Acknowledgements
Introduction UK 1979
Part One History of early alternative comedy
1. Prehistory – influences and origins
2. The beginnings of alternative comedy
3. The spread of the circuit
Part Two Alternative comedy performance
4. ‘Bits of me haven’t been finished yet’ – Reinventing stand-up from scratch
5. ‘Anti-matter comedy’ – Stylistic Innovation
6. ‘Advanced social thinkers’ – Persona and Perspective
7. ‘Comedy of direct confrontation’ – Relating to audiences
8. ‘I tell jokes which precipitate the downfall of capitalist society’ – Politics
Part Three Legacy of alternative comedy
9. Alternative comedy now
Notes
References
Index