Liverpool Comedy Festival announces full line-up

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Comedy Festival

Alan Carr adds extra date due to high demand

The annual Liverpool Comedy Festival returns for a 14th consecutive year from Friday September 18–Sunday October 4, taking over Britain’s funniest city with events at venues across the city region, and organisers The Comedy Trust can now reveal the full confirmed line-up.

This year’s festival will see some of the biggest names on the comedy circuit, including Chatty Man himself Alan Carr. He performs his brand new show Yap Yap at Liverpool Philharmonic and has now added an extra date due to overwhelming demand, plus also at The Phil is Dave Spikey, a star of Phoenix Nights and That Peter Kay Thing, with his latest tour Punchlines.

The big names continue, as the Unity Theatre welcomes political satirist Andy Zaltzman and the legendary Jeremy Hardy. British Comedy Award winner Nina Conti with the help of Monkey, present her new show In Your Face at Liverpool Playhouse. At The Epstein Theatre Only Fools and Horses’ Boycie, one of the nation's greatest comedy actors John Challis will reveal secrets from the set with stories and anecdotes from his dazzling career; and as seen on 8 out of 10 cats, Dave’s One Night Stand, Spoons and John Bishop’s Only Joking, Rob Rouse presents his new show Roboscopy.

Year-long comedy clubs Laughterhouse Comedy, Hot Water Comedy Club, Comedy Central and Liverpool Comedy Cellar also present a high calibre of comedy talent across the festival including Live at the Apollo star Shappi Khorsandi; stand-up and BBC2 sitcom Hebburn star Steffen Peddie; Liverpool legend Pauline Daniels; one of the best performers working on the comedy circuit today Dan Nightingale and presenter of Channel 4’s The Word, Terry Christian bringing his one man show Naked Confessions of a Recovering Catholic, plus many more.

81 Renshaw Street will also showcase a whole host of the freshest performers and exciting local and up-and-coming comedy acts including Gein’s Family Giftshop returning after their Foster’s Best Newcomer Nomination at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe; festival favourite Jake Mills; Funny Women finalist and BBC Radio 4 regular Rosie Wilby; left-wing political comedy from the all new unwilling poster child for free speech Kate Smurthwaite; Merseyside funny man John Wilson follows up last year's Comedy Festival success with his new, laugh out loud, one man show; join Rob Thomas and Katie Tracey as they take you through their average lives which they've spent trying to be fabulous; in 1989 Public Enemy decreed that Elvis was racist, now Che Burnley tries to prove power, money and privilege makes it alright; Perrier and Chortle Award winning musical comedian with songs in the key of grrr, Christian Reilly presents Songs of Insolence. Just the tip of the comedy iceberg, check out the full line-up of acts to perform in Liverpool’s newest arts and events venue.

Throughout the run of the festival John Godber’s classic and hilarious show Bouncers is at The Royal Court from Friday September 4–Saturday October 3. It's 1985 and Ralph, Les, Judd and Lucky Eric are on the doors of The Grafton. They’re not doormen or security operatives – they’re bouncers and they’ve seen it all. Lads full of lager, girls full of giggles and clubs full of crazy stories in this brilliantly funny show.

There will be acts lined-up to perform in bars, shops, schools and even people’s houses. There is also comedy coach tours, kids shows, pub crawls, poets, podcasts, open mic nights, quizzes, magicians, networking events, rap battles, plays and sketch groups.

Sam Avery, festival director from The Comedy Trust, commented: “This year is our biggest and most diverse Festival to date: more shows than ever before and a strong emphasis on the hugely exciting local scene alongside the household names and international acts.”

The festival will take over Liverpool with events taking place at an impressive 19 venues across the city region including 81 Renshaw Street; Unity Theatre; The Royal Court; The Lantern Theatre; The Pilgrim; Laughterhouse Comedy; Liverpool Comedy Central; Hot Water Comedy Club; Liverpool Comedy Cellar; The Epstein Theatre; Ma Egerton’s Stage Door; Maghull Town Hall; Liverpool Philharmonic; Liverpool Playhouse; Ma Boyles; The Sandon; Brownmoor Park Sports and Social Club; Gallaghers Pub and Liverpool John Moores University.

