A Banbury man who got into performing stand-up comedy after the Covid lockdowns is bringing a diverse line-up of acts to the town through a monthly comedy night designed to help audiences unwind and have a laugh.

Paul Gordon, who performs under the name ‘JUST P’, has been running OX16 Comedy Club at the V Lounge at The Jolly Weavers for the past two years.

His next night will take place on Thursday, November 5, featuring five or six comedians alongside Paul as host.

The Banbury resident said his love of comedy began in childhood, watching performers including Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy with his family.

Banbury comedian Paul ‘JUST P’ Gordon is bringing a diverse line-up of stand-up acts to the town each month through his comedy club.

placeholder image — Banbury comedian Paul ‘JUST P’ Gordon is bringing a diverse line-up of stand-up acts to the town each month through his comedy club.

However, taking to the stage himself was something he never imagined doing, partly because he was born with a speech impediment.

That changed during the Covid pandemic, when he decided to challenge himself by trying stand-up for the first time in Oxford in 2021.

Paul said: “I was like, you know what? I’m gonna do something that scares me.”

Initially intending to perform just once, Paul discovered he enjoyed it and audiences responded positively to his performance.

“Five years later, I’m still here, travelling around the country just doing comedy,” he said.

After performing at a local comedy event in Banbury, Paul wanted to create more opportunities to bring his style of humour to audiences in the town.

This led him to launch the Day 2 Comedy umbrella, with regular shows in Banbury and Shipston-on-Stour.

He said: “My style of stand-up comedy is more like the American style and different to most comedians locally, so the opportunities to perform weren’t always there.”

This prompted Paul to create a regular space where different approaches to stand-up could thrive.

“I wanted to have a space where that type of comedy can thrive a little bit more, a bit more diversity in comedy as well,” he said.

Paul also wanted to perform closer to home rather than constantly travelling to find opportunities.

But OX16 Comedy Club is about more than the performances themselves. Paul describes the nights as a welcoming, community-focused experience, with regular visitors forming friendships through the events.

Paul said: “It’s like a community. A lot of people who go to the comedy club come regularly and people have actually made friends going there.”

He hopes the nights offer a break from everyday pressures and the negativity often encountered online.

He said: “Life is stressful, and especially if you’re online or Facebook and social media, there’s a lot of negativity. This isn’t about negativity. This is about laughing about everything.”

Paul said the events combine comedy, music and a friendly atmosphere, with audiences able to get close to performers in an intimate setting.

“We have a good time, but it’s none of this negativity or slagging people off. Good vibes, good energy, and good music,” he said.

Having built connections with comedians while travelling around the country, Paul selects performers he believes will entertain Banbury audiences. Line-ups can change, with acts confirmed closer to each event.

More information about OX16 Comedy Club and Day 2 Comedy can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090557095501 or https://www.facebook.com/p/Day-2-Comedy-100089694811524/