GLASGOW Comedy Festival
Game for a laugh? You’ll find plenty to split your sides at the 17th Glasgow International Comedy Festival, as director Sarah Watson explains
WITH over 500 shows at 56 venues in 18 days, this isn’t just any comedy festival. It’s the Whyte & Mackay Glasgow International Comedy Festival.
Delightfully dafter and more diverse than ever, it truly is the place to be from March 14 to 31 in the city that famously “smiles better”.
“Comedy is everywhere in Glasgow,” says festival director Sarah Watson (pictured above right). “You see it in shop signs and street art and hear it with folks chatting at the supermarket, or making their mates laugh in the pub. One of the best-known images of the city is a traffic cone stuck on a statue so that tells you something!” The festival is now in its 17th year, and Sarah has been involved since its humble beginnings.
“It has gone from the new kid on the block to a firmly established feature on the cultural calendar. We are hugely proud of what we’ve achieved, and equally grateful to all the partners, collaborators, performers and of course audiences who have supported us.” Since its inaugural festival in 2003 there have been some sensational highlights, including the first international headliner, Joan Rivers, in 2005. The events that stand out the most, though, are the ones that, like that traffic cone permanently stuck on the Duke of Wellington’s head, convey the quirky humour of Scotland’s largest city.
“There are loads – some I can even mention in public! Getting to see French and Saunders on their farewell tour was amazing. Oh, and seeing Johnny Vegas at a Late Show being paraded around The Stand in a wheelie bin was quite something.”
Unusual venues play a big part in this year’s festival, with comedy acts and stand-up routines being performed on a Tall Ship, at the Hunterian Museum, and at the Glasgow Women’s Library.
One particularly unusual event is Empty At No.6, which returns after a hugely successful night in Glasgow’s Funniest Living Room last year.
“It’s in the living room of a genuine family home on the Southside!” Sarah explains. “We love to bring comedy to unusual locations. I like to think the festival could put on a great show anywhere. Actually, if anyone has a suggestion of somewhere they’d love to see some stand-up, they should get in touch via our website and we’ll see if we can make it happen.”
A glance at this year’s programme reveals a host of local talent like Larry Dean alongside big headliners such as Rich Hall and Jerry Sadowitz.
“The festival has an international flavour, of course, but we’re very proud of our track record for showcasing local comedians. It’s lovely to watch someone like Kevin Bridges go from doing open spots to playing the biggest rooms in the city. It motivates you to go out and look for that next generation of talent.”