When we arrived at Spark’s comedy afternoon showcase, there was a real sense of anticipation in the room.
We knew people taking part had spent the previous six weeks building towards this moment, but we still weren’t sure exactly what to expect.
Standing on a stage in front of around 100 people is daunting for anyone. For people in recovery, many of whom are rebuilding confidence and learning to push themselves outside their comfort zones again, it can feel even bigger.
But as soon as Hanif Ali introduced the afternoon and the performers entered the room to huge applause, the atmosphere completely changed.
Any nerves seemed to fade almost instantly. The support in the room was impossible to ignore. Staff, service users, friends and peers all came together to cheer people on, and you could see how much that encouragement meant. It felt warm, positive and genuinely uplifting from the very beginning.
The first performance was a chaotic gym roleplay where everything that could go wrong did go wrong. It set the tone perfectly for the afternoon — funny, energetic and full of personality. More importantly, it gave people permission to relax, laugh and enjoy the moment.
From there, the confidence in the room just kept growing.
Each performance brought something different, whether it was awkward situations, quick one-liners or playful roleplay scenes, but what stood out most was seeing people come out of their shells. With every laugh from the audience, you could see performers becoming more comfortable on stage.
Ali Kahn led the afternoon brilliantly, making sure everybody had the space and support to step forward and have their moment.
After the final performance, the audience were invited to take part in a Q&A with the performers. Hearing people reflect on what the workshops had meant to them was one of the most powerful parts of the day.
Some of the comments shared included:
- “I was nervous just to speak. I found it difficult just speaking. I’ve been out of my comfort zone, but it’s been a laugh and it’s been joyous.”
- “Coming to these classes has been an introduction to starting a new life. This is the way we’re going to live our life now; getting out of our comfort zone without putting that substance inside us.”
- “This makes me more nervous than walking landings in jail.”
Those reflections stayed with us after the event ended.
What could easily have been seen as simply a comedy showcase was actually something much deeper. It showed how important creative recovery spaces can be in helping people rebuild confidence, reconnect with others and rediscover parts of themselves again.
We left feeling incredibly proud of everyone who took part. Even without knowing the details of every individual’s recovery journey, there was a real connection between the audience and performers throughout the afternoon.
At Spark, we know recovery is about more than stopping substance use. It’s about building confidence, finding purpose, creating connections and learning how to enjoy life again.
And while there were plenty of laughs throughout the afternoon, one thing became very clear; recovery workshops like these are no joke.