KATHERINE MACALISTER finds out more about a comedy club with a difference

It’s long overdue, but The Oxford Playhouse has stepped up to the mark to host Comedy Club 4 Kids, stand-up for children with some of the top names in the business.

Organised by Tiernan Douieb, “the small round funny man” as he calls himself, and featuring CBBC favourite Howard Reid from Little Howard and Big Howard, as well as joke-smith Tm FitzHigham, it will be an afternoon to remember, in a comedy club environment.

So what inspired Tiernan to concentrate on children’s humour rather than the grown-up’s? “Making kids laugh is an incredible feeling and if you can make them and their parents laugh all at once with a clean joke there’s something very rewarding about it. That and it’s a nice contrast from the political stuff I shout at adult shows. “Plus it actually suits me as I’m hugely immature most of the time,” he admits. So was it hard to persuade the other comedians to appear in the show?

“A lot of acts find the idea quite scary as kids have no qualms about telling you how bored they are. Actually, most kids’ shows are great as children are used to hearing stories, or sitting and listening in lessons and school assemblies far more than most adults.”

Tiernan got roped in originally by fellow comic James Campbell, and now that he’s running the show, Comedy Club 4 Kids has just gone from strength to strength.

So what about the other acts? Tim FitzHigham was nominated for the Perrier Best Newcomer gong in 1999, and recently found fame as one half of Infinite Number Of Monkeys. He is now striding out as a solo performer once more. “And then there’s Howard Reid, the explosive comedian from London who is very tall and very silly, who talks a lot about fruit and vegetables, is an award-winning animator and often uses his talents to great effect in his comedy performances, performing as the Big Howard & Little Howard’s Big Show for Kids.”

Tiernan will compere, no doubt blending his noisy funny, silly, beardy, word play humour into the show. “I can’t wait,” he says. “It will be a lot more interesting than shows for grown-ups as there is a lot more freedom to be creative.”

SEE IT Fridays at 5pm presents Comedy Club 4 Kids at Oxford Playhouse on Friday, October 25. Call the box office on 01865 305305 or book online at oxford playhouse.com