Big top swapped for open-air shows

This year’s Greenwich Comedy Festival will go ahead, organisers have announced, swapping the usual big top for a more Covid-safe open air spectacle.

The event will run from September 23 to 27 with a line-up that includes Bill Bailey, Josh Widdicombe, Dylan Moran, Sara Pascoe, Dara O Briain, Aisling Bea, Nish Kumar, Lou Sanders, Alan Davies, Sindhu Vee and Phil Wang 

Tickets to this year’s event, the 12th, will be sold in pairs with audiences seated on chairs in socially distanced plots in the grounds of the Queen’s House and National Maritime Museum. 

Performances will take place on a huge domed stage with large LED screens, while the audiences will have to wear face covering, Instead of the usual bars, street-food stalls and intervals, ticket holders will have to pre-order their snacks and drinks.

Producers Will Briggs and Cass Randolph said in a statement: ‘There’s no doubt the live events sector has been hit incredibly hard by this year’s events and we weren’t sure what would be possible.

‘But we’ve been watching and waiting, and after months of careful planning, we are now so motivated and excited to bring this reimagined event to life at the National Maritime Museum. 

‘Everyone has been determined to make this happen and help get the stand-up world back on its feet. We’ve been working very closely with the local council, the venue and suppliers to make sure we deliver an event that is safe for everyone, while still being enjoyable - and above all very funny.’

Briggs and Randolph, who set up the festival in 2009, are the step-children of the infamous comedy promoter, exhibitionist and South East London legend Malcolm Hardee, 

Tickets are available now, here

Published: 7 Aug 2020