Event suddenly axed mid-run

The Kirkcaldy Comedy Festival has been unexpectedly pulled - a week into the events.

Shows featuring Josie Long, Henning Wehn and Patrick Monahan, among others, have been dramatically dropped as the organiser appeared to go to ground.

Local firm Kreative Destiny had been commissioned to provide events over a three-week period starting last Friday. But its website, which previously offered tickets to events, has suddenly gone blank.

The company last week failed to secure the first half of £50,000 it was seeking from Fife Council to stage a New Year event in the town square with fireworks and bands - a decision company boss Bob Carruthers was publicly disgruntled about.

Comedy shows taking place this weekend will still be honoured, largely thanks to the venues staging them, but all others have been pulled. The festival involved a smattering of events, rather than something every day,

Kirkcaldy4All, the town centre management company that was a major sponsor of the festival, told the local paper the Fife Free Press: 'We commissioned Kreative Destiny to create, promote and deliver a bigger and better festival. We are very disappointed to receive this news.'

However, they have not responded to Chortle’s request for further comment.

This would have been the fifth Kirkcaldy Comedy Festival. It was previously run by the Scottish Comedy Agency; part of the same company that runs The Stand comedy clubs and the Glasgow Comedy Festival.

Josie Long tweeted yesterday: 'Hey so it's looking like my tour date in Kircaldy is going to be cancelled, but I'll try and work something else out- watch this space.'

The news follows the cancellation of the annual Manchester Comedy Festival because of a lack of sponsors.

Published: 14 Oct 2012