It’s now just one short week until the excellent BIRMINGHAM COMEDY FESTIVAL returns!
Running from Friday 4 to Sunday 13 October 2024, the UK’s second longest running comedy/arts festival boasts over 80 performances, including appearances from some of the biggest names in stand-up, and over 35 austerity-busting free/ donation shows!
Festival highlights include …
* Plenty of big TV comedy names, including Sarah Millican (13 Oct, Symphony Hall), The Mash Report’s Rachel Parris (10 Oct, Town Hall), Maisie Adam (8 Oct, Town Hall), Milton Jones (6 Oct, Town Hall) and Richard Blackwood (13 Oct, The Glee Club).
* The Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award (Thu 10 Oct, The Glee Club) – the region’s biggest comedy prize finds five of the very best emerging acts from the West Mids vie for the title … and the famed trophy: The Mug Of Victory. With Dom Bant, Lin Smith, Rich Spalding, Tom Towelling and Gareth Williams. Tickets are just £12.
More details: https://www.bhamcomfest.co.uk/breakingtalent2024.html
* Birmingham Comedy Festival FREE Half-Dayers (Sun 6 & Sun 13 Oct, The Victoria & Cherry Reds, from 1pm) – 16x 1hr shows spread over two Sundays at two venues in John Bright Street (B’ham City Centre). Featuring appearances from Eric Rushton (winner of the Channel 4 Sean Lock Award), Hannah Weetman (Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award 2022 winner) and Rob Kemp (Best Performer: Comedians’ Choice Awards Edinburgh). Plus James Cook, Tal Davies, Kwame Asante and more.
Oct 6: https://www.bhamcomfest.co.uk/halfdayer2024_pt1.html
Oct 13: https://www.bhamcomfest.co.uk/halfdayer2024_pt2.html
* International stars – acts heading in from far away include South African Schalk Bezuidenhout (Oct 6, The Glee Club), US Saturday Night Live writer Sam Jay (Oct 9, The Glee Club), and Aussie YouTuber Frenchy (Oct 7, The Glee Club).
* The very best comics from Birmingham and the surrounding area – with Jo Enright (Oct 7, Hockley Social), Shazia Mirza (Oct 11, The Glee & The Hippodrome), Andy Robinson (Oct 10, The Glee), Black Country star Jonny Cole (Oct 10, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall/ sold out), Breaking Talent Award 2023 winner Hasan Al-Habib (Oct 5, The Victoria), and Rachel Baker (Oct 11, The Mockingbird; Oct 12, The Victoria).
* Classic Comedy – oh yes! Delve into the troubled private life of Frankie Howerd in Howard’s End (Oct 3-5, Old Joint Stock); rediscover the genius of Brum-born Tony Hancock in Hancock’s Half Hour: The Lost TV Episodes (Oct 4, The Crescent); and a celebrate the greatest double-act of all time, Laurel and Hardy, with a triple-bill (Oct 11, WMP Museum; Oct 13, Stourbridge Town Hall).
* Improv – There’s that as well, with appearances from Jumprov! (Oct 12, Hippodrome), Behind The Headlines (Oct 5, The Crescent) and Next Time On (Oct 12, The Victoria) plus Comedy Junction’s Big Improv Night (Oct 6, Sutton Coldfield).
Head over to the festival website for all the details and tickets: bhamcomfest.co.uk