Trinity Societies Prospectus 2022

18
Magpie and Stump
Surprisingly enough, going by the reputation of its students, Trinity’s oldest society
is not the Trinity Mathematical Society but its comedy society. Magpie and Stump
was founded in 1866 as a debating society, with the son of Charles Darwin as a
founding member.
It seems clear to us that the Trinity student body is on a trajectory of becoming
funnier each year, as demonstrated by Magpie’s evolution from debating society to
‘humorous debating society’ (by the early 20th century) to the hub of comedians and
performers it is today, putting on comedy shows and funding up-and-coming
comedians and writers at the ADC and in Cambridge. This is a view that sits very
well with current members. Although the society is no longer the pipe-smoking
men’s club it was back when Bertrand Russell and King George VI were members,
it remains an active society that puts on monthly writing groups and welcomes any
member of College who is interested in writing, performing or watching comedy.
Contact: Hatty Innes (hi257@cam.ac.uk)