Giz a Laugh: Formidable performer’s welcome return to the stage

Clondalkin comedian Enya Martin recently made a welcome return to the stage at an outdoor comedy show in Kildare, after keeping people entertained with her comedy videos during the pandemic.

The Neilstown native uploaded her first comedy sketch video to her ‘Giz a Laugh’ Facebook page back in 2014, and since then many of her videos of a variety of her Dublin characters have gone viral.

Off the back of her success with comedy sketches, Enya has become a formidable performer as a stand-up comedian and is the best-selling female comedian in Dublin’s Vicar Street, having sold out three shows there in 2018.

The 28-year-old past pupil of Collinstown Park Community College told her local paper about what it was like to upload her first comedy video, how stand-up compares to making videos, and how it felt to be back on stage.

You started your comedy career by uploading videos of sketches on Facebook. Can you remember how you felt when you uploaded your first video, and the response it got?

I was very nervous. I was putting myself out there to be ridiculed by thousands of strangers.

And once something is online, it’s there forever, so I really hoped it would go down well, and it did, thankfully!

I have improved massively since 2014 when I first started, in terms of confidence and my writing.

Enya Martin

Why did you decide to start making comedy videos?

Although I see myself as an introverted person, I think there is a gene in me to perform, like an alter-ego and that alter-ego has the bug to entertain people.

At the time, video was starting to take off on Facebook and I was terrified of doing stand-up on a stage, so I thought video was the perfect way to hide, but yet still showcase my abilities to hundreds of thousands.

It’s weird, I never thought I’d see myself doing what I’m doing today.

How does being on stage as a stand-up compare to making comedy videos?

They are both very different. You can hide behind a camera when something isn’t that funny.

But on stage, when your joke doesn’t get a laugh, it’s such an awkward and uncomfortable feeling.

However, when you use jokes from your videos on stage, and hear the live laughter, it’s such a great feeling!

You recently performed at ‘Laughs in the Manor’ in Kildare. What was it like for you to be back on stage?

It was a bit overwhelming, as one minute I thought I’d never get back on stage – at least not for another year! And then people found loopholes with the outdoor events, and now they’re getting thrown at me left, right and centre!

I did feel like I was starting my career from scratch again, by standing on stage, as it’s been so long since I experienced those pre-show nerves.

Enya started working as a personal trainer during lockdown

You started working as a personal trainer alongside your burgeoning comedy career when the pandemic was in full swing. What is it like to balance those two careers?

During the pandemic I was only making videos for my page, so I could give the gym 100 per cent of my time as I couldn’t do live shows.

But now the end of the pandemic is in sight, and I might have to go part-time with the personal training as comedy is my first love.

However most personal trainers are working online now with clients so I may be able to juggle both.

What plans do you have in the pipeline in the coming months?

Get a new tour going and bring people new material!

Where can readers go to find out more about you?

Find me on Facebook @gizalaugh. My Instagram page is @gizlaugh and my coaching page is @coachenya on Instagram.