Packing a punch line: comedians organise charity fight night
Two North East comedy clubs are trading punch lines for right hooks in an attempt to raise money for charity.
Sunderland’s Mackem Laugh and Hartlepool comedy club Rib Ticklers have teamed up for a boxing fight night at The Place Cafe, Sunderland, on 6 July.
Twelve comedians will ‘compete’, including Show Me The Funny finalist Dan Mitchell, and the six, three-round fights will be professionally judged and refereed.
A professional comedian will close the night, and there will be other entertainment too.
Rib Ticklers’ Nick Banks [pictured], who also organised the Hadrian’s Wall charity walk, explained: “It’s just a case of letting of a bit steam, really – and catching another comic with a blow below the funny belt!
“The two clubs compete for punters on seats, so we wanted to bring an event together and raise some funds for a good cause.”
Stephen Cuthbert, of Mackem Laugh, added: “We wanted to do something a little bit different rather than just run a normal comedy night.
“It’ll be a proper boxing night, and the winner overall gets a trophy and bragging rights that they’re the harder and funnier club.
“They’re also raising money for charity, of course, so it should be great fun.”
Tickets for Stand-Up and Box are £8 or £5 in advance, with all proceeds going to Macmillan Cancer Support.
The full card:
Nick ‘Hairy Sasquatch’ Banks vs. Al ‘Milkshake’ McWilliam
Anthony ‘Small Johnny Vegas’ Young vs. Joe ‘The Animal’ Bromehead
Paul ‘Wrecking Ball’ Brett vs. Aaron ‘He Thinks He Is Bobby’ Charlton
Keith ‘In The Navy’ Adams vs. Luke ‘Woooooo’ Milford
Dan ‘The Sheep’ Mitchell vs. Matt ‘Miranda Hart’ Fong
Danny ‘The Machine’ Carmichael vs. Tim ‘Looks Like A Moose’ Strange
