History
The
Discount Comedy Checkout, was formed in September 2007, and is the brain child
of Leeds based comic Chris Lumb. Having developed the idea whilst in the bath,
one damp spring evening, Chris rapidly recruited local DJ, and child star (a
staring role on Surprise, Surprise!),
Mr Matthew Jackson .
Friends
for many years, the Lumb-Jackson combination had been working the clubs of
northern England together since the late nineties. Having started out as pair of
perspiring DJs, the two quickly turned their hands to comedy and eventually
began to produce their own short films.
Through
the production of their films, Lumb and Jackson met and recruited two other
local performers - Natalie Smeaton and Rob Girdler - and the initial line up was
soon complete. During this gestation period, Chris expended a large amount of
energy looking for a suitable venue – Leeds Town Hall, The Grand and The
Playhouse were all suggested – however in the end Chris plumped for humility
(he had little choice on a budget of £10.42) and went for the Packhorse pub,
close to Leeds University’s Engineering Department.
Having
found a suitable venue, the group spent the remaining time discussing the
show’s content and the possible uses of fake facial hair. Soon, the
anticipation and funk of nerves was building and, on September 24th,
2007, The Discount Comedy Checkout finally opened its doors. A packed crowd,
including a rather cheeky monkey, arrived to witness the birth of one of the
Packhorse’s most popular ever regular, monthly, £3 comedy nights!!!
After
the success of the initial show, it was decided that the team needed another
member. The official reason for this, it was said, was that the Players
wanted to perform more diverse sketches; unofficially, the real reason was that
no one wanted to sit by the door and take the money!
Fortunately,
for the existing members, it was at this time that wannabe writer, and life-long
Jackson buddy, Matthew Hick returned to the city of his birth. Having once
shared a tea towel with the young writer – during a local church production of
the nativity play – Jackson was aware of the wanderer’s talent and
immediately snapped up Hick for the recently vacated role. After a nervous
start, and several changes of pants later, Hick slipped into the role and the
show’s line up was complete.