The Live Comedy Association (LCA) is to host a Parliament event to help promote grassroots live comedy and secure political support for its work. The event, due to take place next month, will build on recent work to gain Government recognition for grassroots live comedy and also allow the LCA to secure support from cross party MPs for its priority actions needed to sustain the sector. Details of the event will be announced soon but it has been confirmed that the event will be sponsored by Leicester West Labour MP Liz Kendall. Further details about the LCA can be found by visiting www.livecomedyassociation.co.uk
Over recent years there have been a number of meetings and events to raise the profile of comedy amongst politicians across the UK. These have included the first ever Culture Media & Sport select committee evidence session on Live Comedy which took place in April 2025 in response to the LCA submission to State of Play Enquiry and publication of the Live Comedy Sector Survey 2024.
The Live Comedy Association's mission is to get government to recognise grassroots live comedy as an essential part of the UK's creative industries and to improve working conditions for people working in the sector.
Liz Kendall MP said “Leicester is home to Europe’s largest comedy festival so I am delighted to be sponsoring this Parliamentary event to support grassroots live comedy. Since the Leicester Comedy Festival started in 1994 it has not just brought laughter to the city – it has helped boost the local economy too. That is the difference live comedy can make. It helps make towns and cities vibrant places to live in and visit, helps local economies and brings a smile to people’s faces. The Live Comedy Association is doing amazing work to strengthen the voice of people working in grassroots live comedy across the UK and shine a light on the impact and contribution live comedy has on our communities.”
Jessica Toomey, co-Chair of the LCA, said “we are thrilled to be working with Liz Kendall MP and her team to host this important event. It will be a landmark opportunity for us to work with our members and get cross party support from politicians across the UK and get closer to our aim of government recognition for grassroots live comedy. We will be announcing details soon about the event but look forward to building on the momentum which has been growing over recent years. There is a massive opportunity here for grassroots live comedy to be recognised alongside art forms like live music and valued for the contribution live comedy makes.”