Don’t miss one of Liverpool’s favourite and longest-standing festivals, the Liverpool Comedy Festival from Friday September 18–Sunday October 4.

Visit www.liverpoolcomedyfestival.com for the full line-up, further information and direct links to book tickets.

Michael McIntyre bringing Happy & Glorious news for ACC Liverpool

Michael McIntyre.
(Image courtesy of
Michael's website at
base of article)

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: ACC Liverpool

The following is a story provided by ACC Liverpool:

Have I got Happy & Glorious news for you! After a three-year absence when he was off making hit TV shows, Michael McIntrye is now returning to what he does best: stand-up comedy.

This autumn, he is embarking on a major nationwide arena tour with his new show entitled, er, Happy & Glorious. Travelling the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland, the tour confirms Michael’s position as the most popular comedian on these islands.

His previous tour, Showtime, was the biggest-seller in the world in 2012, playing to over 640,000 people. That included a record-equalling ten-night residency at London’s 02 Arena, matching the figure set by pop superstar Rihanna the previous year. This tour may well prove even more successful.

Michael has also thrived in the DVD market. He has so far released three best-selling DVDs. 2008's Live and Laughing was the biggest selling UK debut stand-up DVD of its time; Hello Wembley, which in 2009 became the fastest-selling UK stand-up DVD of all time, a record it still holds; and 2012's Showtime, which beat its competitors to the Christmas Number One spot.

He has been making a name for himself on the international stage, too. In 2013 he performed to sold-out arenas in South Africa, Dubai, Norway, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Michael’s performance to an audience of 9000 in Johannesburg was the largest ever comedy show in Africa, and his run in Dubai won him the Time Out Best Night Out award.

It’s no surprise that his live show is such a hit all over the world. A wonderfully magnetic stage presence, Michael just dazzles audiences with fantastically funny material culled from his own life.

The critics agree. The Daily Telegraph has said that, “The man is quite simply top-to-toe hilarious ... Michael McIntyre is uproariously funny”. The Times called him, “Laugh out loud funny” while The Guardian describedhis routine as a “masterpiece of comic storytelling”.

You’ll be delighted to hear, Michael is equally magnetic in person, throwing off sparks like a Catherine wheel on Bonfire Night. An hour in his company simply flies by. It’s like being treated to a Command Performance – to an audience of one.

As he relaxes at home in North London in the run-up to the tour, Michael begins by telling me how thrilled he is by the prospect of taking Happy & Glorious on the road. “I really, really love stand-up. There is huge excitement about having done the work in lots of warm-up shows and knowing that the jokes are funny.

“I did a Comedy Gala in Brighton recently to 2,000 people, and it was so lovely to be out there again. It’s wonderful to be able to share my new jokes with people.”

The comedian, who has won enough awards to endanger the stability of his mantelpiece, adds that, “I can’t wait to be playing once again to a big room that is really enjoying the show. I’m looking forward to thinking, ‘If you’re loving that, wait till you hear this!’ I’m bringing everything to this show – voices, physical comedy, the works. That way, I can really paint pictures on stage.

“If it’s genuinely working, you hit sections that are very funny and the audience just lap it up. I now know that every time I reach a certain bit, they’ll applaud. My job is to get the whole show to that level. I’m so excited about it!”

What is special about Michael’s show is that he puts such time and effort into it. He lavishes a fabulous amount of TLC on it. But it’s worth all the work because after all the preparation has been done, he loves nothing better than welcoming audiences into the comic realm he has created.

Michael, who is very happily married to Kitty and is the proud father of two young sons, discloses that, “The last thing I want to do is just bang the show out. I want to say to people, ‘Come into my world’. I want to get them in the palm of my hand.”

The comedian goes on to outline some of the themes he will be addressing in Happy & Glorious. “You look at the things in my life, and they’ll be my material. Holidays, hotels, motorway services – that’s my life. Anything is ripe for comedy.”

