Leics is more
The full line-up has been announced for this year's Leicester Comedy Festival, boasting more than 140 events.
The ten-day event, now in its tenth year, is the biggest of festival dedicated purely to comedy in the UK.
This year's highlights include Ed Byrne, Richard Herring, Harry Hill, Jeremy Hardy and visiting US comic Doug Stanhope.
Outside stand-up, there are comedy plays, films and workshops, plus Carl Davis conducting The Philarmonia in front of Buster Keaton's classic film The General.
And Chortle is sponsoring a comedy conference on the final day of the festival, with guest speakers appraising the state of the industry, and how comedy relates to taboos, taste and stereotypes.
The festival was launched with a preview at the city's De Montfort Hall on Friday. Click here for a review.
Full listings are below, and more details are available on the official website.
Friday February 7
Coach & Horses, Lubenham: Brendhan Lovegrove, Matt Ford, Darrell Martin. 8pm
De Montfort Hall: The Best of the Leicester Mercury New Act Of The Year with Mitch Benn, Jo Enright, Jimmy Carr. 7.30pm
Half Time Orange: Jarred Christmas, Clare Campbell, Willy Knight, Duncan Loga, Roland Gent. 9pm
Haymarket Theatre: Festival Club with Jimmy Carr. 11pm
Huncote Community Centre: John Otway and Gary O'Donnell. 8pm
International Arts Centre: Tina C. 8pm
Jongleurs: Sean Percival, Chris Wainhouse, Steve Gribbin, Mark Walker 8.15pm
Loughborough Town Hall: Tim Vine, Patrick Monahan, Chris Cairns, Dom Carroll. 9pm
Phoenix Arts: Howard Read. 8pm
PLUS: School Days. (New College, 7.30pm); Comedy Murder Mystery (The Regency Hotel, 7.45pm); Talent Night (Haymarket Studios, 8pm)
Saturday February 8
Douglas Bader Centre: The Funjabi's. 7pm
Harborough Theatre: Ha Ha Harborough with Tim Vine, Matthew Osborne,Darrell Martin. 9pm
Haymarket Studio: Sausage & Samosa. 7.45pm
Haymarket Theatre: Festival Club with Glenn Wool, Al Pitcher, Matthew Osborne, Susan Murray. 11pm
Huncote Community Centre: John Otway and Gary O'Donnell. 8pm
International Arts Centre: Count Arthur Strong's Forgotten Egypt. 8pm
Jongleurs: Sean Percival, Chris Wainhouse, Steve Gribbin, Mark Walker 8.15pm
Loughborough Town Hall: Comedy 4 Kids. 2.30pm
Loughborough Town Hall: Dave Spikey. 8pm
Phoenix Arts: Dominic Holland. 8pm
The Stamford Arms, Groby: Brendhan Lovegrove, Matt Ford, Gary Delaney. 8pm
The Y: Comedy 4 Kids. 10.30am
PLUS: Jokers R Us (kids' improv classes, Trinity Methodist Church, 11am);Last Scene of All (Clarence House, 2.30pm); Talent Night (Harborough Theatre, 8pm); Comedy Murder Mystery (The Regency Hotel, 7.45pm)
Sunday February 9
De Montfort Hall: Ed Byrne. 8pm
The Horse & Trumpet, Wigston: Noel James, Matt Ford, Al Pitcher 7.30pm
International Arts Centre: Robert Newman. 8pm
Little Theatre: The Funjabis. 7.30pm
The Y: Brightside poetry cabaret 7.30pm
PLUS: Jokers R Us (kids' improv classes, Braunstone Oak Centre, 11am); Family comedy movie (Regal Cinema, noon) Comedy Murder Mystery (The Regency Hotel, 7.45pm); Talent Night (Huncite Community Centre, 8.30pm)
Monday February 10
Little Theatre Daniel Kitson. 7.30pm
De Montfort Hall: The Comedy Store Players. 7.30pm
International Arts Centre: Mirth Control with Angie McEvoy, Electric Forecast, Hils Barker and Zeron Gibson as Valentine Flyguy 8pm.
The Y: Adam Hills: Happy Feet. 9pm
The Looking Glass: Late 'n' Live. 9.30pm
PLUS: Billy Ivory plus comedy movie (Regal Cinema, 7.30pm); Absolutely Lacquered (The Looking Glass, 7.30pm); Talent Night (Molly O'Grady's, 7.30pm)
Tuesday February 11
Haymarket Studio: Kevin Hayes: The History of Ireland. 7.45pm
Haymarket Studio: Kevin Hayes: The History of Alcohol. 9.45pm
International Arts Centre: An Evening of Mirth Control with Inder Manocha, Christian Reilly, Nina Conti, Dougie Dunlop. 8pm
Little Theatre: Richard Herring's Talking Cock. 7.30pm.
