I’m Not Being Funny

‘I’m not gonna stand up in front of a bunch of strangers and tell stories about you and me.’

She’s signed them both up. Her and her husband. For stand-up comedy.

So tonight, they’re locking themselves in their living room until they’ve got a ‘tight five’, delving through their past for material. But some jokes hurt, and laughter isn’t always the best medicine.

With the clock ticking and nothing but a baby monitor for an audience, they wrestle with the spotlight as questions about their future are forced to the surface.

A new play about hope, endings and how to survive if a knock knock joke hits you in the gut, I’m Not Being Funny is written by Piers Black (Catching Comets, Pleasance & UK tour), directed by Traverse Theatre Associate Artist Bryony Shanahan (Bloody Elle, West End) and produced by Prentice Productions (How I Learned To Swim, Brixton House).

Closing

13/06/2026

Running Time

1h30, no interval

Genre

Drama, Plays

Age & Content

TBC

Please Note:

This production contains moments of darkness, loud noises, sudden lighting changes, the use of strong language throughout, themes of grief and loss, discussion of diagnosis of chronic illness, including terminal cancer, mention of suicide, depictions of anxiety and a panic attack, depiction of alcohol consumption, depiction of mild aggressive behaviours and acute distress & moments of direct audience address.

Creative:

Writer -

Piers Black

Director -

Bryony Shanahan

No accessibility performances are currently scheduled for this show.