Comedy Live is a collaborative venture bringing together the complementary expertise of Dr Elaine McNeill and Chris Cairns. Combining creative health practice with professional comedy, we deliver high-quality experiences that are both artistically ambitious and socially impactful.

Our work spans live comedy events and creative health programmes, rooted in inclusive, co-production approaches. By blending sector-leading comedy expertise with participatory methods, we create joyful, meaningful experiences that connect with diverse audiences and communities.

Our Experience

Chris Cairns has over 20 years’ experience in the creative sector. Chris has developed and delivered programmes for organisations such as The Comedy Trust and Take a Stand, with a focus on wellbeing and social impact. As co-leader of Laughterhouse Comedy, Chris has produced events ranging from grassroots club nights to large-scale showcases at venues including Liverpool Philharmonic. Chris is highly respected on the comedy circuit and has built a strong network of international comedians.

Dr Elaine McNeill complements this by bringing extensive experience in managing complex, multi-partner projects, with budgets ranging from £30,000 to £250,000. Her portfolio includes programmes funded by Arts Council England, the National Lottery, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Elaine’s work combines academic rigour with practical delivery, ensuring projects are strategically aligned, robustly evaluated, and grounded in lived experience. 

Our Approach

Together, we combine strategic leadership, creative delivery, and deep community engagement expertise. This partnership ensures that all Comedy Live projects are well-managed, responsive, and capable of achieving strong artistic, social, and ambitious outcomes.

Previous projects include:

Take A Stand

Comedy Workshops for Men’s Mental Health

Take A Stand is an innovative comedy and wellbeing programme developed in partnership with Liverpool Football Club, designed to reach men who are less likely to engage with traditional mental health support.

The programme breaks down barriers and reduces stigma, creating a welcoming space where men can connect, learn, and express themselves through comedy. To date, Chris has worked with over 120 local men, with performances reaching audiences of more than 1,500 people across Liverpool.

What We Do

Take A Stand uses stand-up comedy techniques as a tool for wellbeing—helping participants build confidence, improve communication skills, and develop emotional resilience. Through workshops and live performance, participants are encouraged to share experiences, find humour in everyday life, and support one another in a positive, inclusive environment.

Impact

The programme has demonstrated how high-quality creative practice can play a powerful role in mental health and community wellbeing. It successfully engages men who are often underrepresented in support services, helping to reduce isolation and encourage open conversations.

Participants gain practical tools to reframe challenges, develop coping strategies, and build lasting peer connections. At the same time, the programme has strengthened partnerships with major organisations such as Liverpool FC, positioning Take A Stand as a leading example of creative health in action.

Success Stories

The impact of Take A Stand can be seen in the journeys of its participants:

• Richard Wilkie Riley went on to become a show manager at Laughterhouse Comedy and now works as Visitor Experience Manager at Shakespeare North.
• Mike Carter developed his skills through the programme and is now a professional comedian, recently performing alongside Ricky Gervais.

Theatre for Older People (Arts Council England Funded)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Elaine led Theatre for Older People, a three-year Arts Council England–funded project designed to connect with older people across Liverpool who were experiencing isolation.

Year 1

The project began with Silver Bells and Cocktails – A Life in Lockdown, a series of 13 COVID-safe outdoor performances reaching 310 older people. Alongside this, digital content extended the project’s reach even further, including a BBC Radio Merseyside broadcast with an audience of around 257,000 listeners.

Year 2

Shaken, Rattled and Rolled responded to the ongoing hesitancy many older people felt about venturing beyond their homes. The project blended live and broadcast activity, reaching over 500 people and continuing to create safe, shared cultural experiences.

Year 3

In its final year, Storm in a Teacup welcomed audiences back into arts and community venues. The production toured locations including the Royal Court Theatre, The Studio Runcorn, The Joseph Lappin Centre, and St Mary’s Church, Woolton. Across 10 performances—six of which sold out—the show reconnected audiences with live theatre and each other.

Impact

Each performance was co-created with audiences and tailored to its setting, creating dynamic and deeply personal experiences. The project opened up space for shared reflection on the pandemic, helping people feel seen, heard, and connected.

Live performance proved especially powerful in rebuilding a sense of closeness and community—something many had missed during isolation. By amplifying real voices and lived experience, the project helped reduce loneliness and strengthen social bonds.

What Partners Said

“You and the team have been fantastic, and the feedback has been amazing – please pass on my sincere thanks to all the group.”
— Eddie Weston, Onward Housing Older Person Specialist

“Thank you so much for the performance. The customers really enjoyed it, and it lifted them greatly after such a challenging year. The performers got it so right… please pass on our thanks and good luck to you all.”
— Linda Murray, Scheme Manager, Hawthorne Court