Michael, who in 2010 published a best-selling autobiography, "Life and Laughing: My Story", carries on that, “I’ll be discussing health stuff and the fact that I’ve lost a lot of weight. And as always, I’ll be talking about my children. They’re in my life, and they’ll always be in my jokes.”

But there is one new element in Michael’s life that has gifted him an entire section of the show. The comic, who hosted the Royal Variety Performance last year, reveals that, “I’ve bought a house in the country that has given me twenty minutes of material.

“I used to flick through Country Life magazine – they tend to be in dentists’ waiting rooms. Over the years I’d look at page after page of gorgeous country cottages. It was a fantasy of mine to have an idyllic place in the rolling hills, so finally I bought one. But sadly I didn’t realise what I was getting into.”

The stand-up, who has fronted his own BBC1 programme Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, continues that, “When I flush the loo in London, I don’t for a moment think about the plumbing. It just happens.

“But it turns out that idyllic houses in the middle of nowhere don’t have plumbing. They have septic tanks that you have to empty once a year. They don’t highlight that in the estate agents’ brochures. People always say, ‘the previous owners left all their crap behind.’ Well, I’m literally in that situation!”

Michael, whose marvellously successful career also includes a stint as a judge on Britain's Got Talent in 2011, closes by reflecting on what he hopes he will achieve with Happy & Glorious. “I want to make the audience laugh till their faces hurt.”

When all’s said and done, Michael concludes, “I simply love making people laugh.”

For which we should be eternally grateful!

Please visit www.michaelmcintyre.co.uk for booking details.

Comedy capers as The Doppel Gang comes to Liverpool

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: The Lantern Theatre Liverpool

A new comedy play inspired by the legendary Marx Brothers embarks on a nationwide tour this autumn and is stopping off at The Lantern Theatre Liverpool on Saturday September 12. Just Some Theatre Company are the talented young bunch behind The Doppel Gang, a new comedy by Dominic Hedges which will tour 12 venues between September and November.

The Doppel Gang combines the wild wit of iconic comedy giants The Marx Brothers – Groucho, Harpo and Chico – with generous helpings of British humour and humility.

War wages in Europe, while back in Blighty a group of entertainers battle to save a theatre from closure by masquerading as The Marx Brothers.  As the Blitz tears through London, a hopeless theatre manager, Lombard, persuades a desperate double act, Tommy and Cyril and not-so-convincing male impersonator Rachel to join him in an audacious stunt; one last roll of the dice to save his building and boost morale.

The curtain is about to rise, but so are the stakes as an unprecedented series of revelations leads to an exhilarating chain of events. Will anyone believe they are the real Marx Brothers?

Playwright Dominic Hedges commented: “There are so many similarities between our comedy and that of our American cousins. We both think we're hilarious and we both think we're smarter than one another. Groucho Marx's lightning wit vs Eric Morecambe's wry asides for instance. I guess I've tried to pit us up against them, all the while hiding ourselves from the horrible reality of our Second World War surroundings. It's as though the faster we talk, the less life is real.”

Just Some Theatre Company have also set up a Crowd Funder page to assist in their ongoing costs of producing and touring a new piece of work and would welcome your help. If you pledge a £10 donation then you will receive a ticket for the show in a venue of your choice. A donation can be made by clicking on the Crowd Funder link at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-doppel-gang.

Laugh Your Way Around Liverpool On A Comedy Coach Tour

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Comedy Coach Tour

Liverpool’s unique and entertaining Comedy Coach Tour returns for a new season for 2015.

The sightseeing tour with a difference takes visitors on a hysterical trip around the city that they certainly won’t forget in a hurry.  Each tour features a hilarious stand-up comic who provides gags, jokes and amusing commentary for the duration of the hour-long trip.

The coach tour takes in some of Liverpool’s most iconic and attractive locations including the Pier Head and the world famous Three Graces; Mathew Street and The Cavern Club, home of The Beatles; St George's Hall and Cultural Quarter; Hope Street and the city’s two cathedrals, Liverpool Cathedral and Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.

