Much like Provincetown Mass, Brighton in the UK has a larger-than-average queer population, so it makes sense that we would have a comedy night hosted by, performed by, and in front of a crowd that is predominantly queer.

Up until 2023, our comedy night at Komedia was known as ‘Bent Double’, run and emceed by Zoe Lyons. After many years of hosting the night, Zoe stepped down, and Lee Peart took over, renaming it ‘Down the Hatch’. As with most comedy nights, the format remained the same: an emcee who introduces each of the following three, sometimes four, comedians.

After witnessing Joan Rivers demolish the entire front row (and some of the second) at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2002 and then many years later, having an interaction with Tom Allen during his Soho Theatre show some years ago, I know very well not to sit in the front row of a comedy gig by now. So, when we went to ‘Down the Hatch’ on Sunday 5^th July, we sat comfortably a few tables back away from the line of fire.

The line-up that evening, besides emcee Lee, was Lachlan Werner, Ingrid Dahle and the headliner Morgan Rees.  Lee is a consummate professional and knows how to deal with an audience, even when they throw him the occasional curveball. Such a keen comedian and fan of the form is he that he’ll often be seen standing on the sidelines watching the other acts perform.

Lachlan Werner takes on the form of a Pierrot with an act that is primarily ventriloquism, very off key and surreal, but very funny and impeccably executed. This night he came on with a witchy puppet who took over his body and forced him to answer questions from the audience. It could have gone terribly wrong, but it worked so well with a willing and engaged crowd.

Ingrid is a Brighton resident, originally from Norway, and is utterly charming. Her act subtly but definitively warms you to her devilishly funny observations.  She and the headliner, Morgan, are what you would naturally think of when you think of modern comedy: stories and observations with their own personal twist. Whilst the two previous acts were amazing, it really was (my fellow Welshman) Morgan’s night, and he brought the house down. With a national tour upcoming and continuing to work on his weekly podcast, this is a busy man.

The line-up changes from month to month with some acts returning at regular intervals. Bigger names like Suzi Ruffell and Alan Carr have also been known to turn up unexpectedly to test out their works in progress

‘Down the Hatch’ is advertised as the first Sunday of every month, but it’d be more accurate to say it’s the first Sunday of most months.