COUNT ARTHUR STRONG IS CHARLES DICKENS IN 'A CHRISTMAS CAROL'
Live Nation & Komedia Entertainment Presents
Count Arthur Strong is Charles Dickens in 'A Christmas Carol'
Arthur delivers the Charles Dickens story and follows this with his own adaptation of the most classic of festive tales, A Christmas Carol.
Due to public pressure, Count Arthur Strong extends his fond farewell to you, for a ‘once in a lifetime’ limited run. As he takes on, one of the literary greats, the famous Charles Dickens, and then goes on to present his one-man interpretation of A Christmas Carol. ‘If you miss it, you weren’t there!’
‘Pure genius and pure tribute to the golden age of vaudeville’
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard
'At every turn, his performance gives us something to marvel at'
Brian Logan, The Guardian
Run time to be confirmed
CHUBBY BROWN 2024 (18)
TOM STADE: RISKY BUSINESS (16+)
Tom’s funny and today’s funny don’t always see eye to eye, but that’s cool; it’s not Tom’s way to follow the herd. He much prefers to take the path less travelled (some smart guy once said that).
Join this independent spirit and irrepressible force of nature, as he airdrops his ingenious and unflinching comedy into an ever-changing minefield.
It’s a risky business navigating the tightrope of today’s times but Tom’s approaching it with his usual gusto. Without risk there is no reward.
“ENDLESSLY FUNNY. SLICK, INTELLIGENT, SPARKLING CHARM” Independent
“EVERY INCH A STAR” Daily Record
“DEBAUCHED TRUTH TELLER” Guardian Guide
“UNMISSABLE” Edinburgh Evening News
“NATURAL FLAIR FOR STORYTELLING AND A VILLANOUS SENSE OF HUMOUR. MASTER OF HARDCORE COMEDY” The List
www.tomstade.com
MANFORD'S COMEDY CLUB
Manford’s Comedy Club are very excited to announce the addition of the Forum to our comedy family!
This beautiful and impressive venue is the perfect space to play host to the award-winning comedy club.
Every show has a different line-up of four top comedians, who are all personally chosen by Jason Manford.
Born and bred in Sunderland, insanely funny and charming, as pleasant as he is wonderfully brutal, Matt Reed is one of the funniest, quick-witted comics and MCs on the UK circuit and can keep you on the edge of your seat with the ability to skillfully destroy any heckler that has the misfortune to cross his path!
Kai is a happy-go-lucky, supremely funny and truly loveable Geordie comedian and compere, his infectious enthusiasm and high-octane delivery of genuinely hilarious and delightfully optimistic material has seen him rapidly shooting up the professional comedy ranks.
Phil is an energetic and exciting performer with an unquenchable thirst to break boundaries and innovate with his work. His skill as an improviser whether it be musical, comedy or straight is unparalleled. With a surreal edge to his mischievous rantings, Nichol always brings something new to the stage.
MITCH BENN: THE POINT (14+)
What it might be, how we can miss it and how we can find it again…
Like all those who spread mirth for a living, MITCH BENN ("the country's leading musical satirist" - The Times) has been wondering if he's really making a difference, and if this is a POINT to what he - or anybody - is doing.
Well the good news is he's had a long hard think about it and he's figured it out, and he's coming back to tell us all what the POINT of comedy - and much else besides - might be…
“Song after song of exquisitely crafted satire”…The Scotsman
“Well crafted, well sung, his songs are just plain funny”…The Guardian
Mitch Benn is a comedian, author, satirical songwriter, musician and actor and is widely acknowledged as one of the best writers/performers of comedy songs in the UK. He is perhaps best known as the resident comic songwriter on BBC Radio 4’s The Now Show from 1999 to 2016.
Mitch has a large online following and his recent comedy songs, such as F*ck All and Moving to Scotland, have amassed more than a million views.
Mitch began his comedy career in Edinburgh in the mid-1990s, before moving to London and becoming one of the most in-demand comedians on the UK comedy circuit. He has released many albums of comedy songs and has performed all over the world, including South Africa, Singapore, China and many European nations.
