All smiles as comedy festival is given funds

THE producers of Leicester Comedy Festival have received funding which will allow them to open up more events for older people over the next couple of years.

The Big Difference Company, a registered charity which produces the annual event, has received funding from The Baring Foundation to increase the work included in the festival aimed at older people.

The two-year grant, which will allow work to take place in Leicester Comedy Festival 2020 and 2021, will ultimately include setting up an Older People’s Comedy Fringe of the event.

In addition, there will be some specific new activities targeted at older people, especially those in care homes and community settings.

The festival has a long tradition of producing work with, and for, older people.

In the early years of the festival, producers set up Vintage Theatre Company, with members aged over 50, who wrote and performed their own comedy sketches and plays each February.

More recently, the Silver Stand Up competition was established in 2012, a national comedy competition for comedians aged over 55.

Next year’s festival will include the usual Silver Stand Up Competition, alongside a Best of Silver Stand Up show featuring past contestants and winners of the competition.

The Baring Foundation is an independent foundation which protects and advances human rights and promotes inclusion.

Geoff Rowe, the founding director of Leicester Comedy Festival, said: “When we set up the festival in 1994, there seemed to be a general view that live comedy was for young people but we have always tried to be as inclusive as possible with the events and projects we work on each year.

“Happily, the perception has changed over the years and we hope our work will continue to change this perception.

“Leicester Comedy Festival has always aimed to be a celebration of British comedy and with this funding we can grow and develop our work.”

Comedian Lynn Ruth Miller, who started performing comedy aged 71 and is now 86, said: “I’ve been performing at Leicester Comedy Festival for many years and always look forward to taking part.

“It’s one of the premier comedy festivals in the world and the audiences are always fantastic.

“The development of a programme targeted at older people is really great and should make the festival even more welcoming to more people.”

Next year’s festival takes place between February 5 and 23.