Harrogate Comedy Festival runs from 7 – 20 October 2012 and features 50 comedians over 14 days and in 4 different venues.
They say that laughter is contagious. If that’s true you’d better brace yourself. Harrogate’s fourth Comedy Festival takes over this October with a whopping feast of funny.
From big names off the telly (stand up Jack Dee, Sandi Toksvig, Andi Osho, Julian Clary, Stewart Francis) to hot sketch (they’re Pappy’s, Wit Tank and Jigsaw) and circuit stars (please put your hands together for Tony Law, Henning Wehn and Seann Walsh), Harrogate Comedy Festival boasts a joker to suit every palate and at least two to confound eyes as well as ears (The Boy With Tape On His Face and Piff The Magic Dragon).
If you like the warm, cheeky humour of The Hairy Bikers, then old-school gagmeister Jimmy Tarbuck will probably tickle your fancy. Or perhaps you might be up for something a little challenging and political, such as Mark Thomas, Josie Long, Francesca Martinez or Imran Yusuf.
The hot comedy trend for young men in T-shirts noticing things doesn’t seem to be waning – cue cheery Geordie Chris Ramsey, about to make it big in forthcoming BBC2 sitcom Hebburn and cocky young Scottish buck Daniel Sloss. For savvy/cordial misanthropy that only comes with being a grown-up we have Danny Bhoy, Rob Rouse, Jon Richardson, Marcus Brigstocke and Carl Donnelly.
If you prefer your comedy somewhere between left-field and downright bonkers, grab your tickets and take your seats for Paul Foot, The Dog-Eared Collective, Haiste & Lawrence and Slap & Giggle. We’ve even thrown a little cabaret into the mix, with the poptastic Frisky & Mannish, and local diva Damsel Sophie’s latest show Hot, her tale of finding fame in Australia only to have to move back in with her parents. A bumper night of comedy polishes off the Festival line-up; the Hyena Comedy Club Closing Gala features four top stand-ups – Diane Spencer, Paul Sinha, Dan Nightingale and Mark Little.
One of the distinctive joys of this festival is that it’s not all about sitting and watching. As well as the Harrogate Comedy Festival Comedian Of The Year competition there’s a chance to unleash your inner funny in our Stand-Up Comedy Workshop or test your comedy knowledge at our Comedy Quiz at Jake’s hosted by ridiculously brainy funnyman Paul Sinha. And for those with little ‘uns, Comedy Club 4 Kids provides spot-on entertainment for all ages.
