History
Upstairs at the EDT started in November 1988. It lived under various names ‘Off the Tube’, ‘Parisan Theatre’ and eventually settling with the highly original name ‘Upstairs at the EDT’ (it does what it says on the tin!)
It was set up by a group of actors who wanted to create a local theatre in which to perform and showcase new plays and playwrights. The comedy club started as a way of earning funds to put on these plays.
And the fact that Janet Prince (the co-founder and soul giver) was married to one of the funniest men around, Mr Stephen Frost, which didn’t hurt . Steve regularly performed at the club with some of the up and coming new comics of the time, such as Eddie Izzard, Jo Brand (the Sea Monster), Mark Lamarr, Bill Bailey (Rubber Bishops), Mark Thomas, Jenny Eclair, Alan Davis, Harry Hill, Graham Norton etc…
In the summer it hosts many of the Edinburgh Festival Shows who preview with us before going up to Scotland.
Past shows have included Rich Hall, Bill Bailey, Al Murray, Ed Byrne, Dylan Moran, Boothby Graffoe.
It ran the infamous Celebrity Pub Quiz on a Thursday night. Each week was hosted by a different celebrity or comedian. Past hosts have included Stephen Frost, Paul Merton, Neil Morrissey, Jimmy Nesbitt, Ray Peacock, Jenny Eclair, Tony Hawks, Arthur Smith, Art Malik, Louise Jamieson and many more.
It also started the All New Stand Up Show which was a open mic night were some of the newer comics learn their trade, and some of the more established acts come and try out new material.
It left the EDT in Sept 2001. To make way for a ‘lovely new restaurant’. Only after a fantastic mini Edinburgh type Festival in Dulwich. Spread over three days, and two locations, the ‘edt’ and a ‘big top’ on Goose Green the edfest was an eclectric mix of laughs arts theatre, music, dance, poetry oh and also some comedy synchronised swimming thrown in for good measure.
We then re-opened the comedy club at the Magdala. We ran for a successfull two years before the place shut down for refurbishment. The Mag was turned into a gastro pub and they decided not to carry on with the comedy club.
We moved briefly to the Union Tavern on Camberwell New Road . But that didn’t work out for us there. Too far away and wrong location.
We finally found a new home at The Hob in Forest Hill (opposite Forest Hill station). It is a small, intimate venue and back near home territory. The area is very up and coming with lots of fine bars and restaurants close by. Over the past seven years the club has built and built hosting fantastic stand up nights and being particularly well known for our work in progress shows from Daniel Kitson and Micky Flanagan to name but two.
It’s fantastic to be a part or Forest Hill’s revival. It’s a wonderful area and with the advent of the Overground, new shops, coffee bars, the new pool and vibrant places like The HOB it can only go from strength to strength.
