Behind the Mic: The Female Revolution in Comedy with Funny Women's Lynne Parker
Laughter, this universal remedy, has the power to transform the grayest of days. As Christine de Pizan so aptly said, it is "a burst of light on the face of life". Laughter is much more than a simple reaction to something funny, it is deeply rooted in our human nature and plays a crucial role in our social interactions. Indeed, it can break down barriers, strengthen bonds between individuals and offer respite from the challenges of daily life.
Yet despite its many benefits, female humor has long been undervalued and often marginalized. In a society where comedy scenes have been dominated by male voices, women’s contributions have too often been overlooked. Funny Women founder Lynne Parker set out to change this dynamic. By creating a platform dedicated to promoting female and non-binary comedic talent, she is opening doors and creating opportunities for those who have long been underrepresented.
In this interview, Lynne Parker shares how she overcame obstacles to give voice to underrepresented comedians. She shares her journey, the challenges she faced, and the significant impact her work has had. We also explore how inclusivity enriches the comedic experience and the benefits of laughter for children’s development. By shedding light on these issues, Lynne reminds us that laughter, in all its diversity, remains a powerful catalyst for connection and well-being.
In the late 90s, when I asked a comedy promoter why he never booked women, he responded, in a fit of misogyny, that “women aren’t funny” and “there are no funny women.” That statement was the catalyst. At the time, I was working as a publicist for a comedy club, and my knee-jerk reaction was to prove him wrong. More than 20 years later, the rest is history. I am now an award-winning creative producer, best known as the founder of Funny Women.
It was after this encounter that I decided to create Funny Women , which has grown into a leading community of comedians, helping women find their voice through performance, writing and creating stories with humor. I didn’t really envision the impact it would have; I just did it! At the time, I had already built a successful career in journalism, PR and marketing, but I had always loved comedy, and I found my calling.
The Funny Women Awards, launched in 2003, have become the premier showcase for emerging female and non-binary talent. Many winners, including Katherine Ryan and Sarah Millican, are now established stars in the UK. Our Hall of Fame is a testament to the impact Funny Women has had on the industry.
I think that figure doesn't really reflect the reality. Many female comedians are juggling the stage, full-time jobs to support themselves, and family commitments. They often have to travel long distances and deal with personal safety concerns. So it's a lot more complex than it seems. In fact, in terms of representation, I just came back from the Edinburgh Festival, where the Fringe Society counted 148 all-female shows and theatre productions. Women are everywhere at the festival, both on stage and behind the scenes.
As for the representation of women in film and television, it is quite good, especially when you consider the roles of actresses in sitcoms and dramedies. We are living in a real golden period for female comedy, and even talk shows are starting to catch up by inviting more women. However, there is still a long way to go to achieve true equality, especially when it comes to pay and status.
This is a complex issue, and one that deserves an entire article on its own. It goes far beyond comedy, as we all need to respect culture, gender, ability, and age in everything we do. Culture is always a reflection of society, and comedy, like a microscope, highlights its flaws. It’s a powerful tool for exposing inappropriate behavior, which is why some people feel uncomfortable around comedians—they don’t like the truth being thrown back at them, even in joke form.
What I appreciate about comedy is its honesty. Even if we don't want to confront the serious issues of our time, it's hard to ignore them when they're approached with humor. We laugh when we're shocked, surprised, stressed or nervous, not just when we're happy. In this sense, comedy perfectly embodies freedom of expression. Without laughter, humanity would lose an essential part of itself.
The initiative I’m particularly proud of is The Glitter Project, an industry-led mentoring and talent development programme that we launched this year at the Edinburgh Fringe (the world’s largest arts festival). The aim is to support those who don’t have the resources, accessibility or financial means to launch a career in comedy.
Over 22 years, I have seen so many talented artists, writers and creators from our Awards and community events achieve commercial success. So this is an opportunity for us to come together, support new talent and ensure gender parity in our industry. We will soon be launching the second part of this programme, called ‘A Safe Place’, supported by the National Lottery.
The Glitter Project was inspired by Jo Fletcher-Cross, one of our directors and actress, who was diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma in the summer of 2022, just before her Edinburgh debut. With her blessing, we have created a lasting legacy to encourage those already in thriving comedy careers to pass on their knowledge.
We named this project The Glitter Project because Jo loves all things glitter, and she believes everyone deserves a little “glitter” in their life.
Children laugh naturally and easily, as laughter is an early form of communication. We use grimaces and tickles to make them laugh or calm them down, which is both fundamental and instinctive. Children are very receptive to humor and find joy in even the most absurd situations. However, as we grow older, we tend to become more inhibited, especially during adolescence. As we age, we often rediscover our sense of fun and joy, especially with the arrival of grandchildren!
Personally, I have a granddaughter who will soon be two years old, and I often find myself in the role of the "crazy granny", which allows me to do silly things without fear of judgment (well, apart from that of her parents, of course!).
On a more serious note, my son and his wife are concerned about the influence of screens and online content on their daughter. She is fascinated by moving images on phones and tablets, so they favor analog activities like books, building blocks, musical instruments, and noisy objects.
We, as a family, love to play games. I think these moments teach us a lot about life: victory, defeat, disappointment and joy. The more we expose children to these emotions through play, the better they learn to understand and appreciate them .
I laugh at a lot of things, whether it's a great live stand-up show or silly games with my family. I've been lucky enough to see many brilliant comedy careers emerge since Funny Women began, and some performances stay with me for years to come.
Recently I watched a wonderful documentary about Sir Billy Connolly, featuring some of his most memorable appearances and performances. I can recite many of them by heart, and they still make me laugh out loud. It is pure genius. I feel the same admiration for the late Victoria Wood, the legendary Joyce Grenfell and every programme of Morecambe and Wise ever broadcast!
But, in the end, nothing beats a good laugh with family and close friends. It's the familiarity and shared experiences that make those moments so precious, and that's exactly what great comedy reflects.
