Glasgow takes its comedy seriously – but not too seriously, obviously. If you’ve ever wandered into The Stand, you’ll know it’s less a club and more an institution. This year, as the Glasgow International Comedy Festival (GICF) returns from 11th – 29th March, The Stand is once again taking centre stage, and this time, they’ve got a shiny new venue and a programme that’s as stacked as a Saturday night line-up.
By Isla McGraw
Glasgow loves funny, and the GICF gives us the opportunity to bring some of the best acts from across the world to our city,’ says The Stand. ‘It’s a vital showcase and puts the city very firmly on the comedy map. Our programme reflects both supporting and developing local and upcoming talent as well as giving us an opportunity to invite some of the biggest names to the West End of Glasgow.’
You can always count on world-class acts with a dose of homegrown humour, but this year feels even more special. Not just because of the festival, but because it’s the first GICF since The Stand found its new home. At Websters on Great Western Road.
A New Home
‘This is the first year of our new venue on Great Western Road and we’re incredibly excited about the role it will play this year,’ they say. ‘We only opened in September, and it’s been such a rush to see our customers and comics embrace it with such enthusiasm. Our new space allows us to seat everyone comfortably, we have a front bar for people to hang out, with a terrace if the sun is shining and also have food options on selected shows. This year we will also have a smaller room allowing us to run more intimate performances alongside our main space. What makes The Stand has always been our staff and we have a brilliant team led by our venue manager Fraser.’
So, in fewer words, you can grab a pint, catch some comedy, and actually get comfy. Now that’s not bad for a Glasgow night out.
And if you’re wondering who’s on stage… ‘Our programme this year is absolutely stacked and we’re excited about each and every one of them,’ says The Stand. ‘We have TV names like Ania Magliano, Desiree Birch, Tom Rosenthal and Neil Delamere. We have two recent Fringe award winners with Jordan Gray and Jo Kent-Walters. We have the very best of Scottish-based comics with the likes of MC Hammersmith, Jay Lafferty, Gareth Mutch and Chris Forbes, and in the Wee Room we have Fringe winner Ayo Adenekan, Glasgow’s own Amanda Dwyer, The Wee Man and much more.’
Supporting Up and Coming Comedians
But The Stand isn’t just about booking big names. It’s about creating a platform for fresh voices and helping comics take that next leap. After all, what is Glasgow without a bit of newfound banter? ‘The festival is vital in terms of encouraging new talent,’ they explain. ‘It provides a supported platform for up-and-coming comedians to put together their first hour-long show and develop work either for a tour or the Fringe later in the year without incurring huge costs.
The Stand has three venues that run all year round, so it’s important to us to be ahead of the curve in supporting new talent as they develop their craft, regardless of where they are in their careers. This year, The Stand has identified a number of Scottish-based acts we are funding to perform at the Fringe. The Glasgow Comedy Festival is an important step for them in getting their shows together and building their audience.’
That’s the beauty of The Stand — it’s not just a club, it’s a comedy incubator. It’s where jokes are tested, where new names break through, and where even the most famous comics pop back for the joy of performing to a rowdy and brilliant Glasgow crowd.
And of course, it helps to have a venue that’s as impressive as the acts it hosts. ‘The new venue is such an asset. Greater visibility, greater capacity, a front bar separate from the main venue, and it is completely accessible for audience and performers. It’s also such an iconic building in its own right with one of the tallest steeples in the city. We’re very lucky to have signed a 25-year lease and have big plans to both extend our programme and use of the building as we go forward.’
Everyone’s Catered For
For anyone keeping score, that’s beer, accessibility, steeples, and 25 years of guaranteed laughter. That’s a pretty solid list of reasons to visit.
The new set-up is also making The Stand’s already impressive programme even busier. ‘We can now extend our programme with the Wee Room, allowing us to run two shows at the same time. Our capacity has increased which means bigger acts want to come and play, and again, being all accessible means that people who before couldn’t come to our venue now can comfortably attend shows.’
So, whether you want the buzz of a packed room, or the cozy feel of a front-row set, The Stand has the perfect space for your kind of comedy night.
And if you’ve somehow never been, The Stand has a recommendation. ‘Come see one of our multi-act nights — you’ll get a taste for the venue, and I can guarantee there will be someone, if not all, that you will like. One of the shows in this year’s festival that is highly recommended is our “Benefit for Lui” on the 29th of March. Lui is a wee boy born with some serious health issues, and The Stand has made a commitment to raise money for him and his family.
Shaping Comedy
His parents have a long-standing relationship with our club and the comedy community in general, and every year we put on a benefit for him as part of the GICF and the Fringe. If you’ve never been to The Stand before, this is the show to get a ticket for as we always have big names, some great surprises, and you get to feel good about yourself as all your ticket money goes to helping this little boy. We can’t reveal who the line-up is this year yet, but I guarantee a special night. It will sell out, so get in quick.’
And that sums up what makes The Stand such a beloved part of Glasgow’s comedy scene. It’s not just the talent on stage — it’s the heart behind it. As they put it, ‘We have a brilliant programme, the best staff and most of all, The Stand has been in the West End for 25 years. It belongs to this community, and it is their venue. The people of the area have always felt ownership of it. We love that, and we want that to continue for the next 25 years — our bar is open from 5pm on weekdays and from 12 noon at weekends, so even if you just fancy a pint or a coffee, drop in and see us.’
In short: good beer, great jokes, and a crowd that laughs unapologetically.
The Stand isn’t just hosting the comedy festival — it’s shaping it. Whether you’re a regular fan or just popping in for a fun night out, you’ll leave with that unmistakable Glasgow grin and the sense that, for a city that loves a good laugh, The Stand will always be the punchline worth waiting for.
Glasgow International Comedy Festival will run from the 11th to the 29th of March. Shows are at 39 different venues across the city. To find out more information, visit glasgowcomedyfestival.com.
The Stand Comedy Club Glasgow
Websters, 420 Great Western Rd, G4 9JA
thestand.co.uk
@thestandglasgow
