Sam Judd and Peter Williams discuss how their comedy night at Heart Headingley is developing disabled comedy talent.
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00:00Hello, I am Sam Judd. I am the founder and co-owner of You Can Laugh You Know.
00:08It is Leeds' first and best BBC comedy supported disabled-led comedy night.
00:16I set it up in March 2023.
00:21It was actually in Bradford, but don't tell anyone.
00:26I wanted to increase disabled representation in the arts.
00:31I'm a strong believer that the greatest way to generate positive change is through creative expression.
00:39It was in September 2023 that we moved to the Hearts Centre in Headingley.
00:46We take a very holistic approach to You Can Laugh You Know.
00:49It's a night very much focused on inclusion.
00:51We try and include as much of the different disabled communities as we can
00:55and that focuses and translates into our comedy.
00:58We're really, really lucky to run out of a venue such as the Hearts Centre.
01:01They've been really accommodating to us.
01:03They've got disabled toilets, parking, every single request we've had.
01:08And as well, it's always good to have all the staff that are first aid trained,
01:11which is really important for a night like this.
01:13I couldn't ask for a better venue than Hearts.
01:16We have recently been awarded the BBC Comedy Grant.
01:22Therefore, we are really going to try to grow in the next few months.
01:26We feel like access should never be a challenge.
01:29We feel like access should be a conversation and that's what it really formed around.
01:34Our September show is with award-winning comedian Joe Birkwood.
01:40It is on September the 27th.
01:43You can find more information on our social media.
01:47I have been absolutely blown away by the love You Can Laugh You Know has received.
01:54A really diverse and supportive community has sprung up around us.