We knew it couldn’t last. When the Wanstead Comedy Night bizarrely relocated to Leytonstone last year, organiser Jon Fentiman did his best to put on a brave face.
It was possible, he told us at the time, for the proud folk of Wanstead to venture outside the hood and remain psychologically intact. He encouraged the recitation of a mantra – “I am part of Wanstead and Wanstead is part of me. Knowing this helps me feel safe beyond the Green Man Roundabout†– and even imagining wearing a Judith’s dress to give the ego a boost to overcome the trauma.
Well, that was in May. Now we’re in February and are delighted to report that it’s coming home. From this Thursday evening, the Wanstead Comedy Night will be back in Wanstead – initially at the Eton Manor Rugby Club on Nutter Lane but from next month at its new regular home of the Wanstead Golf Club (ie this is change of venue to the report in the Wanstead Guardian).
The celebratory line-up for this return event will include Paul Sinha, who is a regular on Radio 4 and has just been commissioned by the station to produce his first series.
Tickets are £5. Rugby Club members and guests can pay on the door or phone Pete Finley to reserve a table (07896 940932). Non-members should call Jon on 07950 759587. More details at the Wanstead Comedy Night website.
Wansteadium now plans to resume its former practice of a post consisting of half-remembered best lines from the evening. Anyone contributing will win a keyring.