Carlisle's Old Fire Station to host comedy duo Flo and Joan

In this exclusive interview with the News & Star, the pair explore their comedy roots and what it means to be playing in Carlisle for the first time...

'Flo and Joan' is the stage name for sisters Nicola and Rosie Dempsey, and the name is rooted in family significance.

Rosie said: "Flo and Joan was the name of our grandmother and her sister.

"Nicola and Rosie sounds really boring, and the Dempsey sisters sounds like we are going to spin plates on our heads and do cartwheels... so we went for Flo and Joan."

Performances featuring the pair's signature musical comedy style has the made them household names on the UK comedy scene.

The comedic duo have a stellar CV that boasts appearances on Live at the Apollo, Jonathan Ross' Comedy Club and The Royal Variety Performance. 

Sisters Nicola and Rosie Dempsey spoke exclusively to News and Star about their upcoming performance in Carlisle (Image: Matt Crockett - Avalon UK)

They also recently finished a sell-out run on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August.

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A brief spell in Toronto, Canada kicked off the pair's career and ever since they have gone from strength to strength playing at iconic venues. 

After recently announcing a trip to Carlisle in an extension to their sold-out 'Sweet Release' tour , Flo and Joan explained how, despite playing at some of the country's biggest venues, the nerves that come from performing in a new city still remain.

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Nicola said: "It's always exciting to go to somewhere new and see if people like you or not.

"The nerves are always there. I feel like the smaller the venue the more nervous I get, because you can see the faces more clearly.

"Somewhere like Carlisle which is smaller, I will probably be more nervous."

The pair's trip to the Old Fire Station in Carlisle has been inspired by one of their comedic songs, 'Carol', which features a runaway tune focused on a 'cracker packer' from the Carr's factory in Carlisle.

Rosie said: "We want to sing this song in Carlisle..."

"...and see if we get chased out of town with pitchforks," added Nicola.

Rosie continued: "We saw it in a headline in a newspaper when we were working and we saw the phrase 'Carol packs crackers in the Carr's cracker factory' and thought, that's obviously a song.

"Now we thought we would come to Carlisle and sing the song in the home of Carrs."

The upcoming show at the Old Fire Station might signify the pair's first trip to Carlisle but according to Nicola and Rosie, it definitely won't be their last.

Flo and Joan's first trip to Carlisle might not be their last. (Image: Matt Crockett - Avalon UK)

Nicola said:"I am sure we will put Carlisle on the list again if we tour again - as long as we don't make any enemies on the night."

Tickets for the show on Tuesday, November 8 can be purchased at: www.floandjoan.com.

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