Lockdown laughter

We speak to local stand-up comedienne Toni Kent, who shares the healing power of humour

- Rachel Bradley

Right now, if there’s one way to bring people together it’s through the power of laughter; those funny moments that make us feel connected. Whether it’s a video shared via a family WhatsApp group or watching nostalgic comedy gold on television, in these extraordinary times people are turning to humour for shared moments that raise the spirits.

Local stand-up comedienne Toni Kent is doing her bit to put a smile on our faces. Living in Newbury with her husband, Ben, children Bea and William, and dogs, Vinnie and Luna, she is the author of two humorous books on family life, Reasons To Be Cheerful Part One and Two, plus the poetry collection, I Need a Wife, which led to one reviewer calling her an “Edgy Pam Ayres”.

Toni splits her time between performing stand-up and being a technology writer for corporate businesses – a quick look at her LinkedIn profile is enough to know she’s one talented lady. From ghost blogging for CEOs to creating raps for marketing VPs, her way of writing hits the spot.

“People turn to comedy at times like this. Laughter is a release from the stress of uncertainty”

But right now, it’s her YouTube channel that’s standing out. Since lockdown, she’s been regularly posting ‘Stay at Home Laughter’ videos on everyday topics (‘Thin Leggings’ and ‘Potato Ricer’ being the titles of two of her recent musings) and is noticing that more and more people are tuning in.