WORDS NICK CHURCHILL
PHOTOS BY WILLIAM BAZLINGTON
Ambition can take many forms, but behind the friendly smiling face of comedy performer and promoter Adrienne Coles lies… a friendly, smiling comedy performer and promoter.
“For me it’s not about getting on TV or having a string of comedy clubs, I love what I do and I want to do it as well as I possibly can,” says the host of Coastal Comedy, the monthly stand-up showcase at Lighthouse, Poole's Sherling Studio.
“I get a real buzz from performing, but I also love dealing with the comedians, getting the show on, promoting it, all the things that need to be done – I’m a real one-man band and when we have a really good night and people are leaving the venue on a high because of something I put on, there’s no feeling like it.”
Having started her own comedy night in Bournemouth’s Hotel Celebrity, Adrienne set up Coastal Comedy at Lighthouse last April, hosting three comedians a month with herself as compere.
The mum-of-two has a busy life, also working part-time as head of marketing for Dorset Children’s Foundation and is now hosting regular shows in the venue's main theatre. The first, with headliner Lee Nelson, was a sell out and Adrienne already has star names such as the Lost Voice Guy, aka Britain’s Got Talent winner Lee Ridley, lined up for next year.
The funny thing is, Adrienne’s route into comedy was anything but. It was when she was going through a divorce that she decided to take up stand-up.
“I asked myself what it was that I really wanted to do and ever since I was a kid people have told me I should be on the stage because I always had a comeback or a funny line. I did open mic nights then got a few paid gigs and was driving all over the place late at night, which can be pretty lonely when you’ve had a bad gig.
“It can be quite emotional. I was so thrilled when Ben Norris said he’d had his best gig ever at Coastal Comedy. I’m happy with where it has taken me.”
:: Coastal Comedy returns to Lighthouse on:
Saturday, October 5 – Tom Stade, Zoe Lyons, Ben Norris
Saturday, October 12 – John Lynn, Mike Cox, Rob Mulholland
Saturday, November 23 – Marlon Davis, Sam Savage, Ant Dewson
Saturday, December 19 – Christmas Special with Tom Lucy and Jake Lambert plus guests
lighthousepoole.co.uk
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