UK Military Veterans Find Their Voice Through Laughter as Project Comedy Return to the Fringe

From 6 to 30 August, a group of UK military veterans will take to the stage at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, not with tales of combat, but with punchlines and personal stories, as Project COMEDY makes its highly anticipated debut with two unique comedy shows.

Founded during the COVID-19 lockdowns as a well-being initiative by parent charity Project RECCE, Project Comedy has evolved into a transformative platform. It offers veterans and serving personnel the opportunity to engage in stand-up comedy, aiding in their transition, recovery, and overall well-being.

The program emphasises the unique experiences of military life, encouraging participants to share their stories and find humour even in the darkest situations. As the organisation states, ‘They find the way to make light of horrible situations, conditions and injuries – they even find ways for people to learn about things they may have been uncomfortable to ask of a veteran and gain greater understanding.’

The group’s ethos is: “Better to tell a gag than be Mad, Sad & Bad...”

As Jay Saunders, who goes on stage with his PTSD assistance dog Hawke, stated: “To say Project COMEDY has saved my life would be an understatement. I’ve now got joy and laughter in my life, and when I tried to end mine in a moment of darkness, it was my fellow veterans doing comedy that called 999 and got me the help I needed.”

The performances promise a blend of raw honesty and humour, offering audiences a unique glimpse into the lives of those who’ve served. As the organisation highlights, ‘Every member of the UK Armed Forces has an individual story to tell... They get to use all of their history and experience to develop material that most would never even consider.’

The Portugal News very own Andy Sykes (AKA Andy Crapp) will be joining the project comedy team in Edinburgh.

Project Comedy’s Edinburgh Fringe shows run every day of the Festival Fringe - 3pm with its competition show ‘Veterans v Civilians’ and their feature show at 5pm, ‘Gags Army’, both at Bar 50, Cowgate. Each performance will feature different veterans from across the UK, sharing their stories one laugh at a time.

And this year they go further - with ambassadors Jay Saunders and Jim Bob presenting their first ever solo shows, ‘One Dog One Nutter’ and ‘2 Dad or not 2 Dad’ - also in Bar 50.

To purchase tickets and to find out more about Project COMEDY visit the Project COMEDY Website. (https://projectcomedy.co.uk/edinburgh26.html)

Help show our veterans that their voices — and their laughter — still matter.