Buxton Comedy Festival

The first Buxton Comedy Festival is on its way to the town this summer, as part of a 4-day event (31 Aug to 3 Sep), sponsored by Thornbridge Brewery. The barrels of beer and laughter ‘combo’ is the brainchild of Buxton Opera House, where many of the events will take place – alongside its sister venue, the Pavilion Arts Centre.

Top comedy names on the bill include the sometimes controversial stand-up comedian Jimmy Carr (headlining Sun 3 Sep), with his Best Of show. Whilst I’m a Celebrityfavourite Joel Domett plays the main-stage (on Sat 2 Sep), proving why he’s a rising star on the circuit.

On Friday night there’s a fusion of both comedy and music, from the northern knees-up legends, Lancashire Hotpots. Skip to the following afternoon in the Pavilion Arts Centre and there’s a double-bill of Tanyalee Davis and Damian Kingsley. Damian is both funny and kind, recently performing 120 gigs, as part of his “penniless comedy tour” from Land’s End to Edinburgh – raising an astonishing £21K for Shelter! Tanyalee Davis, known as the Ferrari of comedy due to her “3’6″ stature and racy material will deliver her hilarious show Actual Size.

For children aged 6+ the joke is on them during Saturday afternoon’s Comedy Club 4 Kids (Arts Centre) with clean stand-up and sketches, all aimed at children and their childish adults. For a ‘Sunday funday’ The Kagools are in town, a multi award-winning physical comedy duo ––treating us to their spontaneous buffoonery.  Look out as they have their own anorak fan base! Of course the line-up wouldn’t be complete without the monthly Buxton Buzz Comedy club, in situ during the festival on Friday night in the Arts Centre. Comedy films are also on the bill: Mon Oncle, The Ladykillers and Funny Bones.

Other events during the festival include a Clowning Improvisation Workshop (Sun 3 Sep) and to open the festival (Thur 31 Aug) is The Man with the Twisted Hip as part of the hilarious  comedy drama The Game’s A Foot, Try the Fish – packed with non-stop laughs from start to finish.

To find out more visit Buxton Opera House website www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk and search for Comedy Festival, or pick up your copy of Buxton Opera House’s New Season Brochure.