Jollyboat
OriginEngland
GenresCabaret, comedy, folk
Years active2010–present
MembersEdward Croft, Thomas Croft
Websitejollyboat.co.uk

Jollyboat is a British musical comedy double act. Formed in Liverpool in 2010, and now based in London, the act comprises siblings Ed (he/she) and Tommy (they/them) Croft. They are known for their Pirate Pop Songs and Keyboard Love Song. In 2011, Jollyboat won the Musical Comedy Awards. They have performed shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival every year from 2010 to 2021 to positive reviews, including 5-star reviews in 2011, 2012 and 2014, and a recommendation from The Independent.

Formation

Before forming Jollyboat, the siblings Ed Croft and Tommy Croft[1] began performing in 2007 in their home town of Todmorden and at their local open mic in the neighboring town of Hebden Bridge, winning local awards for their novelty songs and performance storytelling.[2]

They later began working together as a cabaret and sketch act, the Amazing Tom and Ed Brothers, and regularly hosted fundraising shows for Amnesty International.[3]

Ed left home to attend the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, where he received songwriting tuition from Paul McCartney. Jollyboat was created to be performed at Ed's graduation show from LIPA in 2010,[1] where the brothers played comic songs inspired by shared childhood experiences. This early set included their act, the Pirate Pop Songs,[4] which were inspired by the comic computer game The Secret of Monkey Island.[5]

The name Jollyboat was chosen because it refers both to pirates and comedy. A ‘jolly boat’ is a small rowing boat.

Career

In August 2010, Jollyboat performed their debut Edinburgh Fringe Festival show, to a consistently full house on 20 dates. In the final show, the audience filled the aisles, standing and sitting in every available space.

In 2011, Jollyboat won the Musical Comedy Awards, receiving praise from celebrity comedians Neil Morrissey and Mitch Benn.[1] Tommy commented that this victory had taken them "from the back room of pubs to the West End in less than a year".[6]

The duo also won several Liverpool comedy competitions, including Laughterhouse New Act of the Year,[7] the Best of Rawhide Raw[8] and the Hot Water New Act of the Year.[9]

Jollyboat's 2011 Edinburgh Fringe show received 5 star reviews,[10] and was recommended by The Independent as one of the best acts of the Free Fringe.[11] The pair performed over 60 shows during that month.[9]

In 2012, Jollyboat headlined the comedy tent at Festival Internacional de Benicàssim festival[12] in Spain, as well as the British Hop Farm Festival[13] and Kendal Calling Festival.[14] They were a runner-up in the Golden Jester Awards.[15] Their Edinburgh Fringe show received a second 5-star review, from fringe newspaper Three Weeks. They also played at respected Fringe shows the Chortle Fast Fringe and PBH and Some Comedians.

2013 saw Jollyboat on the lineup of Glastonbury, on the Bread and Roses stage, and at T in the Park in the Cabaret Tent. In 2014 they played Download Festival in the comedy tent.

The brothers are very close, having stated that they "live together, work together and share the same imaginary friend".[16]

Critical reception

Jollyboat has received praise since their first shows at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2010, including 5 star reviews from ThreeWeeks and InformedEdinburgh.[17] Their show has been described as "funny, skilled musical comedy" (InformedEdinburgh), "great comic material and winning performances" (FringeGuru),[18] including "tightly written lyrics, a variety of musical styles to keep the show fresh, and a likeable and enthusiastic on-stage presence" (British Comedy Guide).

Critics have commented on the brother's enthusiastic presentation, including a "likeable onstage presence",[16] a "tangible passion for entertainment"[18] and their "almost psychic connection on stage",[10] which is often attributed to their close relationship.

Fringe Review placed Jollyboat in their Top 5 Comedy shows of 2011.

Awards

  • Musical Comedy Awards 2011, Winner
  • Hot Water Comedian of the Year 2011, Winner
  • Rawhide Raw New Act of the Year 2011, Winner
  • Laughterhouse New Act of the Year 2011, Winner
  • Golden Jester Awards 2012, Runner-up (2nd Place)

Television and radio

Jollyboat appeared on Radio 4 Extra alongside David Sedaris and Richard Herring, on Fred MacAulay's BBC Radio Scotland show.[19] Jollyboat have also appeared on BBC Radio Merseyside and Juice FM.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Clark, Tim (21 March 2011). "Jollyboat win Musical Comedy Awards 2011 final". Such Small Portions. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "Opening up a world". Todmorden News. 18 July 2007. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "Make Some Noise for Human Rights". Retrieved 18 June 2012 – via Facebook.
  4. ↑ "Jollyboat on". Comedy-songs.com. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  5. ↑ "Musical Comedy Award for Jollyboat – MADE UP : On Stage in Liverpool by Vicky Anderson". Madeup.lv. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  6. ↑ "Jollyboat on crest of wave – Local". Halifax Courier. 30 March 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  7. ↑ "| Laughterhouse Comedy Club". Laughterhousecomedy.com. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  8. ↑ Lee, Louisa. "Comedy Festival 2011: The Best of Rawhide Raw – Comedy Festival 2011 – ECHO reviews – Entertainment". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  9. 1 2 "When pirates write pop, it's comedy gold... – Lifestyle, Leisure and Entertainment". Todmorden News. 18 March 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  10. 1 2 "JollyBoat Tour Dates & Tickets". Ents24.com. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  11. ↑ Rob Sharp (9 August 2011). "Laughter is free – well, it is at this year's Edinburgh Fringe – Features – Comedy". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  12. ↑ "fib comedy". fiberfib.co.uk. 14 January 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  13. ↑ "A-Z line-up – Hop Farm Festival". hopfarmfestival.co.uk. 14 January 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  14. ↑ "Jolly Boat – Kendal Calling". kendalcalling.co.uk. 14 January 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  15. ↑ "Results – Great Comedy Nights". greatcomedynights.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  16. 1 2 "Jollyboat – 2011 Edinburgh Fringe Review – British Comedy Guide". Comedy.co.uk. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  17. ↑ "Jollyboat: Fringe Review". Informed Edinburgh. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  18. 1 2 "Jollyboat". FringeGuru. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  19. ↑ "BBC Radio Scotland – MacAulay and Co, 17/08/2011". BBC. 17 August 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
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