EXCLUSIVE: Funny Way To Be announce autumn comedy gala
One of Britain’s top stand-ups is coming to the North East this autumn – and he’s bringing the comedy stars of tomorrow with him.
Giggle Beats can exclusively reveal that Mark Watson, the award winning stand-up, is to headline a comedy gala celebrating the re-opening of Barnard Castle’s leading arts venue.
He will travel to the Witham Hall on Friday 6 September to open Funny Way To Be Comedy Club’s autumn season at the venue, following a multi-million pound renovation of the building.
Watson has embarked on multiple tours in recent years, appeared on BBC1’s Live At The Apollo, Dave’s One Night Stand, 8 Out of 10 Cats, presented BBC2’s Never Mind the Buzzcocks and released his debut stand-up DVD.
Since winning the first ever Panel Prize at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2006, he has gone on to write four novels: Bullet Points, A Light-Hearted Look At Murder, Eleven and The Knot.
He also has one non-fiction title to his name.
Peter Dixon, who runs Funny Way To Be, said that the comedy gala “marks beginning of a new exciting chapter for comedy in Barnard Castle.”
“For Mark Watson to agree to headline the bill it is testament to the future of the venue,” he said.
In an interview with Giggle Beats – to be published tomorrow – Watson said: “I’ve played a fair bit of the North East; Stockton, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Durham – but not Barnard Castle. It’ll be fairly new territory for me.
“I always like to go to places for the first time; it’s a new experience for me and the audience.”
This year’s Leicester Mercury winner Romesh Ranganathan, new Xtra Factor host Matt Richardson, Tom Deacon, Eric Lampaert, Foil Arms & Hog and Nat Luurtsema complete the comedy gala line-up.
“We set ourselves the task of producing a comedy show the quality of which has never been produced in Barnard Castle before,” Dixon said.
“With a line up of seven of the nation’s top acts we’re thrilled with the outcome.”
Watson will be the 100th stand-up to appear at the comedy club since its inception in 2010.
The Funny Way To Be comedy gala takes place on Friday 6 September. Tickets go on sale on Friday 28 June at 10am, priced £20. Click for more information on Funny Way To Be’s autumn programme.
