Laughs and absurdity in Nottingham's best known wormhole

Last time I was at Fisher Gate Point, I got to enjoy an art show. Today I caught the last two acts of a weekend comedy jamboree put together by Club Wormhole. They were enough to intrigue me about the range of events I could have checked out assuming sufficient time and energy.

‘Jamboree’ implies fun and the wary might note a built-in warning about cringe potential. There was scope for both with the very different performers showcased.

First up was Ava Liversidge, who walked a highwire with a deliriously chaotic show. Inviting audience members to play with sound effects, toys, and other interaction could have gone all kinds of ways. Somehow, it teetered deliciously without ever falling thanks to Ava’s vulnerability, accepting and utilising everything offered. The conceit, one I hope not to be seen through - this was their last show. But hey, it would form the basis of an AI-created app, all the better for monetising mirth.

That’s a whole lot of stuff right there. And it was a delight to experience. Sure, shambolic. Awkward. All of that and more, Ava in relation with audience both weathervane and wind. I was reminded at times of the singular Andy Kaufman, with a more 21^st century take on his mix of naivety and frame-shifting. More of this please, or whatever’s to follow. Only, not the app we supposedly helped build which would surely be a financial and technical disaster that would kill the internet, however gleefully.

Lee Kennedy was in many respects playing in similar territory. The set-up was him having been a Catholic priest. Something ecumenical and alarming clearly happened, as he was now welcoming us to his Clown Church. For sure, there was an overlap around interaction with the audience and use of props. Key to the distinction between the shows, was a more overt approach to directing what happened in the room. It was for sure entertaining - although Lee’s knack for orchestrating compliance felt at times a Bible-page’s thickness away from being the real deal. Perhaps that was the point, and with it some accompanying tension. And too, moments of pathos, sincerity, and connection in the mix.

Had I been around for more shows on what would definitely have been an engaging weekend, I’d have enjoyed a wider spectrum to sample. With these two engaging and complementary performers, that’s what came up this time. I’d like to go further down the wormhole in future.

Club Wormhole's Wormhole Weekend played at Fishergate Point Studios from Friday November 7th to Sunday 10th November 2024.