs, @ministry.of.absurdism on Instagram and Ministry of Absurdism on Facebook.