Abi Clarke

In the past, i.e. in the beginning of 2020, comedians may have imagined spending years gigging up and down the UK as stand-ups, before being invited to join a television panel show and selling tickets to an arena tour. It's not easy right now. Comedy is an art form that has been art that can remain performed in front of a live audience. However, we won't have arena tours any time coming. But one comedian from Bristol has been able to connect with a global public through the use of social media lockdown. The pursuit of fame on the internet isn't something Abi Clarke set out to achieve. Abi, 24, lives in Henbury and began making videos online "to build a network of like-minded people who could enjoy my standup comedy." "I performed a variety of gigs throughout the region of Devon for men of 50 and older who weren't so enthusiastic about my Love Island, Sims and Twilight references so I went to the internet in hopes of finding other young women who could relate to me." Abi has since performed at Lakota Gardens since locks have eased but she still posts her videos on Instagram, Twitter and Tik Tok (where she's recently surpassed 500,000 followers) In the process, she draws ideas from sources as diverse as her work in an establishment, a chat with a stranger or the girl group chat. She writes all of her ideas down on her phone.