It was a case of “the show must go on” when a venue was evacuated after a fire alarm.

Comedians taking part in the Laughing Horse Comedy Club Pick of the Fringe show continued their performance on the pavement in Queen’s Road, Brighton, after they had to leave The Quadrant venue.

Laughing Horse promoter Alex Petty picked up the microphone and took it outside.

Audience members continued watching the show in the rain on Sunday evening as firefighters arrived to check out the building.

They were joined by some bemused passers-by who wondered why there were comedians telling jokes outside a pub in front of a fire engine.

Mr Petty said: “If all of those people could come along to watch the show on a wet and windy Sunday night, then the least they deserved was not to have the show cut short by the inconvenience of a fire.”

It was a memorable first English stand-up performance for American comedienne Sandra Risser, who had just arrived in the UK ahead of two solos shows at The Temple in Western Road this week.

She was joined by Anna Freyberg, Bob Slayer, Jem Brookes, Kevin Hampson and compère Sajeela Kershi.

Fire crews discovered the smoke was coming from a neighbouring building. Once The Quadrant had been checked over, the show was able to resume inside.

The Laughing Horse Comedy Club will be at The Quadrant every night at 9pm until the end of the fringe on May 23.

Sajeela Kershi, Sandra Risser and Bob Slayer will also perform solo shows at the Quadrant and its sister venue, The Temple.

For tickets, visit www.

brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk.