Westdene Brighton to host improv comedy night event

Whose Barn Is It Anyway? takes place in Westdene, Brighton, on Saturday, April 18, promising chaos and audience participation in homage to Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Hosted by Sheep Dip Comedy Club at The Barn in Westdene, the event will feature Brighton-based improv group Simulation Theory.

Jon Card, co-founder of Sheep Dip Comedy Club, said: "TV comedy just doesn’t make us laugh as much as it used to, so we decided to start putting on our own nights. We keep it simple.

"It’s bring your own booze, tickets aren’t expensive and we’re done by 9pm so people can just walk home."

Sheep Dip Comedy Club was launched in August 2024 by Brighton couple Jon and Corinne Card.

The club has since attracted audiences of more than 40 people and featured comedians including Sydney May and Nick Helm.

Mr Card said The Barn has become a valued community venue.

He said: "It’s a hidden gem. A few years ago it was nearly shut down, but now it’s hosting something almost every day.

"Having a comedy night on your doorstep is something people really value, and it’s a lot cheaper than going into town."

Corinne Card, who co-runs the club, said improv offers audiences something rare in today’s entertainment landscape.

She said: "People remember Whose Line Is It Anyway? because it was pure spontaneity.

"You had incredibly quick people creating something out of nothing, and that’s still compelling to watch."

She believes the live, unfiltered format adds to the experience.

She said: "In a TV studio it feels controlled. In a room like this, it’s much more immediate.

"The audience is part of it and that’s where it becomes really exciting because anything can happen."

She said that part of the fun comes from not knowing what will happen next.

She said: "Improv is the opposite. It’s messy, it’s human and, when it works, it’s brilliant. And when it doesn’t work, that can often be just as funny."

Whose Barn Is It Anyway? runs from 7pm to 9pm.

Tickets are available via Tickettailor.