In the basement of an old Presbyterian church in the Botanic district of south Belfast, comedians are giving a different slant to the Troubles. It is a few hundred yards from Loyalist Sandy Row and Nationalist Ormeau Road, both scenes of recurrent sectarian violence.
The club usually plays to full houses, with local comics sharing the bill with visiting guest stars. But for tonight's performance all the acts are from the province. There's
Patrick Kielty and his balaclava, Sony Radio Award-winners the Hole in the Wall Gang, Jake Junior, Owen O'Neill, John Byrne and Kevin McAleer. They are used to working in clubs where the exact political complexion of the audience is at first a mystery, adding an edge to their comedy. Director Gerry Stembridge
Executive producer Paul Evans
(The Hole in the Wall Gang can also be heard on Radio 4 tomorrow at 11.00pm.)