A night out at ROFL and LOL Comedy Club at The Finsbury

Continuing our tour of comedy nights in HoL land, last night found us perched on tall (for me, I’m v short) seats at The Finsbury for the 63rd ROFLnLOL Comedy night.

Christian Schulte-Loh at ROFLandLOL, The Finsbury Pub

It was my first time at The Finsbury since its makeover (I don’t get out much) and I was very impressed with the atmosphere, the welcome and the ladies loos (this is important, well at least to me). There was even a couple of bitters that suited, although it's not quite beardy real ale lovers (of which I’m one, minus the beard) territory.

The comedy club takes place at the back of the pub on a very high stage, that also hosts lots of live music the rest of the week. By the time we got there at 8.15, many seats were taken already. Entry is free, which is amazing given the quality of the comedians that the night attracts.

The evening is hosted by its manager and founder, Julian Savitch Lee, a Harringay resident, who also gives out free chocolate and “is not there to be funny” (that’s what he says, not me). The evening was opened by the very funny James Dowdeswell who was followed by Paul-David Collins (pictured) whose deadpan delivery on the trials of marriage caused our party to chortle greatly.

After the first interval, a number of comedians get 5 to 7 minutes to make us laugh. Comedians with vastly differing styles experiment and try out material on the audience. Young comedian Nick Saunders, who is only 19, showed real promise and the other comedians in this section all scored quite a few laughs out of an audience that is respectful but happy to join in banter when required.

In the final segment, two more experienced comedians took the stage. Now, I would find the prospect of standing up in front of an audience trying to make them laugh terrifying and I have great admiration for any performer who puts themselves in the spotlight, but to do it in a language other than your mother tongue is even more impressive. When you’re learning another language, humour is usually the last thing that you even understand, let alone master.

So when Danish comedian Morten Sorenson (pictured above) and then German comedian Christian Shulte-Loh  took their turn at the mic, you can only wonder at their talent with languages and indeed language itself, which means that they can hold an audience's attention on a wet Wednesday night in London and make them...well... ROFLnLOL (although Julian asked us not to ROFL because of all the furniture, but go with me).

This is an excellent night out a mere 5 minute walk from the bright lights of Harringay Green Lanes in a local pub that is clearly working hard at being an asset to the community.

Highly recommended...and I hope that now I’ve told you all this, I’ll be able to get a seat the next time I go!

ROFL and LOL Comedy Club takes place weekly at The Finsbury Pub. Follow them on Facebook to find out which comedians they will be hosting every Wednesday. They are also on Twitter