Crawley’s Class Comedy Act
These may be challenging times but there’s nothing like a rugby club for rising to a challenge.
Crawley Rugby Club committee wanted to do something to put a smile on the faces of NHS and key workers and their friends and relatives.
They approached their long standing partners Crawley Comedy Club as the club provides a venue for regular local stand-up comedy, and asked if there was a way to host a comedy night on the club’s first XV pitch.
And that’s just what they did this month (September) when two shows took place, each catering for 300 guests on a sunny Saturday when the audience enjoyed stand up from local comedian Romesh Ranganathan, Steven K Amos and Geoff Norcott, with Brighton’s Stephen Grant as compere.
Everyone was temperature and identity checked on arrival and pre-ordered Texas-style BBQ food was delivered to tables by covid-aware club volunteers.
The food was provided by Crawley based Wide & Narrow Smokehouse Ltd, a new catering business set up by people who lost their jobs through redundancy after the pandemic hit. Directors Graham, Colin, and the team fed almost everyone who attended.
To open to as many people as possible there were two shows, with a break to allow for the sanitising of equipment and furniture. Tickets sold out within 36 hours and the club met the cost for NHS and key workers.
Delivering the event during the pandemic required a great deal of planning and organisation and they worked closely with Crawley Borough Council officials to ensure that a COVID-19 safe environment was maintained at all times.
Dan McGurran, club chairman, said: “Everybody really enjoyed the night and had some laughs which is ultimately what this was about. I would like to express our gratitude to everyone at Crawley Borough Council for their efforts to get this event approved and their continued support of both the club and local community.”
Ian Thompson, club secretary, whose wife Mandy is an NHS phlebotomist and among the club’s essential workers: “We wanted to thank local NHS and other key workers for their ongoing dedication and support to communities in and around Crawley during the current pandemic.
"In association with Crawley Comedy Club, we held a live COVID-19 safe comedy event on our 1st team pitch, with a great atmosphere, great comedy acts and a real feel good factor at a time when that’s not so easy to come by.”
With great supporters and friends of the club Benchmark Reprographics providing all signage free of charge and the club covering the ticket costs of NHS and key workers, a good time was had by all.
A good time is what Crawley Rugby Club specialises in. Located close to Gatwick Airport, they run three senior men’s teams, their 1st XV promoted from Sussex 1 (level 9) to London South East 3 (level 8) for the 2020/21 season.
They provide youth, junior and mini rugby at all age groups from three years to Colts and have a newly-formed senior women's team, comprised largely of parents and friends, who have been accepted into the Inner Warrior league. Intent on providing rugby for all, they have also recently been heavily involved in establishing the Crawley Jets wheelchair rugby team.
Awarded rugby club of the year at last year's Guinness National Rugby Awards for their work both on and off the field, they have now taken their on-field activity to hilarious new heights.
