Comedians and staff get Big boost
LEICESTER Comedy Festival has formed a partnership with an energy company to give its staff a massive boost.
Octopus Energy is helping support comedians from across the UK, provide entertainment for employees and support finance for the festival, which is produced by registered charity Big Difference Company.
And comedians are joining the firm’s weekly virtual all-hands meeting to provide some light relief from lockdown measures for its employees in Leicester and the rest of the Octopus team.
The Leicester operation is its major base outside London with more than 230 employees working from the city centre’s Colton Square offices before lockdown.
Comedians including Eshaan Akbar and Adele Cliff will remain socially distant and attend the meeting via video call to entertain the 700-plus employees across the UK and beyond.
The stand-up sessions have been taking place on Fridays, having started on August 7.
Aside from giving work to local comedians, Octopus Energy will also be making a donation to support next year’s Leicester Comedy Festival.
It will take place from February 3 to 21 and, depending on regulations and government advice, see live events alongside a virtual programme.
More than 1,500 comedians took part in this year’s festival.
Rebecca Dibb-Simkin, product and marketing director at Octopus Energy, said: “The last few months have been tough for all of us, but the arts are among the professions that were hit the hardest.
“We are delighted to be able to support comedians and performers while giving our colleagues a good laugh on a Friday – it’s a perfect win-win situation.
“We hope these first few virtual stand-up sessions will help Leicester Comedy Festival in
preparation for performances.”
Geoff Rowe, Leicester Comedy Festival director, said: “This support from Octopus Energy is fantastic and we’re delighted to be working so closely with the team. The project will hopefully entertain staff and provide muchneeded financial support for our comedians and festival. We’re all having to find new ways of doing things, and this is a great way for us to develop ways in which we work with businesses.”
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