The tours were launched in 2013 and as well as attracting private group bookings, the tours are also proving popular as part of a hen or stag celebration, or as a fun filled family activity for a milestone birthday.

Liverpool continues to grow as an event and conference destination, and the Comedy Coach Tours are an ideal and exciting option to include in a social programme for delegates who are looking for something a little different during their stay.

Claire Rider, who created the Comedy Coach Tours, commented: “The tours are proving extremely popular, especially with groups visiting the city. It’s a great way to see the iconic sights of Liverpool, while having plenty of laughs along the way.

“Conference organisers hosting delegates who are staying in the city and groups of day trippers are always looking for tours with a difference. Liverpool is famous for its fantastic sense of humour so this is the perfect way to showcase the city, with transport provided – and it’s a really fun way to experience the city from a whole new perspective.”

Guests gather at the popular Spice Lounge restaurant at Albert Dock Liverpool and enjoy a welcome glass of Bucks Fizz before boarding the coach for a rib-tickling, laugh-a-minute tour around the city, complete with comic impressions, tall tales and plenty of wry wit.

A Comedy and Curry package is also available, which includes a ticket for the Comedy Coach Tour and then a curry at the delightful Spice Lounge, which specialise in a delicious array of modern Indian cuisine.

The tours have a variety of Scouse comedians signed up as tour guides including funny man and impressionist Mark Langley, who is well-known on the Liverpool comedy circuit; his repertoire includes fantastic impressions of local personalities, including footballers and The Beatles, and throughout his career has worked with the likes of Steve Coogan, Jason Manford and Liverpool’s very own John Bishop.

The organisers are also in talks with much-loved comedian Terry Titter who hopes to join the Comedy Coach Tour later in the season, so watch this space.

Comedy Coach Tours also work with group travel operators and coach companies who would like to host a tour but can provide their own vehicle.

The tour is suitable for children and has been rated PG, but all minors must be accompanied by an adult.

The new season runs from Saturday May 30-Saturday October 17.

Tours outside of these dates can be arranged upon request.

For further information, visit www.comedycoachtour.com.

December date for Seven Giants Of Comedy

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Laughterhouse Live

No less than seven giants of comedy will come together in Liverpool to perform at Laughterhouse Live on Sunday December 13 2015. Presented by Laughterhouse Comedy at the wonderful setting of Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, the incredible line-up will be headlined by Irish comedy sensation Tommy Tiernan.

Known for his unique style of humour, comedy circuit favourite Tommy is known for his live performances including Live At The Apollo and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow. He burst onto the comedy scene in 1996 and has continued to make his mark. He is second only to U2 when it comes to live ticket sales in Ireland – his Loose tour sold a staggering 166 dates in Dublin’s 1,000-seater Vicar Street venue.

The show also stars Canadian comic Katherine Ryan, Paul Sinha, Gary Delaney, Jason Cook and Jarred Christmas. MC for the evening will be Laughterhouse favourite Neil Fitzmaurice (Peep Show, Mount Pleasant), who has recently been seen as DJ Ray Von in the live shows of Phoenix Nights.

Tickets go on sale on at 10.00 on Thursday May 14 2015.

Laughterhouse bring the very best stand up in the world to The Slaughter House every weekend and twice a year, the shows are transferred to the fantastic stage at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. The December show is the fifth in the Laughterhouse Live event.

Canadian comedian, actress and writer Katherine Ryan has become a firm favourite on both the live comedy circuit and on television panel shows, often seen appearing on Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Have I Got News For You, and The Apprentice: You’re Fired.  A fearsome front of general knowledge, Paul Sinha is a star of ITV1’s The Chase. Also a qualified GP, the comic has performed all over the world including Europe, China, Australia, the Far East, the Middle East and South Africa.