The Looking Glass Gary O'Donnell. 7.30pm
The Looking Glass: Late 'n' Live. 9.30pm
Original Four: You're 'Avin A Giraffe' Comedy. 9pm
Phoenix Arts: Ennio Marchetto. 7pm and 9.45pm
PLUS: Ian McMillan's Big Family Show (Melton Mowbray Library, 7.15pm);Last Scene of All (New College, 7.30pm); Talent Night (Hogan's Narborough Road, 8pm)
Wednesday February 12
Dover Castle: Kandi Kane. 9.30pm
Haymarket Studio: Alan Francis: Clobbered. 7.45pm
Haymarket Theatre: Otis Lee Crenshaw. 8pm
Haymarket Theatre: Festival Club. 11pm
Little Theatre: Richard Herring's Talking Cock. 7.30pm.
The Looking Glass: Simon Bligh: My Trade 7.45pm
The Looking Glass: Late 'n' Live. 9.30pm
Molly O'Gradys: Irish Night with Martin Bigpig, Caimh McDonnell, MC Johnny Candon. 8.30pm
Stamford Hall Dining Hall: Steve Best, Marcus Birdman, Phil Nichol. 8pm
The Y: Mark Thomas. 8pm
PLUS: Gender and Sitcoms. (Phoenix Arts, 10.30am); Ealing Comedy film (Regal Cinema, 2.30pm); Absolutely Lacquered (The Looking Glass, 7.30pm); Stepping Out (Queens Hall, 7.30pm); If I Don't Know with Wendy Cope (Melton Theatre, 8pm); Talent Night (The Attik, 8pm)
Thursday February 13
Haymarket Theatre: Omid Djalili: Behind Enemy Lines. 8pm
Haymarket Studio: Festival Club. 11pm
International Arts Centre: Jimmy Carr. 8pm
Jongleurs: Keith Dover, Mallory and Mr Flute, Tony Woods, Colin Cole. 8.15pm
Little Theatre: Jeff Green. 8pm
The Looking Glass: Kev F's Rude Health. 7.30pm
The Looking Glass: Late 'n' Live. 9.30pm
O'Neills: Mark Maier, Markus Birdman, Caimh McDonald, Alfie Joey. 9pm
Original Four: Brendan Riley's Comedy SushiOriginal Four
Stamford Hall Dining Room: Noel James, Johnny Candon, George Egg. 9pm
The Y: Launching Our Y Fronts with Mrs Barbara Nice, Mandy Muden, Jarred Christmas and Zenjiro. 8pm
PLUS: Tuup (Highfields Library, 2.15pm); The Million Miles an Hour Workshop (Melton Mowbray Library, 4.30pm); The Hump (New College, 7.30pm); Stepping Out (Queens Hall, 7.30pm); Tuup (Leicester Guildhall, 8pm); Talent Night (Hogan's Queens Road, 7.30pm); Les Barker (The Musician, 8.30pm)
Friday February 14
De Montfort Hall: The Philarmonia play Buston Keaton's The General. 7.30pm
Little Theatre: Talent Night final. 7.30pm
Haymarket Theatre: Jeremy Hardy. 8pm
The Y: Gay Comedy Night with Julia Morris. 8pm
International Arts Centre: Andre Vincent is Unwell. 8pm
Jongleurs: Keith Dover, Nick Wilty, Sandy Netson, Colin Cole. 8.15pm
Original Four: Charlie Chuck. 9pm
The Half Time Orange: Dave Parton, Steve Day, Ruth Hine. 9pm
Leicester City Centre: Runga Rung processiona and fireworks. 10pm
PLUS: Shirley Valentine (Loughborough Town Hall, 7.30pm); The Hump (New College, 7.30pm); Stepping Out (Queens Hall, 7.30pm); Sausage and Samosa. (Countesthorpe Village Hall, 8pm); Stand-up comedy with Tony John (Braunstone Victoria Working Men's Club, 8.15pm)
Saturday February 15
Haymarket Theatre: Festival Club. 11pm
International Arts Centre: Don't Be Needy, Be Succeedy. 8pm
Jongleurs: Keith Dover, Nick Wilty, Sandy Netson, Colin Cole. 8.15pm
Phoenix Arts: Doug Stanhope. 8pm
The Y: Jason Wood. 8pm
PLUS: So You Want To Do A Show On The Edinburgh Fringe (Arts Training Central, 11am) Stepping Out (Queens Hall, 7.30pm); Sausage and Samosa. (Winstanley Community College, 8pm);
Sunday February 16
Phoenix Arts: Chortle National Comedy Conferenece. 10.30am
The Y: Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year. 7.30pm
De Montfort Hall: Harry Hill. 8pm
International Arts Centre: LeBest Of Priorité à Gauche. 8pm
Published: 12 Jan 2003
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Past Shows
Agent
We do not currently hold contact details for Simon Bligh's agent. If you are a comic or agent wanting your details to appear here, for a one-off fee of £59, email steve@chortle.co.uk.