Strangers on a Patio - the comedy club in a Stratford garden

In July 2021, Krishna Vytelingum turned the back garden of his home in Maryland into 'Strangers on a Patio', in an attempt to bring people together after Covid as well as destigmatise depression.

Krishna said that he felt people had grown depressed during Covid lockdowns due to a lack of interaction.

After obtaining a temporary events notice from Newham Council he started work on his garden, trying to make it "as colourful as possible".

Krishna Vytelingum began Strangers on a Patio in June 2021 (Image: Krishna Vytelingum) He is now into his fourth year of hosting comedy shows and has begun performing stand-up routines himself.

“Part of the reason I’ve started doing stand-up comedy is because it’s a form of therapy – it’s very empowering," Krishna said.

“There are links between recovering from depression and beginning creative therapies like singing or writing and my theory is that it’s not the performing that makes me feel better, but the creative attempt to write a stand-up set.

“I was incredibly nervous when I started but now it’s very empowering and it’s given me back a lot of self-belief.

“I care about helping charities of course but for me, it’s about doing the comedy and being able to perform – it makes me truly happy."

Krishna claims that performing stand-up comedy has brought back his self belief after suffering from depression (Image: Krishna Vytelingum) Proceedings from this summer's shows will go to a food bank run by the Rukhsana Khan Foundation in Walthamstow.

Krishna said the events have grown in quality and size over the four years of hosting.

He said: “When I started it, I had to make an effort to get comedians in and even had to pay some of them and it was quite difficult – I had nothing to do with comedy.

“In the second year, I tightened up the show, started selling cocktails and we could cater for around 35 guests in each show.

“We get people coming from all over London sometimes – it’s got more and more popular."

The garden has space four roughly 35 guests (Image: Krishna Vytelingum) “All the comedians now volunteer their time for free – they buy into the supporting depression idea."

Winner of the Comedian's Comedian award at this year's Chortle Awards, Rob Copland, performed at the very first show in Krishna's garden.

Krishna said he is very grateful for the donations from local alcohol companies which have donated him beer, gin and rum over the years which has allowed him to sell drinks at the shows.

He added: “I always say I’m not a charity – people sometimes want to donate money to me but I’d say 'no, you can buy a service from me and then I’ll donate the proceedings to charity'."

The first of five Strangers on a Patio shows this spring and summer is on May 31.