New comedy night launches in Newcastle city centre
A new craft beer venue has announced a series of new comedy nights on Tyneside.
The Bottle Shop Bar and Kitchen, on Waterloo Square in Newcastle city centre, has confirmed three shows from March to May featuring a series of award-winning comics, TV names and radio stars.
The first show will take place on Wednesday 2 March and features appearances from TWO BBC New Comedy Award winners – 2013 winner Steve Bugeja and 2014 winner Lost Voice Guy.
As well as his BBC New Comedy Award win, Bugeja was a finalist in the Amused Moose and Laughing Horse new act competitions.
Steve supported Russell Kane on his national tour, Smallness, and he continues to gig at comedy clubs across the country.
A prolific writer, Steve has contributed material for Mock The Week, 8 out of 10 Cats and Russell Howard’s Good News.
In 2012 he won the BBC’s Funny on Three sitcom competition and the BBC’s Jesting About 2 sketch competition, and has contributed material to Radio 4’s The Show What You Wrote and Radio 4 Extra’s topical sketch show Newsjack.
Bugeja will be performing his highly anticipated debut show for the very first time in Newcastle.
The blurb for the show reads: “Steve recently went to a friend’s wedding and on the way had to pick up the bride’s Dad who was leaving prison for the first time in 18 years. This is the story of what happened.”
Described by Ross Noble as “a very funny guy”, Lost Voice Guy is the first stand-up comedian in the UK to use a communication aid. He won the BBC New Comedy Award 2014.
Lost Voice Guy – real name Lee Ridley – has gigged all over the UK at places like The Stand, Manford’s Comedy Club, Jongleurs, The Frog and Bucket, The Glee Club, The Comedy Store as well as many independent clubs.
He has featured on the BBC, CNN, The Independent, The Sun and The Mail on Sunday and is currently writing a sitcom pilot for BBC Radio.
Hosting the show will be Jack Gardner, the Newcastle comedian making waves with his cult comedy night Silly Billies.
Mike Morley, general manager of The Bottle Shop, said: “We’re delighted to be launching our very own comedy nights, and what a way to kick off our run with three excellent comics in Steve Bugeja, Lost Voice Guy and Jack Gardner.
“Steve and Lee have already made incredible leaps in their short time as comics – you can expect to see them on Live At The Apollo one day.
“And Jack is one of my favourite local comics – mad as a box of frogs but a great host as demonstrated with his hugely successful Silly Billies comedy nights.”
Tickets for the first show on 2 March are on sale now, priced £5.
The show starts at 7.30pm, with doors opening at 6.30pm.
Find out more about The Bottle Shop Bar and Kitchen on Facebook and follow @BottleShopNE1 on Twitter.
