Funny Way To Be round off historic year in Barnard Castle

A leading North East comedy club is hoping to keep the laughs coming as they round off a historic year of comedy in the region.

Critically-acclaimed comedy club Funny Way To Be have confirmed new shows from stand-up stars James Acaster and Stephen K Amos as they put the finishing touches to a momentous 12 months of laughter in Barnard Castle.

Nevermind the Buzzcocks star Acaster brings his Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated show, Represent, to The Witham arts centre on Saturday 28 November.

While Stephen K Amos performs in Barnard Castle for the very first time on Saturday 12 December.

The shows, which are the only North East dates for these two top comics, are the icing on the cake for organiser and Barnard Castle resident Peter Dixon, who this year helped mastermind the town’s first ever comedy festival, as well as hit shows from TV stars Chris Ramsey, Justin Moorhouse and Lucy Beaumont to name just a few.

Mr Dixon said: “Our fifth year producing comedy shows in Barnard Castle has been our most successful yet.

“Year on year we have been able to increase our audience numbers.

“During this year we have found that a big proportion of our audience members travel from outside the area.

“Our work supporting the hugely successful BBC Radio 4 recording of Mark Steel’s In Town was also a personal highlight.”

Nick Helm is next up at The Witham on Thursday 22 October, followed quickly by a sold out performance from Jenny Eclair on the 31 October.

Dixon added: “Nick [Helm] is someone we’ve been hoping to bring to Barnard Castle for a long time.

“His shows are truly electric, full of energy and like no other show we’ve produced before.

“I think it’s true to say that this is by far our strongest ever season of stand-up shows with some of the biggest and best names in the comedy business heading to Barnard Castle.”

More huge shows are planned for 2016, with Mark Thomas, the comedian, presenter, political satirist and reporter heading to Barnard Castle in April.

Former MP, Government Whip and Just A Minute regular Gyles Brandreth has also confirmed an appearance at the comedy club next summer with his new show.

Tickets for James Acaster and Stephen K Amos are on sale now, priced £12 and £17 respectively.

For more information on the comedy club, see funnywaytobe.com.