The 7th Harrogate Comedy Festival starts today at the Harrogate Theatre and the Royal Hall.
In Conversation with Standard Issue, Harrogate Theatre, 5th October
Join a team of splendid speakers (including Sarah Millican, Susan Calman, Katherine Ryan and Bridget Christie) for a lovely chat this evening.
Jeremy Hardy, Harrogate Theatre, 6th October
The excellent Mr. Hardy has been a stand-up comic for just over 30 years, and following a brief hibernation in winter, is back on the road.
Justin Moorhouse – Destiny Calling, Harrogate Theatre, 7th October
After storming performances on Live at the Apollo (BBC1) and at the Phoenix Nights LIVE Reunion (Manchester Arena), Justin returns to Harrogate to do what he does best – making people laugh.
Tom Adams in ‘Howl at the Moon’, Harrogate Theatre, 8th October
One hour of music and ridiculously catchy tunes as Tom Adams takes an audience on a journey to the far side of the moon with the Apollo 11 mission.
Frisky & Mannish – Just Too Much, Harrogate Theatre, 8th October
The scarily talented pop-satire duo return to Harrogate with their new show ‘Just Too Much’. Is the fame too much? Will they stay together? Will there be a segment dedicated to a wrecking ball? Who knows?
Jason Byrne – 20 Years a Clown, Harrogate Theatre, 9th October
With performances on Live at the Apollo (BBC1) The Royal Variety Show (ITV) and his own creation, Father Figure (BBC1), Byrne is celebrating his 20th year of solo shows!
Daniel Sloss, Studio Theatre, 9th October
It’s the new show from Scotland’s favourite half-man half-Xbox, following a sold-out Edinburgh Fringe season, appearances all over the palce (including Conan O’Brien and Russell Howard’s Good News).
Chris Ramsey, Harrogate Theatre, 12th October
A show about being dragged, kicking and screaming into growing up (and what that means) from the man who once ordered pizza to a moving train.
Jimmy Carr, Royal Hall, 13th October
Described as ‘the hardest working man in comedy’, Jimmy Carr returns to Harrogate with his new show – come for the witty and incisive musings on the human condition; stay for the filthy gags.
Rob Beckett, Harrogate Theatre, 13th October
Relentlessly smiley, The Mouth of The South takes on the great issues of our time, including Kit-Kats and flatbreads.
Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre – Minging Detectives, Studio Theatre, 13th October
Bringing you new sketches, music and violence inspired by every genre of crime fiction. From film noir to scand-crime, the socks are going to cover it all.
Beardyman – One Album Per Hour, Harrogate Theatre, 14th October
After a sell-out show at the Edinburgh Fringe, this vocal shaman can create any sounds and compositions required, based on audience suggestions alone.
Ali Cook – The Art of Astonishment, Studio Theatre, 14th October
With magic and laughter, Ali Cook amazes his audience with an unforgettable evening.
The Thinking Drinkers Guide, Harrogate Theatre, 15th October
If you’ve ever suffered with a hangover after a night of indulgence, then this is the show for you. The Thinking Drinkers are here to help you drink less, and drink better.
Morgan Berry – Watership Down, Studio Theatre, 15th October
The Bafrican (Barnsley-born and Africa-raised) character from Joe Rowntree is trying to save his car wash by using his newfound skills as a pet bereavement counsellor.
An Evening with Tim Brooke-Taylor, Harrogate Theatre, 16th October
A charming evening in the company of one of the funniest and best-loved comedy performers, as he discusses his career with Chris Serle.
Andrew Lawrence, Studio Theatre, 16th October
After his tenth consecutive Edinburgh Fringe show, Lawrence brings his most fearless and uncompromising stand-up to date. Nothing is unacceptable, and no concessions to political correctness.
Hyena Lounge Comedy Club Closing Gala, Harrogate Theatre, 17th October
Join our line-up which includes Nick Helm, Jeff Innocent, David Trent, Mickey Hutton and the winner of our Comedian of the Year 2015 competition.
The Big Weekend:
Two jam-packed days of stand-up, sketch shows, a comedy quiz, an art exhibition of artwork by comedian Noel Fielding curated by RedHouse Originals gallery, live music, drinks, and even a Sunday morning hangover-busting comedy panel.
Join them in a chilled-out Circle-Bar-with–a-Major-Toms-twist this weekend for a well-deserved weekend drink, live music and a good old giggle!
Sat 10th October
2pm: The Best of Casual Violence – the brilliant sketch group brings their best sketches to Harrogate
for all to enjoy.
2pm: Hyena Lounge Kids Comedy Club – Our family friendly giggle fest, suitable for all the family (from ages 7 and up).
7.30pm: Nina Conti – In Your Face – Ventriloquism and comedy in one incredible package! SOLD OUT
9.30pm: James Hamilton Is So Lonely – One of the primary members of Casual Violence strikes out
on his own, performing his first solo show.
Sun 11th October
- 11am: The Sunday Supplement
Billed as a hangover-busting morning going through the Sunday papers with a panel of funny people. - 4pm: Comedy Quiz
Grab your mates and exercise your funny bone with our comedy themed quiz. - 7.30pm: Kate Fox – Grin Up North
The delightful Kate Fox for an evening of poetry, comedy, and asking what it means to be a professional Northerner. - 8pm: Jenny Éclair – How to be a Middle Aged Woman (Without Going Insane) – Professional grumpy old woman Jenny Eclair will be putting middle age under a microscope to decide whether to laugh, cry or buy a dachshund.
There’s something for everyone to enjoy at this year’s Harrogate Comedy Festival, whether you enjoy cabaret, dance, improvisation, magic, sketch, stand-up, or even Scottish sock puppets speaking in falsetto voices.
To open the 2015 event Harrogate Theatre has teamed up with online women’s magazine, Standard Issue, to present a unique Comedy Festival launch event on Monday 5th October. ‘In Conversation with Standard Issue’ is a killer panel of funny women talking about comedy, feminism and more which will include Sarah Millican, Bridget Christie, Katherine Ryan and Susan Calman.
What’s more, the Harrogate Comedy Festival ‘Big Weekend’ at the theatre on 10th & 11th October promises two jam-packed days of stand-up, sketch shows, a comedy quiz, an exhibition curated by RedHouse Originals gallery, live music, drinks, and even a Sunday morning hangover-busting comedy panel.
The fourth ‘Comedian of the Year’ competition will also take place this year. During two heats a host of tip top comics battle to impress the audience and judges enough to secure a place in the final on Monday 12th October.
Emma McDowell, Comedy Festival Programmer:
Our 7th Harrogate Comedy Festival boasts one of the best line-ups yet, with some of the biggest and most exciting names in comedy coming to the town over what promises to be a buzzing two weeks this October. The link-up with Standard Issue magazine is very exciting for both us as hosts and for our audiences, and for our ‘Big Comedy Weekend’ at the theatre on 10th & 11th October we have lots of treats and surprises in store.
Our aim this year is to create a cool festival vibe at the theatre, and to offer a well-rounded ‘comedy experience’ that offers stand-up but also goes beyond the realms of just that. We are also working with RedHouse Gallery and we are in talks with Major Toms so this year is all about partnerships too.
We hope to welcome lots of familiar faces and many new ones to the theatre over the duration of the 2015 Harrogate Comedy Festival.
Harrogate Comedy Festival will run at Harrogate Theatre from Monday 5th to Saturday 17th October 2015.
For more information about the line-up and Comedian of the Year competition, visit www.harrogatecomedyfestival.co.uk
