Preview: Liverpool Comedy Festival 2014
The festival returns for a 13th year with 13 days of top comedy.
Kicking off on Tuesday 23 September, this year’s festival sees some of the biggest names in comedy perform on Merseyside, from Monty Python legend Michael Palin at the Echo Arena to Cardinal Burns at the Epstein Theatre.
The big names continue as the Unity Theatre showcase the legendary Sean Hughes, former Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Bridget Christie plus loads more. And treading the boards at the Liverpool Royal Court is Sony Gold Award winner Robin Ince and musical maverick Vikki Stone.
The stand-up comedy scene is only as strong as the talented acts within it, and in Liverpool they are plentiful. The festival will launch shows from local acts including Chris Cairns, Silky, Steve Gribbin, Laurence Clarke, Dave Twentyman, Adam Rowe and Jake Mills, plus a debut show from Tony Carroll.
There is also plenty of exciting comedy at Liverpool’s year-long comedy clubs; Laughterhouse Comedy, Hot Water Comedy Club, Comedy Central and Liverpool Comedy Cellar.
While Allo Allo’s Kim Hartman and Coronation Street’s Tupele Dorgu team up for one of the funniest farces ever written, Noises Off, at the Royal Court. That is currently running until 4 October.
Festival Manager Sam Avery said: “In my first year as Festival Manager I am absolutely thrilled with the line-up for the 13th annual Liverpool Comedy Festival.
“It’s going to be more diverse than the Speke night bus with a huge cross section of comedians performing from Michael Palin, Cardinal Burns and Sean Hughes to our own big name comedians like Chris Cairns, Silky and Steve Gribbin.
“There are plenty of opportunities to see our new up and coming talent and it is going to be great to see comedy expand from our regular comedy venues to places you will least expect.”
As well as programming in to the city’s usual performance venues and comedy clubs, there will be acts lined-up to perform in bars, shops, schools and even people’s houses.
There is also comedy coach tours, kids shows, pub crawls, poets, podcasts, open mic nights, quizzes, magicians, networking events, rap battles, plays, sketch groups, plus their first outdoor event ‘Tee Hee In The Park’ in Williamson Square in conjunction with Everton in the Community.
To really immerse yourself in the festival and experience new talent, buy a ticket for someone you’ve never heard of. New talent can be heard at 81 Renshaw St, The Pilgrim and Hatters Hostel, with most shows only £5 for a double bill and two hours of entertainment in the company of some of the stars of tomorrow.
Liverpool Comedy Festival, various venues, 23 September – 5 October, liverpoolcomedyfestival.com
