Anyone flicking through the photos on my facebook page will notice a lot of them are eerily similar because they’ve all been taken on the same stage. That stage is at the Centenary Tavern in Pimlico and it’s where I’ve performed regularly ever since I started in late 2019.

Last night I was shocked and saddened to see the following announcement on Comedy at The Centen‘s facebook site:

Alas! Final curtains for Comedy @ The Centen. We just want to take this oppurtunity to thank everybody who has supported us over the last year. To all those who shared in the laughs, and the people who have helped us out over the last year Cheersy – Comedian Justin Brown Comedian Linda Bone Photographer Indy C Imagery Guilt Free Comedy Stand Up Townsville . It could not have built without all your help.To the amazing crew at Centenary Hotel Pimlico, thank you for everything you have done for us and the comedy community. And finally, to all the comedians, thank you for bringing your best each and every time you hit the stage. For your dedication, for all the after show beers and all the memories. Thank you all for your support!Until next time….Keep Laughing!!!

The Townsville Comedy scene is vibrant and robust and it really reinvented itself a year ago. We’ve had a prolifiration of rooms and shows, so even though the rooms at Kirwan Tavern and the Commonwealth Hotel cease operations we still survive. That said, I’ll really miss Comedy At The Centen, which I’ve previously described as my comedic spiritual home.

It’s where I got up and did my very first open mic, and I’ve tried to attend them all ever since. It’s never been the biggest or most impressive room – there are bigger and shinier stages in venues that pull bigger crowds and run more commercial shows – but it’s always been intimate and supportive. It’s had a special magic. I’ve always had an amazing time there.

I’ve always felt connected to the Centen crowds, which is not something I always experience. In some of the other rooms you can perform well and get an enthusiastic response that you can’t actually sense – sometimes you need other people to tell you how you actually did. I don’t know if it’s because the stages are higher, the lighting brighter in a darker room, the accoustics or the different clientele in other venues… but I’ve always felt the connection and love from the audience in the Centen, and I treasure the memories of all the nights I’ve spent there.

I’m not sure why we’re saying goodbye to the CenTen, whether it’s the economic viability, something to do with the venue or personnel – all of these would be legitimate, though. Running a Comedy room in Townsville is a proposition that guarantees lots of work and no money. It’s always been a labour of love, and I’m indebted to Nick Jones and all the wonderful supportive people who given us this platform, and all of the support that came with it.