– Includes major names and special events.
– Featuring new Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award, Tommy Tiernan, James Acaster, The Goon Show, and city centre All Dayer.
Birmingham Comedy Festival is set to return this October with yet another city-wide programme of top notch comedy (3-12 Oct 2014).
Among those taking part in the 10 day festival are leading Irish funnyman Tommy Tiernan (4 Oct, Bham Town Hall), fast-rising James Acaster (9 Oct, The Glee Club), comedian/ actor Doc Brown (11 Oct, Town Hall) and comedian/ author Mark Watson (4 Oct, mac Birmingham).
In a varied comedy line-up, they’re joined by David O’Doherty (7 Oct, The Glee), Robin Ince (8 Oct, Station pub, Sutton Coldfield), Zoe Lyons (9 Oct, Bramall, UoB), and Rory McGrath and Philip Pope (4 Oct, Solihull Arts Complex).
There’s also a much anticipated revival of iconic cult radio series The Goon Show (3-4 Oct, Old Joint Stock), featuring two scripts penned by the late Spike Milligan.
Top local acts continue to feature strongly in the programme, with appearances from Foghorn Improv, Mickey Sharma, Mrs Barbara Nice, Andy Robinson, Freddie Farrell, and James Cook (who returns with his famed charity shop crawl).
Emerging talent from the region will also be recognised in a new annual festival prize, the Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award, which aims to encourage and support the next generation of comedians.
Look out too for a special All-Dayer on Sunday 5 October, with 15 acts performing their one hour shows at two city centre venues: Cherry Reds and The Victoria. Starting at 1pm, the day promises twisted history lessons, political satire, guerrilla cookery, improvisation, personal confessions, near-death experiences, a mock TV show and tales of divorce from such acts as Have I Got News For You writer Kate Smurthwaite, George Egg, Chris Turner, Jon Pearson and ‘geezer bird’ Karen Bayley.
A spokesperson for the festival said: “There’ll be over 150 comedians and acts taking part in around 80 performances, shows and activities, right across the city, from well-established acts to hotly tipped newcomers.
“We’re especially excited by our new Breaking Talent Award, which officially kicks off the festival on Friday 3 October at The Glee Club, and the All Dayer, for which many shows are free.”
The 2014 programme also includes screenings of classic Laurel and Hardy films, a new exhibition by artist Steve Lilly at The Pen Museum, and a comedy/ music/ burlesque Wrap Party at The Roadhouse Birmingham. Stuart Goldsmith and Angela Barnes appear at The Rose Villa Tavern, and Emma Wright delves into her teenage diaries at Cherry Reds.
The Birmingham Comedy Festival is officially sponsored by Fosters, and supported by Arcadian, and runs from Friday 3 to Sunday 12 October 2014. For full listings and more information, see: www.bhamcomfest.co.uk
LISTINGS
Friday 3 to Sunday 12 October 2014
Birmingham Comedy Festival
Sponsored by Fosters
Ten-days of the very best of stand-up comedy featuring stellar TV names and new, fast-rising talent. Plus theatre, film and special events. Highlights include Tommy Tiernan, James Acaster and Tony Law, plus The Goon Show, Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award and a city-centre All-Dayer.
Various Venues, Birmingham
Web: www.bhamcomfest.co.uk
Facebook.com/BhamComFest
Twitter: @BhamComFest
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Birmingham Comedy Festival
Birmingham Comedy Festival launched way back in 2001.
It quickly established itself as one of the region’s major annual events, and is one of the West Midlands’ biggest multi-site festivals.
A not for profit, volunteer-led festival, it was set up to highlight the city’s vibrant comedy scene.
Looking back at previous festivals, line-ups read like a who’s-who of British comedy, with appearances from Michael McIntyre, Lee Evans, Lenny Henry, Peter Kay, Jimmy Carr, Alan Carr, Sarah Millican, Tim Minchin, Stephen Merchant and John Bishop.
Although stand-up comedy forms the core of the festival, the annual 10-day arts festival also includes theatre, visual arts, films … ‘anything with a humorous element.’
About Fosters
- Birmingham Comedy Festival 2014 is officially sponsored by Fosters.
About Arcadian
- Birmingham Comedy Festival is officially sponsored by Arcadian. 2014 marks the third consecutive year that the complex has supported the festival.
The Arcadian in the heart of Birmingham is a unique complex set around an attractive piazza and is the perfect place to relax with friends and enjoy al fresco dining and drinks. With cuisines from around the world there is something to suit all taste buds and pockets from Mexican and Indian to Modern British and Chinese.
The stylish bars are a great place to meet for after work drinks or for partying the night away with friends. If you’re looking for something different why not visit the Glee Club which hosts first class comedy acts from around the world or check out the nightclub Sence. If you want to extend your visit to Birmingham book a room at the Ibis Hotel or rent an apartment at Staycity Serviced Apartments so that you’re right in the thick of the action. The Arcadian’s award winning car park has CCTV and 24 hr security for added peace of mind.
From relaxing and kicking back with friends or for partying the night away the Arcadian in the centre of Birmingham has something to suit all occasions!
For more information visit www.thearcadian.co.uk
For more details on Birmingham Comedy Festival 2014, including interview and image requests, contact us:
Four Four Eight 