Leicester Comedy Festival, the longest running comedy festival in the
UK which regularly attracts over 45,000 people, wants to hear from comedians and
comic performers who may want to participate in the 12th Festival taking place
from 11-20th February 2005. The 10 day event has a reputation of including
a diverse range of comic performances and the programme is not just limited to
stand-up comedy. The past few years have seen an increase in the number of
acts who travel to the East Midlands city to promote their shows and organisers
are keen to develop this in 2005. Help and support is given in finding a
venue, promoting the show and ticket selling via a centralised on-line box
office. Further information about the Festival, and details on how to take
part, are available from www.comedy-festival.co.uk
The Festival uses a variety of venues including pubs, cafes, restaurants,
churches, shopping centres and other spaces which are increasingly “taken over”
for the duration of the festival. A list of possible spaces is available
to comedians and promoters who want to put on their own show or join together
with other acts to present an evening of comedy.
Festival Director Geoff Rowe said: ”We’re getting much better at supporting
people who want to come and perform as part of Leicester Comedy Festival.
A major part of our work is supporting people who want to self-promote and
audiences are now more inclined to try something new and not just stick to
established names. We’ve been meeting a number of promoters who are
thinking about coming to Leicester in addition to promoting shows each August in
Edinburgh.
Leicester Comedy Festival is an ideal place to try out new material, obtain
valuable reviews and feedback as well as meeting others from the comedy
industry. ”
Leicester Comedy Festival 2005 will include a range of discussions and
seminars targeted at people in the comedy industry. These free
opportunities build on past sessions led by Edinburgh Fringe and Equity, the
British Actors Union, who support the established Leicester Mercury Comedian of
the Year competition.
Musician and performer Skatz, who self-promoted his own show in 2004, said:
“The whole event went really well from my point of view and I do agree it's the
best one yet. Long may it continue to grow”
Miriam Keye, who performed as part of dance/cabaret show “Peaktime at
Performance Café” said: “I really enjoyed being a part of the festival and felt
included, acknowledged and respected. Information was passed on clearly and in
time and the workshops were very useful indeed- particularly the one’s about
sponsorship and Equity. The general buzz around Leicester was electric.”
Leicester Comedy Festival 2005 takes place from 11-20th February and is
launched with The Preview Show at De Montfort Hall, Leicester on Friday 21st
January. The programme will take place in over 40 venues, across
Leicestershire. Previous performers have included Jo Brand, Jack Dee, Dave
Gorman, Tony Slattery, Rory Bremner, Phil Kay, Barry Cryer, Alan Davies, Jeremy
Hardy, Bill Bailey, Rhona Cameron, Owen O'Neill, Felix Dexter, Ross Noble,
Natalie Haynes, Neil Innes, Pierre Hollins, Tony Burgess, Gina Ryan, Lee Hurst,
Johnny Vegas, John Shuttleworth and Jo Enright.
In addition to the general programme, the event also includes special events
such as The Smallest Beer Festival in the World at Phoenix Arts, Leicester
Mercury Comedian of the Year competition at The Y and the popular Everards
Fringe.
