Comedy festival has last laugh
‘Positive response’ to venture
Hundreds of comedy fans descended on Crieff at the weekend for the town’s first ever comedy festival.
And organisers are already making plans for next year after hailing the event a success.
A host of big name stars appeared at the Crieff Comedy Festival - Before the Fringe, including Tom Stade, Tanyalee Davis, Mark Nelson, Raymond Mearns, Bruce Fummey, Obie and Lynn Ruth Miller.
Many performers took the opportunity to preview new material ahead of their Edinburgh Fringe shows.
Crieff Comedy Festival co-organiser and compère Jim McCreadie said: “This weekend has been the most enjoyable time I’ve had since starting doing comedy over three years ago.
“To have played a small part in the very first Crieff Comedy Festival has been a real privilege.
“Not only did I have the pleasure of watching some of the finest comedians that Scotland and the UK have to offer, but I got to introduce the amazing Tom Stade, watch The Rev Obadiah Steppenwolfe do his last ever gig, and to top it off I hosted the final show of the festival which included two legends of Scottish comedy in the shape of the amazing Bruce Morton and the one and only Phil Kay.”
The event was the latest in a series of projects being progressed by Crieff Succeeds BID, an organisation dedicated to supporting the local business community and encouraging greater town centre footfall. festival team out and about on Saturday at the comedy festival
Stephen Halkett and Jeannie Jones (aka Dr Jones Funny Bones) pictured with a member of the CCF team at the Children’s Comedy Club event
Neil Combe, manager of Crieff Succeeds BID, said: “We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response to the inaugural Crieff Comedy Festival - Before The Fringe, and plans are already in motion to repeat the event next year.
“The festival was created to give locals something new and exciting to enjoy, while at the same time encouraging visitors into the town to enjoy a summer evening in Crieff and boost revenue for local businesses.
“There was a real buzz in Crieff’s bars and restaurants during the event and we definitely advanced our ongoing aims of increasing footfall and positioning Crieff as an attractive visitor destination.
“I’d like to thank the organisers - producer Derek Allan and cocompères Jim McCreadie and Viv Gee - for creating such an incredible event.
“The support we received from the comedy venues - Crieff Golf Club, The Tower Gastropub, The Square Bar - was also superb.
“People came from all over the UK and the feedback about the comedians and the venues has been so positive.
“Roll on 2019.”