Comedy festival line-up revealed
HUNDREDS of comedians will once again flock to Leicester this February for the city’s annual comedy festival.
The official launch of the Leicester Comedy Festival’s 2018 festival has just taken place and the line-up has been unveiled.
Next year will see 613 comedians and performers put on shows at 836 events across 69 venues.
Each year, the festival attracts big names and 2018 looks no different with comedians including Barry Cryer, Harry Hill, Sara Pascoe, Jonathan Pie and Katherine Ryan all featuring on the line-up.
Geoff Rowe, founder and director of the festival, said: “For 25 years we have supported new and emerging comedy talent, with many of the comedians who began their careers with us now world-famous entertainers.
“In 2018, we will be celebrating our achievements in style, with a huge selection of acts, from those just starting out to household names, plus more unmissable events unique to the festival than ever before, including Heavenly Laughter in Leicester Cathedral and a bumper birthday party show, as well as festival favourites Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year, the UK Pun Championships and #UKPunDay.”
Other comedians that will feature on the 2018 festival line-up are Bob Slayer, Bobby Mair, Lucy Porter, Robin Ince, Shappi Khorsandi, Stuart Goldsmith, Suzi Ruffell, Tom Allen, Tom Hougton, Tom Lucy and Zoe Lyons.
There will also be a range of special events to mark the festival’s 25th anniversary.
The festival is the longest-running comedy festival in the UK, having taken place every February since 1994.
Leicester Comedy Festival is run by Big Difference Company, which is a registered charity, and all the money raised is invested back into the event and used to support new comedy talent.
Projects such as Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year Competition, UK Pun Championships and the Silver Stand Up Competition have helped launch the careers of numerous comedians over the past 25 years, including Johnny Vegas, Romesh Ranganathan, Rhod Gilbert, Jason Manford and Josh Widdicombe.
For 2018, the festival is launching Circuit Breakers, which is a development programme to help support comedians wanting to perform at the festival and break into the UK comedy scene, meet agents, producers and members of the UK comedy industry.
The festival also provides a platform for other charities to raise money and their profiles and in 2018 the festival’s chosen charities will include Comic Relief, Loros hospice, Charity Link, Prostaid and The Real Junk Food Project.
The complete programme for the festival is available now and tickets are on sale.
For ticket inquiries or more information, call 0116 456 6812.