Gary Delaney is the razor sharp one-liner comedian, who is widely regarded as being the most quotable comic on the circuit. Gary is a regular guest on Mock The Week and Dave’s One Night Stand.  Geordie Jason Cook has gained a loyal following from appearances on BBC2’s Hebburn and Russell Howard’s Good News. Jarred Christmas has a unique style which mixes gags with storytelling, always a favourite with audiences. He is often seen on 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Dave’s One Night Stand.

Laughterhouse Founder and Managing Director Paula Harrington commented: “Hot on the heels of our hugely successful Laughterhouse Live show earlier this month, we are thrilled to announce the fantastic line-up for our December show. This is our fifth Laughterhouse Live event and these are growing from strength to strength. These events bring you the true comedy giants and have featured the likes of John Bishop, Jason Manford, Dave Spikey, Mark Watson, Mick Miller and Jason Byrne.

“It’s no mean feat bringing together seven big comedy names at any time of the year, never mind December, but we’ve managed it. Liverpool audiences are very loyal and they deserve the best – and that’s just what they’ve got with this line-up. Tommy Tiernan is a personal favourite of mine and I’m absolutely delighted we have secured him for the show.

“Tommy will be joined by some of the sharpest acts on the scene at the moment, including Katherine Ryan and Gary Delaney, so it is guaranteed to be a sell-out show in the lead up to Christmas. I’d urge fans to book early.”

For further information, visit www.laughterhousecomedy.com.

Night Collar returns to Royal Court

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Royal Court Theatre

The Taxi play is back at the Royal Court!

The original scouse comedy is back home at the Royal Court and it starts this Friday!

Alan Stocks is the man behind the wheel and he is joined by Royal Court favourites Jake Abraham, Eithne Browne, Suzanne Collins, Michael Ledwich and Lenny Wood.

The production will be directed by Bob Eaton.

Since its debut in 1997, Night Collar has played every major theatre in Liverpool and has broken Box Office records in them all!

Written by two ex-cabbies, Night Collar is a play that is packed with jokes and characters that everybody will recognise. It’s night time, the roads are empty and the meter is ticking. A cabbie is cruising the streets looking for the next paying punter to brighten his night and fill up his wallet. But this is Liverpool so he is guaranteed to get more than he bargained for.

It’s not every night that you pick up, amongst others, a prostitute, a naked stag, a drunken tramp and even an Elvis impersonator but they all make an appearance tonight. Each one of them driving home the point that, for a cabbie, life’s not fare.

Tony Furlong and Jimmy Power’s classic scouse comedy has been splitting sides for 20 years and there will be laughs galore throughout the show when it pulls back into the Royal Court.

Alan Stocks is looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the cab: “This is such a funny show. It also kind of holds up a mirror up to Liverpool nightlife so anyone who has been out there and seen an episode in a taxi going on, or indeed been caught on Concert Square with people falling all over the place, will be all over it. It’s full of big laughs.”

Night Collar runs in the Royal Court Theatre from Friday May 15 to Saturday June 13. For ticket information, click here.

Liverpool Comedy Festival returns for its 14th year

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Comedy Festival

The Comedy Trust has announced the return of the annual Liverpool Comedy Festival for a 14th consecutive year, running from Friday 18 September to Sunday 4 October in venues across the city region.

They have also confirmed some stellar stand-up comedy names to start the ball rolling with two of the main attractions, the comedy giants and stand-up heavyweights Alan Carr and Dave Spikey, with tonnes more names to follow.

Comedian, author and chat show supremo Alan Carr brings his show ‘Yap Yap’ to the Philharmonic Hall on 18th and 19th September. Since winning the BBC New Comedy Award for Stand-up as well as CityLife Best Newcomer of the Year in 2001, Alan Carr has become one of the hottest comedy stars in Britain. The success of the first series of his own chat show, Alan Carr: Chatty Man, in the summer of 2009, led to Channel 4 commissioning umpteen further series as well as Christmas Specials and his summer, New Year and Grand National Specstaculars.

