Comedy festival founder to step down next year
GEOFF ROWE ANNOUNCES THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT IN FEBRUARY WILL BE HIS LAST
THE founder of Leicester Comedy Festival has spoken of his pride in the event as he prepares to step down from his role.
Founding director of both the annual comedy event and The UK Kids’ Comedy Festival, Geoff Rowe is to retire after 30 years at their helm.
He will depart from the role after the festivals have finished in February.
Europe’s biggest comedy festival this year saw more than 800 performances from comedians including Pam Ayres, Rosie Jones, Ria Lina, Stewart Lee, Chris McCausland, Nabil Abdulrashid, Katherine Ryan and Henning Wehn.
Geoff and his student year group set up the event in 1994 when they were studying arts management at De Montfort University.
He said: “I have had the most amazing time over the years and the incredible privilege of working with some fantastic comedians, and people from the UK live comedy sector.
“I’m really proud of the community we have developed, of people who love British comedy and work so hard each February to deliver our festivals.
“The last few years have been enormously difficult since the pandemic hit and I’ve been blown away with the support we have received.
“However, after 30 years of Leicester Comedy Festival and five years of The UK Kids’ Comedy Festival, I think it’s time for me to leave the stage and hand the microphone over to the team and trustees of
Big Difference.
“I’m not going anywhere just yet, and am so looking forward to helping put together the programmes for February.
“I’m sure there will be the usual mix of big names, special events and community projects, which will help us celebrate the landmark year.
“I do have some specific ideas for events to help mark the birthdays, but we need a bit more time before we can announce these.
“Thirty years is a long time to sustain and develop an independent festival – there aren’t many like us in the UK. “I hope I get a chance to thank everyone who has played their part before I take my final bow. “I’m very much looking forward to new adventures in the future.” Martyn Allison, chairman of the trustees, said: “Both the city and the wider UK comedy community can be justifiably proud of what Geoff has achieved over the last 30 years and the legacy he has created. “But we always knew that at some stage Geoff would want to step down and move on.
“We have been planning for a sustainable and exciting future with the appointment of Laura Arends as our new chief executive and new projects including our own venue, The Big Difference.
“We are pleased Geoff will be around to help us celebrate 30 years in style and we wish him luck in whatever he chooses to do next.”
I have had the incredible privilege of working with some fantastic comedians
Geoff Rowe