In addition to his work on The Now Show, Mitch has presented several series of his own show on BBC radio, and his TV credits include Live At Jongleurs (ITV), Watchdog (BBC) and The Comedy Store (5).
Mitch's acting credits include Merlin (BBC1) and in 2013 he took over the role of Zaphod Beeblebrox for the live stage show tour of The Hitchhikers’ Guide To The Galaxy. His voice acting credits include Neil Gaiman’s Good Omens TV series and the Sandman audiobooks.
Mitch has also appeared on ‘celebrity’ editions of several TV quiz shows, including winning Celebrity Mastermind in 2016.
Mitch is a weekly columnist for The New European newspaper and has written three Science Fiction novels.
Edinburgh Reviews
"The man is talent .... I really enjoyed it! The audience all around me seemed to lap up every musical second."…Edinburgh Reviews ****
"As always there is what is for me a highlight, his ‘live looping’ where with the aid of his phone and a few pedals, he builds from scratch a fully orchestrated number in front of ones very eyes",,,One4Review ****
"Mitch Benn may be wondering what _The Point_ is, but to the audience, it’s very clear, making us all laugh until we’re red in the face. And he does this very well. Bloody funny, go see."…Starburst ****
JOHN SHUTTLEWORTH: RAISE THE OOF
RAISE THE OOF
with John Shuttleworth
Radio 4 favourite, comedy legend, and ‘the 42nd best reason to love Britain’ (The Telegraph) JOHN SHUTTLEWORTH, is back with more hilarious stories and songs performed on his trusty Yamaha organ (with built-in auto accompaniment!) In RAISE THE OOF John celebrates 40 years in showbiz. Yes, it was 1985 when he met TV’s Clarinet Man - next door neighbour Ken Worthington who came last on New Faces in 73 (Tony Hatch crucified him!)
“When I met Ken he was eating a CurlyWurly” recalls John, “although initially I thought it was a packet of sparklers, so I gave him a wide berth”, and the rest, as they say, is hysterical!
“ Actually, I feel rather calm” muses John, “although after forty years and still no chart success, perhaps I should be slightly anxious. My wife Mary says I should get a proper job, but there's not time - I'm about to retire! Besides, Comet - where I used to demonstrate audio equipment - no longer exists. As for the sweet factory in the Rotherham area where I worked as a security guard in the 1980's - that’s now an Axe Throwing Centre. Oof!"
But I'm still posting off my songs (on cassette tape with Dolby so it's not too hissy) to cutting edge pop acts like Chris Rea and the Lighthouse Family, plus I'm still being booked for nostalgic singalongs at the local hospice (for petrol money only) so we have every reason to celebrate my long and illustrious career. Do come along and join me in punching the air, and helping - in an orderly and controlled fashion - to RAISE THE OOF!
"His stand up is second to none, his timing is impeccable, and you can practically warm your hands on his good nature" The Guardian
“The Cole Porter of the antimacassar set” The Times
“A Ludicrously compelling night out” Evening Standard
“Sublime character comedy “ – The Guardian
“Totally unmissable” - NME
SCOTT BENNETT: STUFF (16+)
As heard on BBC Radio 4!
As a society we love stuff, it’s a statement about who we are and who we want to be. But apparently, this message is at odds with the looming environmental crisis. We’re now struggling to balance these worlds, to focus on the things that bring us real connections and nourish the soul. Award-winning Comedian and Award-winning Product Designer, Scott Bennett is desperately trying to cleanse his life of stuff, but is this even possible anymore?
Tour support for Mickey Flanagan, Rob Brydon Jason Manford, and John Bishop. The star of Live at the Apollo, The News Quiz, The Now Show, The Ultimate Choice and Chortle Best Club Comedian Nominee 2022.
“Without doubt live comedy’s best kept secret” Evening Standard
"Great material, great delivery, a very funny man" Rob Brydon
"Brilliantly funny, a joy to watch" Chris Ramsey
“Bennett is a stand-up in fine control of his material, his delivery and his image, a masterclass in adding a frisson of ‘in the moment’ unpredictability to otherwise tightly written routines” **** Chortle
Run time to be confirmed.