Sophie Duker and Jacob Hawley discuss how to draw revellers away from pop stars while Glastonbury’s Charlotte Lang explains what it takes to win over the cabaret tent
You’re in a massive tent. People are walking in and out, chatting, spilling drinks. A mishmash of music pounds in the background. The crowd is wildly hungover or laying the foundations for tomorrow’s comedown. Perfect conditions for a comedian, right?
“Some performers wouldn’t touch the festival with a bargepole,” says Charlotte Lang, who manages Glastonbury’s cabaret tent, where she’s been programming acts for a couple of decades. “It’s quite a Marmite thing.” But comedy can be the perfect escape for audiences. “It’s nice to take yourself out of the mayhem,” Lang says. “Bring your cushion, kick back and enjoy.”