Matty Brian

About

Army veteran, comedy writer and storyteller, Matty Brian writes about the chaos of military life, marriage and fatherhood with a dry wit and an eye for the ridiculous.

Drawing from over two decades in the British Army, his writing finds humour in the moments most people would overlook. Whether it’s life as a helicopter crewman, the realities of raising children, or the strange logic of married life, Matty believes the best comedy comes from telling the truth.

As he begins his journey into stand-up comedy, he’s proving that sometimes the funniest stories are the ones you’ve actually lived.

Backstory

Matty joined the British Army at 16 and has served for more than 22 years in the Army Air Corps. During that time he deployed on operations overseas, spent many years as a helicopter crewman and now works in aviation safety, helping to keep others safe in one of the world’s most demanding environments.

Like many veterans, military service came with experiences that have had a lasting impact. Following traumatic events during his career, Matty now lives with PTSD and anxiety. After years of keeping everything to himself, he finally accepted support and began focusing on recovery.

Writing has always been part of that recovery. Matty found that putting difficult experiences into words, and eventually into jokes, helped him see life differently. It reminded him that even the darkest memories don’t have to define the future.

Benefits of doing stand up

Project COMEDY has given Matty the confidence to develop his writing, with the goal of one day taking his material beyond the page and onto the stage. This confidence has also led him to start helping others develop their jokes and shape their stand-up sets.

More importantly, it has connected him with other veterans who understand that laughter isn’t about ignoring trauma. Sometimes it’s about taking back control of it. Writing comedy has become another tool in his recovery, helping him build confidence, challenge himself creatively and discover a new purpose beyond military service.

Matty says:

“For years I’d tell funny stories to mates in the crew room without ever thinking of them as comedy. Project COMEDY helped me realise those stories mattered. If something I’ve lived through can make someone laugh, then that’s a pretty good reason to keep writing.”