Jason Manford to open Jesterval 2014
Jason Manford will open Jesterval Comedy Festival when it returns to Gateshead this summer.
Jesterval – formally known as the Newcastle Gateshead Comedy Festival – is back at Baltic Square for a second year in 2014, kicking off its nine-day run on Friday 6 June.
And Giggle Beats can exclusively reveal that Manford, who played Newcastle’s 2135-capacity City Hall in October, fronts a host of big names in the 2014 programme – including Marcus Brigstocke, Tony Law and Simon Munnery.
Jesterval organiser Della Haq said: “We think it is really admirable of Jason to take time out of his busy schedule and do us the honour of opening this year’s comedy festival.
“It will undoubtedly help raise the profile of the event to an even greater height.”
Expanding on last year’s inaugural festival, there will be around 30 shows at Jesterval 2014.
Manford’s tour show, First World Problems, opens the festival on 6 June, followed by a return for the Geordie Comedy Gala, showcasing Tyneside’s best stand-up talent.
Hebburn creator Jason Cook and Luisa Omielan – back with her What Would Beyonce Do? show – perform on day two.
While the Impro Comedy All-Stars return to Jesterval on day three after their superb performance in 2013 – alongside an hour-long show from Dave Johns.
Last year’s festival was criticised by some for not featuring enough female stand-ups – but organisers are perhaps hoping to sidestep that discussion this time round by announcing Omielan, Zoe Lyons (9 June) and Sara Pascoe (13 June) straight off the bat.
The programme has a profoundly alternative feel too.
Shows from Tony Law (10 June), Simon Munnery (11 June) and Terry Alderton (14 June) are sure to whet the appetite of Tyneside’s comedy connoisseurs, with more big names in the pipeline.
And while the Jesterval 2014 line-up is still very much a work-in-progress, organisers have managed to pencil in the festival’s final show; a BBC Newcastle vs Comedians quiz for Children In Need.
Other names announced today include Carl Hutchinson (9 June), Kai Humphries (10 June), Abnormally Funny People (11 June), Imran Yusuf (12 June) and ventriloquist Paul Zerdin (13 June).
Haq added: “The aim is to try and build on the success of last year’s occasion and make it bigger, better and even more successful than previous years.
“Although it does get harder we feel the 2014 Jesterval will be our best yet.”
Tickets are on sale now, with ticket prices ranging from £5 to £22.50.
