The Art of Voicing Comedy

There’s a lot of doom and gloom swirling around these days. So it feels like it’s never been more important to laugh. Yet for those aspiring to thrive in the comedy space and voiceover, it’s hard to know where to start in building a professional career. Someone who's been making that happen for dozens of comics is Vicky Hopewell, director and head of comedy at London’s leading voiceover agency, Sue Terry Voices.

Before starting at Sue Terry Voices, Vicky was working at an advertising agency. She remembers bingeing cult comedy series like Big Train, Nathan Barley, Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, and Spaced, when the chance to work directly with talent came up. “It was too tempting to ignore,” she tells me. “It turned out to be the best decision of my career.”

It wasn’t long after attending her first few comedy nights that she got the bug for finding new talent, and experiencing comedy in all its forms. “I went to Edinburgh one year quite early on and found the buzz and atmosphere of the festival addictive,” she recalls. Spending the day running from show to show, experiencing different styles, ideas, and stories told through multiple vehicles, is exactly where Vicky felt at home.

Upon returning to London, she decided to start her own comedy club, which she had in London’s Camden for five years. “It was my way into the comedy world and gave me the best opportunity to meet comedians and develop relationships with agents,” says Vicky. “I enjoyed every show, and was very lucky with those who performed.” That list includes everyone from James Acaster, Kevin Eldon and Phil Wang, to John Robins, Aisling Bea, Mike Wozniak, Cardinal Burns, and many more.

After a while, Vicky felt confident in bringing more stand-up comedians into the agency. “I would take on artists who I’d followed for years, those I believed I could interest producers, and those I enjoyed seeing,” she explains. “I knew that if I loved someone’s comedy, I’d be able to communicate that to producers.”

Though Vicky continues to work on many other projects and areas of the business, taking on the role of head of comedy at STV felt like a natural fit for her. “It’s a title I am very proud of,” she adds.

Over the years, Vicky has seen plenty of changes unfold in the industry. With the rise of platforms like TikTok, there’s an undoubtable impact on comedic voiceovers. “Artists like Mawaan Rizwan have been creating content via YouTube for several years, and more recently, during the pandemic, online became the only outlet for comedians and performers to be creative while both maintaining and reaching new audiences,” Vicky tells me. Many of STV’s artists still create online content, as well as being on TV and performing live shows. Vicky says that they’re all mediums for promoting material and creating opportunities for producers to see them perform. “But the voice reel on our website is still the best way to understand an artist's tone, delivery, and versatility.”

When it comes to scouting new comedic talent, for Vicky, it’s less about the voice than you might imagine. “My main consideration when taking on a comedian doesn’t actually start with their voice. It’s an important factor, of course, but my first instinct is to ask – do I enjoy the material? Do I find the material funny? Does this person resonate with the creatives and the potential audience?” Vicky does plenty of research before taking someone on to make sure she understands their style of comedy. That involves going to see live shows and brainstorming which brands they might be suitable for. “I tend to go on instinct, and if I get a good feeling about an artist, and am excited about seeing how they progress, then that’s enough for me to take them on.”

For aspiring voice actors looking to make a mark in the comedy genre, Vicky’s advice is to concentrate on your craft: “Before thinking about doing voice work, develop your set or get some TV credits on your CV.”

At STV, the agents care deeply for each and every individual on their roster – beyond the laughter, for those they see potential in, they’ll back them all the way.