Joining Alan, also at the Philharmonic Hall is the star of Phoenix Nights and That Peter Kay Thing Dave Spikey who arrives in the city on 2nd October with his latest tour ‘Punchlines.’ The Multi-Award Winner is one of the most sought-after comedy talents in the UK today. With a career spanning two decades, he has numerous TV appearances to his name as a stand-up comedian, presenter and actor - and behind the screens, as an acclaimed comedy writer.

As ever the Liverpool Comedy Festival isn’t purely about the household names, they will showcase some of the most exciting up-and-coming comedy acts and programme comedy into the better known venues across the city as well as some pretty unusual (and secret) spaces.

There will be acts lined-up to perform in bars, shops, schools and even people’s houses. There is also comedy coach tours, kids shows, pub crawls, poets, podcasts, open mic nights, quizzes, magicians, networking events, rap battles, plays and sketch groups.

And for 2015, they will be increasing the offer for kids and young people with lots of fun shows for all the family so nobody need miss out on a giggle.

Sam Avery, Festival Manager and Comedian, commented: “We’ve been working hard to ensure that we have a more diverse line up this year than ever before. After the success of last year we’ve been inundated with acts wanted to be involved so we’re picking the best of the bunch to showcase in the city.”

Visit www.liverpoolcomedyfestival.com for full line-up and information. You can also follow the Festival on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheLiverpoolComedyFestival and on Twitter @LpoolComedyFest.

Laughterhouse Live Returns To Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Mark Thomas

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Laughterhouse Comedy

Friday Night Lives’ Mark Thomas completes the line-up!

Laughterhouse Comedy gets set to present another incredible comedy line-up as Laughterhouse Live returns to the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Saturday May 9.

The fourth show in the series, which have previously included comedy greats such as John Bishop, Jason Manford, Dave Spikey, Mark Watson and Jason Byrne, once again promises to deliver another unmissable night with some truly astounding comedy talent on the bill.

With the General Election looming, who better to headline the night than the political satirist, Mark Thomas - best known for his Channel 4 campaigning series The Mark Thomas Comedy Product in which he employed Michael Moore-style televisual political stunts, which ran for 7 years from 1996-2002. One of the few stand-ups still to carry the political standard of alternative comedy, Mark will bring audiences his two cents on the current issues in the hilariously hard-hitting manor that only he can do.

Next up is Geordie comedy giant Chris Ramsay who comes to Liverpool ahead of a new UK tour for his brand new show,  All Growed Up which starts this autumn.  Audiences may also recognise Chris from popular BBC3 show Hepburn and is also a regular face on ITV2’s Celebrity Juice, BBC2’s Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Channel 4’s 8 Out of10 Cats and BBC3’s Sweat the Small Stuff.

Also on the bill is Scouse comedy legend Mick Miller, a regular on 1970’s stand-up show The Comedians and more recently in BBC3’s Ideal. Mick has also performed for the Royal Family at The Royal Variety Performance.

Canadian comedy superstar Tom Stade will also have audiences in hysterics - bringing his sense of innocence lurking behind his devilish smirk that has made crowds love him. Tom has appeared on Channel 5's The Comedy Store, BBC’s The Live Floor Show as well as Mock the Week and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow.

The Boy with Tape on His Face completes the line-up. New Zealand native, Sam Wills began performing as this unique silent stand up in 2008, which became an instant runaway success winning multiple awards. Sam has since gone on to sell-out performances at Edinburgh Fringe Festival with his magical brand of physical comedy and unbelievable feats of the imagination, and now gets ready to entertain audiences of Liverpool.

The whole evening will be hosted by Laughterhouse favourite and Liverpool Comedian of the Year Chris Cairns. Chris has gained a reputation for being able to handle the toughest of rooms with his sharp put downs and a fine eye for a cutting remark, and is known all over the country as a friend to the audience but a deadly foe to the heckler.

Laughterhouse Founder and Managing Director Paula Harrington commented: “Our Best of Laughterhouse shows are continuing to go from strength to strength – I have the very rewarding job of bringing the finest comedy talent on the circuit to Liverpool, and we can promise an hilarious show this coming May. We are already working on another show for December so watch this space.”

For further information, visit www.laughterhousecomedy.com.