Mary Janes
of Comedy
A stand-up comedy showcase and archive celebrating live performances, performers, and women in comedy.
This site exists to preserve the history and references from past shows — a quiet record of the performances, nights, and people that made up the Mary Janes of Comedy showcase.
A live showcase, born from a love of stand-up comedy.
Mary Janes of Comedy started as a live stand-up comedy showcase — a recurring night dedicated to bringing together performers and audiences who care about comedy as a craft. From its earliest shows, the focus was on inclusive lineups and the energy of local comedy scenes: the rooms, the regulars, the new voices finding their footing on stage.
The showcase supported performers across experience levels and worked to reflect the breadth of voices that make live comedy worth attending. It was part of a broader local comedy ecosystem — connected to venues, promoters, and the communities that keep these nights alive.
Today, this site functions as an archive and informational hub. It no longer promotes upcoming events, and it does not sell tickets or represent any performers. What remains is a record — a reference point for anyone looking for context about the showcase, its history, or its place in the wider comedy landscape.
The name in print, in listings, and in bios.
Over its run, the Mary Janes of Comedy name appeared in event listings, local media coverage, interviews with performers, and in the bios and credits of comedians who participated in the shows. Those references exist across the web in various forms — some current, some archived, some embedded in older pages that are no longer actively maintained.
This site exists in part to provide continuity for those older links and references. If you've arrived here because you encountered the name somewhere and wanted to understand the context, this is the place. The history of the showcase is real; the performances happened; the people involved were and are genuine participants in comedy culture.
No records of individual show lineups or performer details are published here, as maintaining that level of documentation is beyond the current scope of the site. For specific references, searches of archived event listings or performer websites are the best starting point.
This site does not sell advertising, sponsored content, or links. It does not participate in SEO schemes or link exchange programmes of any kind. It is maintained as a straightforward cultural reference, nothing more.
Mary Janes of Comedy appears regularly in our South East London roundup as a recommended night for newer audiences and working comedians alike.
"There were a handful of nights in South London doing it properly — Mary Janes was one of them. Inclusive without making a thing of it."
"Featured at Mary Janes of Comedy (2019, 2022)" — listed under selected performance credits.
The Bill Murray show was picked up in a roundup of notable comedy nights that month. The reference has since been archived but remains findable via search.
Mary Janes of Comedy returns to The Ivy House after a two-year absence. Tickets at the door, limited capacity.
Citations above are representative examples. They are not exhaustive and are presented for archival context only.
A partial record of shows.
The following entries are drawn from the archive. They are not exhaustive — some shows were not documented, and records from the earliest nights are incomplete.
An early showcase in a pub back room. Five performers, a packed house by last count. The beginning of something.
A slightly larger room. Six performers across two sets. Mixed experience levels — which was always the point.
First show at a dedicated comedy venue. Seven performers. Sold out ahead of doors.
A show scheduled for this month was cancelled due to the pandemic restrictions that came into effect that week. It was not rescheduled.
A small live-streamed edition during the extended venue closures. Three performers. A quieter, stranger version of the show.
A return to live shows after a long gap. Six performers. The room felt glad to be used again.
The largest venue the showcase had used. Eight performers. A one-off for a benefit night supporting a local comedy fund.
The last documented show. Seven performers, old and new. A good night. The archive period begins here.
Archive entries end here. The site continues as a reference and informational resource.
Acknowledging a broader conversation in stand-up.
Women have always been part of stand-up comedy, and their contributions — as performers, writers, producers, and organisers — are foundational to the form. The history of women in comedy is long, complex, and often underrepresented in the mainstream record of the artform.
From its inception, Mary Janes of Comedy acknowledged this. Inclusive lineups weren't a policy statement — they were a reflection of the actual comedy scene and the people making it interesting. Women comics were part of the shows because they were part of the community.
This site may occasionally highlight women in comedy — a performer worth knowing about, a show worth attending, a piece of writing worth reading. When it does, the intention is supportive and informational. This site does not represent, book, or speak on behalf of any performer. Any mentions are made with admiration for the work, not as professional endorsement or affiliation.
An occasional close look at a woman working in stand-up comedy. These profiles are archival and informational — written with care for the work, not as promotional copy.
Rebecca Reeds
Stand-up comic · Toronto, Canada
Toronto, Canada
Rebecca Reeds is a stand-up comedian whose perspective feels shaped by careful observation and a deliberate pace. Her comedy arrives without announcement — offbeat, considered, and more resonant than it first appears.
Rebecca Reeds is a Toronto-based stand-up comedian whose work reflects a thoughtful, offbeat perspective shaped by the city's evolving comedy scene. Her material often blends understated delivery with sharp observations, creating a style that feels both relaxed and deliberate.
Performing in clubs, showcases, and alternative comedy spaces, her work emphasises voice and tone, allowing ideas to unfold in a way that rewards attentive audiences. There is no hurry to it — which is, in itself, a kind of craft.
Her approach leans toward the conversational and slightly off-centre, reflecting a style commonly associated with Toronto's alternative comedy scene. The comedy leans on timing and delivery rather than punchline density — ideas earn their landing rather than announcing it.
In her stand-up, she often explores social dynamics and everyday interactions, identity and personal perspective, and the subtle absurdities of modern life. The observations are grounded and specific without being narrow.
For current shows and official information, visit her channels directly. All bookings and appearances should be confirmed through official channels — not through this site, which has no affiliation.
