Select Committee · Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee
State of Play: Live comedy
Status: Closed
Opened: 31 Mar 2025
Closed: 15 Jun 2026
Inquiry scope
The state of live comedy will be the focus of the opening session of the Committee's work aimed at spotlighting previously unheard issues and challenges. The session is the first in a series of hearings to be held as part of the State of Play inquiry , which invited everyone – from those in the UK creative industries through to people involved in emerging media, and sports that are often overlooked - to send in their ideas on what MPs should be examining. The comedy hearing, proposed by the Live Comedy Association (LCA), which represents those working in the industry, will examine the economic, cultural and social impact of live performance on the UK, and the challenges faced by the sector. The LCA’s first annual sector survey, published in February, found that while the industry generates more than an estimated £1 billion a year, economic factors, precarious working conditions, and inequalities are presenting challenges to its continued success.Oral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Apr 2025 | Dr Sharon Lockyer · Centre for Comedy Studies Research, Brunel University London, Geoff Rowe BEM · Live Comedy Association, Jessica Toomey · Frog and Bucket, Kate Cheka, Lynne Parker · Funny Women CIC, Matt Forde | View ↗ |
Who gave evidence
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| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Sharon Lockyer · Director | Centre for Comedy Studies Research, Brunel University London | 1 |
| Geoff Rowe BEM · Member | Live Comedy Association | 1 |
| Jessica Toomey · Managing Director | Frog and Bucket | 1 |
| Kate Cheka | — | 1 |
| Lynne Parker · Founder & Chief Executive | Funny Women CIC | 1 |
| Matt Forde | — | 1 |
Correspondence
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| Published | Direction | Letter |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Mar 2026 | To committee | Letter from Rt Hon Ian Murray MP, Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts, regarding live comedy update, 30 March 2026 |
| 26 Feb 2026 | To committee | Letter from the Chair to Rt Hon Ian Murray MP, Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts, regarding live comedy update, 26 February 2026 |
| 18 Nov 2025 | To committee | Letter from Rt Hon Ian Murray MP, Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts, regarding live comedy, 10 October 2025 |