“Sold out? On a Tuesday? When the sun is out?!”
Big Issue ambassador Michelle de Swarte breaks into a series of quick-fire bows to thank the audience of 300-plus paying punters for joining her in the dark underground vaults of the Top Secret Comedy Club on what’s a balmy July evening.
In truth, filling the room was the opposite of a hard sell – tickets sold out within hours of the night going on sale. It speaks to the immense popularity of the South London model turned stand-up, who’s made time in her busy schedule to put on a night of top comedy in Big Issue’s aid.
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Michelle only joined Big Issue as an ambassador in April but has wasted no time in organising her fundraiser. She’s called on some of the biggest names in comedy to join her on the bill.
Comic titan Kerry Godliman (of Derek, After Life and Our Girl, to name just a few), Aussie Office star Felicity Ward, and Live at the Apollo regular Nabil Abdulrashid have all given up their evenings for free to perform, while the venue – one of London’s best comedy clubs, Top Secret – hasn’t charged a penny either.