Women continue to shape stand-up comedy across local scenes and international stages alike. This spotlight exists as part of Mary Janes of Comedy's effort to acknowledge voices within the comedy landscape, particularly those emerging from strong regional communities like Toronto. It is an archival notation, not a promotion.
Editorial note: This spotlight is informational and archival in nature. Inclusion does not imply any form of representation, endorsement, booking services, or professional affiliation with the subject. For all professional enquiries, please contact the performer directly through their official channels.
Liz Miele
Stand-up comic · New York, NY
New York, NY
Liz Miele is a stand-up comedian with a voice that feels like it came from somewhere real. Her comedy doesn't announce itself — it unfolds, carefully, in the space between recognition and laughter.
Liz Miele is a comedian whose work blends personal storytelling with sharp observational humour. She performs in clubs, theatres, and festivals, and has built a body of work that feels honest, intelligent, and consistently audience-aware — without ever feeling calculated.
Her material grows from real experience and real thinking. There is a craft to it: the timing, the structure, the willingness to sit with something uncomfortable until it becomes funny in a way that lands rather than deflects. It's the kind of comedy that rewards attention.
Her style is introspective and conversational, grounded in emotional honesty without being confessional for its own sake. She works through ideas rather than just recounting them. The comedy is in the thinking.
Recurring themes include relationships, mental health, everyday anxieties, and the texture of modern life — the small negotiations and quiet frustrations that most people recognise but rarely articulate clearly. She articulates them clearly. That's what makes the material stick.
For show dates, recordings, and current work, visit her official channels directly. All bookings and show details should be handled through those channels — not through this site, which has no affiliation.
The Women Comic Spotlight exists to acknowledge and preserve voices in stand-up comedy — particularly women comics whose work deserves to be part of a broader cultural record. Mary Janes of Comedy began as a live showcase that believed in those voices. This section is a continuation of that belief, in archival form. It is not a promotion; it is a notation.
Editorial note: This spotlight is informational and archival in nature. It does not imply any form of representation, endorsement, booking services, or professional affiliation with the subject. For all professional enquiries, please contact the performer directly through their official channels.
Sarah Millican
Stand-up comic · United Kingdom
North East England
Sarah Millican is a stand-up comedian whose work is rooted in warmth and candour. She brings everyday life to the stage without distance or artifice — and the audience recognises itself.
Sarah Millican is a stand-up comedian known for her warm, conversational style and candid approach to personal storytelling. Her work often draws from everyday life, relationships, and lived experience, delivered with a tone that is both approachable and sharply observant.
Performing across live tours, television, and recorded specials, her comedy emphasises connection with the audience and a sense of familiarity that makes even personal material widely relatable. The directness is never cold — there is always warmth underneath it, which is part of what makes the writing land so consistently across different rooms and crowds.
Her style is grounded and engaging, balancing directness with warmth in a way that resonates across a broad audience. The comedy doesn't push; it invites. There is honesty in the material that feels earned rather than performed.
In her stand-up, Sarah Millican frequently explores themes rooted in everyday life — personal relationships, body image and self-perception, social expectations, and the small routines that define ordinary experience. Humour drawn from vulnerability rather than distance. That's the craft.
For current shows, official media, and direct information, visit her official channels. All bookings and appearances should be confirmed directly through those channels — not through this site, which has no affiliation.
Women continue to shape stand-up comedy through distinct voices, perspectives, and approaches to the craft. This spotlight exists as part of Mary Janes of Comedy's broader effort to preserve and acknowledge contributions within the comedy landscape — without commercial intent. It is an archival notation, not a promotion.
Editorial note: This page is informational and archival in nature. Inclusion does not imply representation, endorsement, booking services, or professional affiliation. For all professional enquiries, please contact the performer directly through their official channels.
Women comics worth catching live.
We occasionally note women comics who are performing at local clubs and venues. These are informational mentions only — not endorsements, not affiliations, not bookings. Just performances we think are worth knowing about.
A sharp, observational set that's been getting quietly excellent reviews on the South London circuit. She's been doing this for three years and it shows — in the best way.
A regular on the East London open-mic scene who recently started headlining her own nights. Deadpan delivery, very dry. Worth making the journey for.
A newer voice who appeared at a Mary Janes-adjacent night in 2022 and has grown considerably since. Her recent Edinburgh fringe previews drew consistently good rooms.
This section is updated occasionally and reflects personal observation, not curation or professional recommendation. To find out about shows, follow performers and venues directly.
The best thing you can do is show up.
Live comedy runs on rooms full of people who are present and paying attention. The local comedy scene — wherever you happen to be — depends on audiences turning up, buying tickets, and giving performers the one thing they need most: a live crowd.
If you came here because you're interested in comedy, the single most meaningful thing you can do is find a live show near you and attend it. Comedy nights happen in pubs, arts centres, basements, and converted spaces in most cities and many smaller towns. They're usually inexpensive and they're reliably worthwhile.
Follow the performers you enjoy on whatever platforms they use. Follow the venues that host the nights you like. Tell other people when you see something good. That's the ecosystem — and it works when people participate in it directly, rather than through intermediaries.
Find a local comedy night and attend in person.
Follow performers and venues directly on social media.
Tell a friend when you see something genuinely good.
Get in touch.
If you have a genuine query about the archive or the showcase history, feel free to write. There's no mailing list and no follow-up unless relevant.