On a street somewhere, there is the meeting of great minds… On a street somewhere, masterminds congregate for the people… On a street somewhere, the few and the rare convene… They are known as… The Stroke Comedy Club (formerly known as The Lichfield Comedy Club*) and that street somewhere is Bird Street and the assembly of these comical geniuses is The George Hotel at 8:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month with the measly fee of £8.00 on entrance.
The change of name is credited to the Stroke Club which arranges for people who have suffered a stroke to hear actors, often comedians, read stories and tell jokes to stimulate the areas of the brain that have lost nerve connections. Apparently, humour is one of the best ways to stimulate the brain! Garrick The original night began at the new Garrick Theatre in the town, when it opened with a huge six-night comedy festival in July 2003, when Glenn Wool and Jeremy Hardy were among the stars. In a world where we are over-run by musical ‘talents’, people who tell the satirical tales of everyday life with great spirit are far and few between although you wouldn’t think so given that since the club’s opening in 2002, every monthly show is fully-booked for weeks in advance. The evening begins with Steve Salter (from Tamworth) who compères the show and the first comedian amuses us (or not!) with his ironic intellect and this lasts for about forty-five minutes and then its break time and then to destroy that sense of anti-establishment and bring in unity a game of Irish Bingo is played with Steve (the compère) shouting the numbers in any accent chosen by the audience. Open mike Then there is an open mike spot: sometimes good, sometimes bad and sometimes just darn ugly but always amusing (I mean come on, no one on this planet can ever say they don’t find other people’s embarrassment hilarious – after all, we are only human.) And once all that’s over (assuming everyone is over their fit of laughter and haven’t been taken to the hospital with stomach cramps), the main comedian takes the centre stage from 10:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (which I originally thought was absurdly short amount of time but then I realised, it’s because s/he is so talented that there is no need for time to salvage their career!). A-list Amongst the well-known names that appear at the comedy club are Geoff Green, Marcus Birgstock and Sean Lock. Of course it isn’t all A-List celebrity; there are others from the London and TV circuits and their always a good chortle at the end of it. So move The Comedy Cellar; you may no longer be one of the top comedy spots in the world! The club can welcome a wider range of talented comics from the London and UK circuits, whom it hosts regularly on the second Thursday in the month at the Lichfield George Hotel in Bird Street. For further information from Jane can be gleaned on her number 01543 472656; but on the night, it's better to talk to the George Hotel (01543 414822) direct. | 
