Covering Serious Topics Without Getting Too Serious

Jive Ass Honkey, UK comedian Carl Donnelly's show at the MICF, doesn't sound like the name of a show that plumbs the depths of its performer's anxieties for audience entertainment. It does do that, but it is also does much more.

"I've been prone to anxiety and depression my whole life and come from a family riddled with mental health problems, so comedy has always been my crutch and outlet to not totally lose the plot," explains Donnelly. "I've always been honest on stage about my life but thought this year I'd share a few things I've previously skirted around. I don't want to say it was partly for my own good but it definitely turned out that way."

"Comedy has always been my crutch and outlet to not totally lose the plot."

Donnelly isn't just saying that, everything seems on the table. "My show is an hour of stories and jokes about my anxieties, of which there are many," he says, "I cover depression, therapy, body dysmorphia, my relationship with my mother and other such hilarious problems I've had in my life. It sounds bleak but I promise it's not. I'm hoping I've managed to be brutally honest while sticking to my stupid style and silly sense of humour."

It's a balance that isn't easy to find, or maintain, but the benefits of creating open discourse are worth the effort. "I wanted to make sure that despite covering topics that sounds serious, at no point does the show feel serious, which was difficult," says Donnelly wryly. "Certain routines ended up being cut — as I thought despite being on topic and making good points I just thought they were too close to being more interesting than funny and that's the last thing I want to be... I finally worked it out, as audiences will see if they come along.

"I think I come across on stage as a very confident person so by explaining to people that despite appearances, I've been riddled with anxieties for most of my life will go some way to show that anyone can be affected by mental health issues regardless of what they are projecting to the outside world. Hopefully it will also show some men that there's nothing wrong with talking about your problems. We have a real problem with men's mental health at the moment so there needs to be a change in how we discuss these issues."

All delicate topics, but controversy and offence aren't high on his list of concerns. "Any topic done well with intelligence and honesty can be joked about. The problem is normally that bad comedians, who lack the skill, tackle offensive topics badly and ruin it for the rest of us by causing controversy," says Donnelly. "A good comedy hour is one where the performer is being authentic and doing the comedy they clearly enjoy doing. An abysmal hour is always where a comedian has written a show with what other people want in mind. I've seen so many inauthentic shows where the comic has just shoehorned in a clunky theme or some misplaced pathos hoping for better reviews. Just be yourself."