Angie Johnson looks forward to the Oxford Comedy Festival

Chatting to Ida Persson is lots of fun, which is not surprising really as she is an outstanding young comedian. Originally from Sweden, she has been based in Oxford for several years and is one of the bright young things of the local comedy scene. Now she and her colleagues in The Dead Secrets troupe are curating the upcoming Oxford Comedy Festival. “With all the successful comedy festivals in cities around the country, like Brighton and Edinburgh, we thought it was time for Oxford to have one of its own,” she said.

Persson is actually a bit of an all-rounder in the entertainment sphere; she has tried her hand at acting, improvisation, and is a founder member of the sketch-based comedy group The Dead Secrets. “Oxford is a great place for trying things out” she tells me. “There is so much going on in the arts, you can do things and see if you like them. Comedy, I found out, is my favourite.”

Ida and the Dead Secrets have a considerable talent for mirth-making, as the glowing reviews from their stint this summer at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe attests. They are a company that are going places with a real buzz about them. I was curious as to why, at this very exciting point in their career, they put themselves up for the huge challenge of organising a festival? “Well it is a lot of work, certainly,” Persson agrees. “But Oxford has a great comedy heritage and we wanted to celebrate that. Surprisingly for a place with such a big and varied comedy scene, there has never been a festival dedicated solely to it.”

The line-up is impressive and full of variety, with acts from all over coming to perform stand-up, musical comedy, improvisation and sketches. Alongside very experienced comedians the festival is also providing a showcase for emerging talent. Ida Persson is clearly excited by the opportunities the event brings. “It is a chance for us to get together and learn from each other.”

The venue is the Old Fire Station. Ida, who knows it well, says: “It’s a great space for this kind of project.”

Performers who will be turning up to do their thing include improvisers David Reed, Ruth Bratt and Andrew Pugsley — collectively known as Panthercannon — Lead Pencil, a unique sketch show that actually sketches, and a musical turn from Matt Winkworth, the acclaimed singer-songwriter.

I am also excited at the prospect of seeing Impromptu Shakespeare with their unique take on the Bard’s works, and for any dinosaurs out there who still think pretty women can’t do stand-up comedy as well as the chaps, then award-winning comediennes Annabel O’Connell and Elf Lyons will be there to prove them wrong. Sketch-based companies aplenty are also on the menu. In addition to the Dead Secrets, The Awkward Silence and Lazy Susan present their comic stylings.

To see more about these acts and the many others at the festival visit oxfordcomedyfestival.org

There is something on offer for everyone’s comedic tastes.

According to Persson, that is one of the purposes behind the festival, “We really wanted to get people along to enjoy some good comedy — to put something on that the whole of Oxfordshire could come and enjoy.”

Their community spirit doesn’t stop at tickling our ribs either — they are also hoping to raise a lot of money for their two nominated charities. One of them is the Pathway Workshop, the Oxford-based charity that provides productive employment and training for disadvantaged adults between 16 and 80, with both physical disabilities and learning impairment.

The other charity is the Disasters Emergency Committee — the umbrella organisation for 14 humanitarian aid agencies. All profits from the festival will go to these worthy causes. Ida explains: “We realised this would be a great opportunity to raise money for charity, an idea all the acts were on board with and excited by.”

The festival on Saturday takes the form of two gala performances. Each will be different, however, with the acts presenting different sets in the matinée to the evening show.

So there is no need to miss anything if you make a day of it and go to both. I know that is what I will do.

Oxford Comedy Festival
Old Fire Station, Oxford
Saturday, 2-5pm and 7-10pm
Visit oxfordcomedyfestival.org