In comedy, event, festival, live entertainment, spring

It’s the new Year so of course we’re getting hyped for the Leicester Comedy Festival, which takes place from 5-23 February across Leicester (and selected Leicestershire venues).

It’s officially the biggest dedicated comedy festival in Europe, with more than 700 shows taking place across the two and a half weeks and we already know that the comedy festival is the place to see some of the top stars of stand-up. It also gives you the chance to see some of the future stars before they go big. Many are the stories of people who saw the likes of Jimmy Carr, Rosie Jones or Frankie Boyle before they hit it big.

This year there are a dozen new venues hosting shows, including Leicester Cathedral, The International, De Montfort Student Union and The Soundhouse in the city centre, plus county venues including The Old Plough, Barkby Cricket Club and Sunny Skies Café. Also new for this year are their adorable ducks representing the best of Leicester!

Some big names in store

De Montfort Hall is the place for the biggest shows of the festival and you can catch the likes of the acerbic Jack Dee with his show Small World, the brilliant Katherine Ryan with a preview of her show Battleaxe, and fresh from his starring role in this year’s DMH panto Jarred Christmas brings his show Nincompoop. Described as the ‘greatest living stand-up’, Stewart Lee will be appearing with his new show Man-Wulf, ventriloquist, BAFTA nominee and British Comedy Award winner Nina Conti showcases her show Whose Face Is It Anyway and ‘German Comedy Ambassador’ Henning Wehn brings his climate change influenced show Acid Wehn. And finally, over at Curve there’s a very special Interview with Jenny Éclair who will be discussing her hugely successful comedy career with Comedy Festival founder Geoff Rowe.

Putting the Y into comedY

The Y Theatre is always a great place to catch smaller shows by big stars and some fantastic special events. This year is no exception with rising star Chloe Petts and her show How You See Me, How you Don’t, founder of social media account Fesshole Rob Manuel brings the cringiest confessions to the stage, children of the 80s rejoice as Knightmare Live returns to the stage for a 10th anniversary show, Taskmaster star and comedian extraordinare Mark Watson makes a flying visit before heading off on an Australian tour, star of stage, TV and radio Zoe Lyons debuts her show Werewolf, Richard Herring returns for the annual out of London recording of his Leicester Square Theatre Podcast and award winning comedian and actor Marcus Brigstocke brings his show Vitruvian Mango to the stage.

Regular features and great initiatives

The highlight of the festival is always the Leicester Comedian of the Year, which sees a number of the breakout stars of the festival perform, with the winner chosen by a panel of judges. Previous winners have gone on to great things and include Romesh Ranganathan (2013), Josh Widdicombe (2010), and Rhod Gilbert (2003). But the list of runners up is even more impressive with Jimmy Carr, Simon Amstell, Rob Beckett, Nigel Ng and Greg Davies. The show will be headlined by last year’s champion Eva Bindeman.

The Circuit Breakers show was set up to showcase new and emerging acts from the comedy scene. This carefully selected line-up features acts who are on the verge of making it big and this year’s show at the Guildhall on 14 Feb promises to be a corker.

What a great way to explore the festival, go on a Secret Tour! You’ll be taken around the city to see a bunch of different shows, but you’ll have to trust the team as you won’t know which ones! Book on and get your funnybones prepared for a night of laughs.

Bridging the Gap is a brand new show featuring comedians from underrepresented groups who will be performing thanks to a public fundraising campaign supported by Big Give Arts for Impact. Six acts in one show at the Guildhall for just £5!

The UK Pun Championships is a quickfire sell-out filled with scattergun gags and the very best in wordplay. All hosted in a boxing ring in the middle of De Montfort Hall! Hosted by Jason Byrne, you don’t want to miss this one.

Kids Comedy Festival

Running alongside the main comedy festival is the UK Kids Comedy Festival. More than 60 events dedicated to children, young people and their families. There will be special shows returning this year including Marcel Lucont, Jarred Christmas & Hobbit and Comedy in the Dark for Kids, but there are also some new additions such as Iszi Lawrence and Juan Solo (aka Ignacio Lopez).

The Kids Comedy Festival aims to give aspiring comedians the chance to partner with local schools, improving confidence, mental health and nurturing talent. Laugh Academy is back at Attenborough Arts Centre during half term, and the famous Joke Spot will visit six public libraries. Up to eight primary schools will be competing to be crowned Leicestershire’s Funniest School and there is a new version of the Completely Made Up History of Coalville, authored in its entirety by the brilliant young minds at Broom Leys Primary School.

Loads more happening

There is so much more taking place throughout the festival, shows at every venue from pubs to cafes, theatres to village halls right through to Leicester’s Cathedral itself! Take in full shows or work in progress sets, tributes to great comedy icons, improv shows, parody and so much more. Just bring along an open mind, be prepared to get involved (audience participation is always essential) and support great live entertainment!

All the details are on the Comedy Festival website.

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