Books by Oliver Double

Getting the Joke 2nd edition sets out to re-examine the world of stand-up comedy in the internet age, analysing the roles of the performer and audience, and the dramatic changes to how stand-up is done in recent years.

In the first major academic work to examine British variety theatre, Double provides a detailed history of this art form and analyses its performance dynamics and techniques. Encompassing singers, comedians, dancers, magicians, ventriloquists and diverse speciality acts, this vibrant book draws on a series of new interviews with variety veterans.