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Jollyboat is a British musical comedy double act.

Formed in Liverpool in 2010, the act comprises brothers Ed and Tommy Croft.

Jollyboat are an energetic and lively stage act, and are best known for their Pirate Pop Songs. The brothers are very close, having stated that they "live together, work together and share the same imaginary friend"^[1].

In 2011, Jollyboat won the Musical Comedy Awards. They have performed shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2010 and 2011 each to rave reviews and commercial success, including praise from The Independent. In 2012, they have confirmed that they will tour several music festivals, including Festival Internacional de Benicàssim, Hop Farm Festival and Kendal Calling, before returning to the Edinburgh Fringe for a third year running^[2]

Formation

Before forming Jollyboat, the brothers Ed Croft and Tommy Croft^[3] began performing in 2007 in their home town of Todmorden and at their local open mic in the neighboring town of Hebden Bridge, winning local awards for their novelty songs and storytelling^[4].

They later began working together as a variety and sketch act, the Amazing Tom and Ed Brothers, now hosting fundraiser events for charities such as Amnesty International^[5].

Ed left home to attend the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, where he received songwriting tuition from Paul McCartney. Jollyboat was created to be performed at Ed’s graduation show from LIPA in 2010^[3], where the brothers played comic songs inspired by shared childhood experiences. This early set included their most notable act, the Pirate Pop Songs^[6], which were inspired by the comic computer game The Secret of Monkey Island^[7].

The name Jollyboat was chosen by the brothers because of it’s connection to pirates and it’s comic nuances. A ‘jolly boat’ is a small rowing boat.

Early Career

In August 2010 Jollyboat performed their debut Edinburgh Fringe Festival show, which consistently attracted a full house. At the final showing of the show, the audience filled the entire room, standing and being seated in the isles.

In 2011 Jollyboat won the Musical Comedy Awards, receiving praise from celebrity comedians Neil Morrissey and Mitch Benn^[8]. Tommy commented that this victory had taken them "from the back room of pubs to the West End in less than a year"^[9], though they have since returned to perform several shows free-of-charge in their home town of Todmorden^[10].

The duo also won a host of Liverpool comedy competitions, including Laughterhouse New Act of the Year^[11], the Best of Rawhide Raw^[12] and the Hot Water New Act of the Year^[10].

Jollyboat’s 2011 Edinburgh Fringe show received 5 star reviews,^[13] and was recommended by the Independent^[14]. The group performed over 60 shows during that month.^[10].

Critical Reception

Jollyboat has received nearly unanimous praise since their first shows at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2010. Among other things they show has been described as "funny, skilled musical comedy" (InformedEdinburgh)^[15], "great comic material and winning performances" (FringeGuru)^[16], including “tightly written lyrics, a variety of musical styles to keep the show fresh, and a likeable and enthusiastic on-stage presence” (British Comedy Guide). However, ThreeWeeks also wrote a lukewarm review, describing a performance in which the “cast decided to give up on the material they’d prepared and trash the stage instead” due to a technical failure^[17].

Many critics have commented on the brother's enthusiastic presentation, including a "likeable onstage presence"^[1], a "tangible passion for entertainment"^[16] and their "almost psychic connection on stage",^[13], which is often attributed to their close relationship.

Fringe Review placed Jollyboat in their Top 5 Comedy shows of 2011.

Awards

• Musical Comedy Awards 2011, Winner
• Hot Water Comedian of the Year 2011, Winner
• Rawhide Raw New Act of the Year 2011, Winner
• Laughterhouse New Act of the Year 2011, Winner

Television and Radio

Jollyboat appeared on Radio 4 Extra alongside David Sedaris and Richard Herring, on Fred MacAulay's BBC Radio Scotland show^[18]. Jollyboat also worked as consultants on the writing of a Comedy Series for Liverpool Radio City.

Links

Official Website - www.jollyboat.co.uk