No joke as novel comedy show celebrates diversity

A kaleidoscope of comedy acts will take to the stage in Galway this weekend for a novel event that celebrates diversity through jokes.

Comediversity, organised by Martin Beanz Ward, a gay Traveller from Tuam, takes place in the Róisín Dubh in the city this Saturday, November 11.

In what is believed to be a comedy first in Ireland, among the stand-up acts is an asylum seeker, who is living in Direct Provision in Galway.

More than half of the acts are women; and there is also a drag queen from Loughrea as well as LGBT comedians, including Breda Larkin from Ballinasloe.

The proceeds of the event will go to a women’s charity and a local support centre for gay people.  Mr Ward is organising the event with Chris Sture, from Norway. It stemmed from criticism he received for the male-dominated, straight line-up at an event Ward organised during Galway Gay Pride.

“A bi- woman comedian complained about the lack of diversity in the line-up. She assumed that because I was a Traveller comedian that I was also straight. Rather than argue with her, we decided to recognise that sometimes comedy line-ups aren’t always diverse and set about changing that,” he said.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.