7:00pm, Thursday 18th of July, AllBright

Networking Drinks from 6.30pm. Complimentary drinks for the first 20 arrivals.

What was it like as one of a handful of women at the heart of the right-on alternative comedy scene in the 1980s? Piece of cake? Bit of a laugh? Well, yes, and no. It had its ups - but also its downs. Helen Lederer was a regular on the stand-up circuit and new-wave sketch shows in the decade that launched the careers of today's comedy household names and national treasures.

She shared stages with comedy pioneers like Ben Elton and John Hegley, and TV screens with Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Harry Enfield, and many others. From the iconic Absolutely Fabulous, to Bottom, Happy Families, Naked Video, French and Saunders and Girls on Top, it is difficult to think of a comedy show that Helen wasn't a part of. So, plain sailing then? Well, not really. Even in those ground-breaking, anti-Thatcher days, there was only room at top for so many women. For the rest, it was as much a struggle to be seen and heard in the world of comedy as in any boardroom or workplace, and just as difficult to avoid the predators.

Helen will join us to talk about her phenomenal, rollercoaster of a career as well as the Comedy Women in Print Prize which Helen founded in 2018 in response to the low number of women awarded the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize. Three women in 18 years. Come along to learn more and hear from one of the greatest comedy legends in Britain.

TICKETS:

Members*: Live ticket £9, Virtual Ticket £0

Non-members: Live ticket £30, Virtual Ticket £15. Want to become a member? Click Here