Worried for the future of his spiritual stand-up home – and frustrated by the limitations of lockdown fundraising opportunities – comedian Matt Reed revisited his sketchbook after a long time away. Sam Wonfor heard all about it – and cleared some hallway wall space.
Comedian Matt Reed has designed prints of The Stand Newcastle to help raise money for the much-loved comedy club
Fans of The Stand Newcastle wondering how best to support their favourite comedy club during the devastating Coronavirus disruption could do a lot worse than clicking themselves over to Matt Reed’s new Instagram account.
The Sunderland-born comic, who is very much part of the fixtures and fittings family at the much-loved High Bridge venue, is selling a duo of prints which are going down a storm.
The button has been pressed on a second print run and many customers have already got the artworks framed and displayed on their walls – as a raft of social media posts demonstrate in proud fashion.
“The prints are going superbly,” says Matt. “I popped them on my socials saying if anyone wanted a print, I’d help The Stand out with any sales I made. I thought I’d sell five or six, but I sold out within three days and have ordered a second run.”
Matt, who has been doing stand up for 21 years, was minded to return to his previous passion of art and graphic design after the Covid-19 lockdown saw all his work disappear overnight.
“I massively panicked because I hadn’t had a gap longer than two weeks between gigs since I started.
“I studied graphic design and illustration at university and kind of abandoned it. I started again – drawing was the one thing which quietened my mind – and started to create. I’d sit doodling for hours… then I sold a design and I was delighted.”
Matt Reed has been a stand up for more than two decades
The news that The Stand’s three-strong network of comedy clubs – there are also beloved clubs in Glasgow and Edinburgh – were facing the real possibility of closure prompted Matt to turn his reignited artistic attention to the place where he has enjoyed countless hours on stage.
“Successful comedy clubs that were packed weekly are now struggling to even open their doors, including The Stand – a club that has helped countless comedians from the open mic circuit make comedy their careers,” he says.
“Normally comics would organise fundraiser gigs but we are obviously at an impasse at the moment, so I had the idea to do a doodle instead.”
Although the lights are beginning to come up on live comedy gigs post-lockdown – and the news that comedy will be recognised as an art form when it comes to government support is undoubtedly welcome, (if ridiculously late) – there’s no denying that a struggle lies ahead.
Matt, who is still beaming after a recent return to the live stand up stage, says: “Even as indoor gigs come back with social distancing it’s barely viable for the traditional tight packed dingy comedy clubs to open. Capacity is so low, it will barely keep the lights on.”
The Stand Newcastle is fighting for survival
As well as his Stand Newcastle prints, Matt has produced similar tributes to the aforementioned Stand clubs in Glasgow and Edinburgh and is also working on one depicting the Stand’s iconic interior set up too.
“Hopefully it’ll help keep The Stand afloat till this nightmare blows over,” he says. “And if there’s a comedy club anywhere that needs help, I’m happy to help with my comedy or my pencil.
“Live comedy needs to survive. It really does. TV comedy is great but there’s nothing like live comedy.”
To order one of Matt’s prints and support The Stand, contact him via his MattReedIllustration Instagram page. To keep your eye on when you can catch Matt on a stage near you, visit his website. To find out about more ways to support The Stand, visit www.thestand.co.uk