Known for its unique humour, N.L. finally has its own comedy festival, director says
Andrew Tremblett is the director of the N.L. Sketch Fest. (Submitted by Dana Puddicombe)
A five-night festival dedicated to squeeze as much laughter as possible from an audience is happening in St. John's, and it's the first of its kind for Newfoundland and Labrador, according to the director.
Andrew Tremblett said that for a province known for its humour, the festival was a long time coming.
"Culturally it really is kind of in the blood of Newfoundlanders and I think always has been," he said.
N.L. Sketch Fest began on Wednesday and runs until Sunday. There are two comedy shows featuring more than 20 groups from local and national actors, all taking place at The Hub on Merrymeeting Road in St. John's
Tremblett said it's difficult to define what a sketch comedy is because it can take various forms. Actors perform a scene that represents a slice of life but with a funny twist, hoping to make viewers see themselves and relate with a laugh on the side.
One of the actors performing on Friday is Dana Puddicombe.
Puddicombe will hit the stage with actors Berni Stapleton and Renee Hackett as part of a trio called the Broad Skitty.
Their skit represents women over 40 who the world bombards with things they should buy, things they shouldn't do and how they should behave.
"I really credit the festival for finding a really diverse lineup," Puddicombe said.
"This festival is really giving an opportunity to really help get the scene going and get more people putting their perspectives and their ideas out there. And that's what it's all about."
Giving people a stage
Besides the laughs, getting more people in front of an actual audience was the goal, Tremblett said.
He has been involved with sketch comedy for a decade and said he got a call from Luke Rowe, the producer of the festival, asking him to direct it.
Veronica Dymond opens up N.L. Sketch Fest in St. John's. (Submitted by Riley Harnett)
"I was really nervous because I didn't know what the job would be," he said.
But, he said, he met a great deal of support while making the festival a reality.
"There were a lot of people going, 'hey, we need more comedy in this town, we need more space.' We need a place where we can all go and just show people what we're at," he said.
The festival opened for submissions to groups across the country. Twenty from Newfoundland and Labrador applied.
From the performers, technicians, volunteers, to the festival mascot — Dickie Bird the seagull — about 130 people are working on the festival.
"It's so hard to get rehearsal space, it's so hard to get affordable theatre space as well," said Tremblett.
"So what we're trying to do is provide a platform for these people to come out and give them a stage, give them lights [and] try to give them an audience."
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