Festival team to run venue

WILL HELP TO SUPPORT THE COMEDY EVENTS

LEICESTER Comedy Festival’s organiser has announced it is taking on the lease of a city centre venue.

The Cookie, in High Street, will be renamed The Big Difference, after the charity that runs the February festival, when it reopens.

The venue has become one of the festival’s key locations and has hosted music gigs and other live entertainment since 2013.

Comedians to have played there include Rhod Gilbert, Russell Howard, Romesh Ranganathan, Katherine Ryan and Tom Allen.

Martyn Allison, chairman of the charity, said “We are incredibly proud of the work we have produced since Leicester Comedy Festival was set up in 1994 and are now beginning to seriously plan for our milestone 30th anniversary in 2023.

“Like many charities, we are having to explore new income streams to support our exciting and varied programme of work and moving to The Cookie makes so much financial sense for us.

“We can’t wait to announce our opening programme and build on the past successes.”

The Big Difference Company hopes taking on the venue will help to financially support the comedy and children’s comedy festivals and provide a platform for the charity to expand its work.

The company organises a programme of year-round community projects, for some of which the venue could be a base.

Interested promoters, artists and producers are being encouraged to get in touch to discuss projects.

Laura Arends, chief executive of Big Difference Company, said: “Since starting with the charity last summer, I have been struck by the support so many people have for what Big Difference does.

“Of course Leicester Comedy Festival continues to be really popular and we need to ensure the annual festival is here for many more years to come.

“The team have always worked really closely with local and national artists, venues and promoters.

“We’re all looking forward to developing these links once we open the doors.”

Geoff Rowe, founding director of Leicester Comedy Festival, said: “The past 30 years or so have been a real rollercoaster as we have sustained the festival and produced some amazing community projects and events alongside it.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with so many amazing people and taking on the venue is the next exciting step on our journey.

“We will be presenting a fab programme of comedy in addition to music gigs, spoken word and other live entertainment.”