The Edinburgh Fringe on your doorstep

Image: Eva Zandman

Funny Way To Be have announced a series of Edinburgh preview ‘taster’ shows for this summer – a month before they debut at the world’s largest arts festival.

The Teesdale comedy club have announced four new shows for The Parish Hall, Barnard Castle, featuring the likes of Alun Cochrane, Joe Lycett and Lucy Beaumont.

The club’s summer programme kicks off on Saturday 29 June, with a double-header from Andrew Ryan and 2012 Best Newcomer nominee Joe Lycett.

Heading into July, Lucy Beaumont (BBC New Comedy Award winner 2012), Tommy Rowson (So You Think You’re Funny? winner 2011) and Howard Read visit Barnard Castle for their comedy club night on Saturday 13 July.

Beaumont and Rowson will both be preparing material ahead of their appearance at Edinburgh’s longest-running showcase, The Comedy Zone. And stand-up animator Read arrives in Barnard Castle with a brand new comedy show, Hide and Speak.

Funny Way To Be have also programmed Read’s children’s show, Little Howard and the Magic Pencil of Life and Death. However unlike their previous shows, Little Howard will take place at The Hub the next afternoon.

Funny Way To Be Comedy Club organiser Peter Dixon said: “The Hub is a fantastic venue for a children’s comedy show like Little Howard. With it being a complex build specifically for young people it is ideally suited for this family show.”

Finally, on Saturday 27 July, Alun Cochrane visits the Parish Hall. Alun, currently airing on Radio 4 with Alun Cochrane’s Fun House, will be performing a work-in-progress show in anticipation of a 2014 national tour.

He is joined by Mick Ferry previewing his 2013 Edinburgh show.

Dixon added: “A few days before the start of the Edinburgh Festival we are thrilled to bring together two of the best loved acts on the comedy circuit.

“This is a show that will be impossible not to enjoy, and caps off an exciting season of comedy here in Barnard Castle.”

Funny Way To Be are also developing a full comedy programme for the newly refurbished Witham Hall, which re-opens in September.

Tickets for all Funny Way To Be shows are available online at funnywaytobe.com, at the Information Point at Woodleigh and the Old Well Inn in Barnard Castle.  More information is available on 01833 650930.