SATURDAY 25 JULY
Victoria Theatre, Q 10.00am – 4.00pm
Halifax Comedy Festival offers you a unique opportunity to: Learn to be a Stand-Up Comedian with Marc Blake
This region is a hot-house of comedy talent. Here’s an opportunity to pick-up the tricks of the trade. Learn from a professional about gag writing, delivery and timing and you never know you might even launch yourself on a new career path.
Working in comedy for over 20 years, counting Catherine Tate amongst his ex-pupils and having written for many TV / radio shows, from Frankie Howerd to Spitting Image, Marc Blake is perfectly qualified to lead this full-day comedy workshop.
Fantastic value at only £49 for the whole day, the course price includes lunch. Suitable for age 16+
Places are limited and early booking is strongly advised
Adults £49
Victoria Theatre, Green Room Bar 8.00pm
2 – 4 – 1 Edinburgh Preview
For the first of our not to be missed, 2-4-1 Edinburgh Previews, Halifax Comedy Festival welcomes
Jo Caulfield along with Brian and Krysstal and local comedy talent Dan Bland.
A star of Have I Got News For You and Mock The Week, Jo Caulfield treats us to her fabulous and cutting 2009 one-woman show - “Jo Caulfield Won’t Shut Up!”
“A wit so sharp it could slice through steel” The Scotsman
Veterans of the London and Edinburgh comedy circuits and stars of Pear
Shaped In Fitzrovia, Brian & Krysstal beautifully blend music and deadpan
comedy, and have been described as “The best double act on the circuit”
by Urban Comedy.
Adults £10 Concessions £8
Dean Clough, Viaduct Café 8.00pm
The International Showcase
A night of international acts launches the Halifax Comedy Festival providing more fun-in-cheek humour than Eurovision, it’ll be top marks for top laughs all round featuring:
From Germany comes Helmut, the country’s second finest comedian who tours the UK constantly to great acclaim. “A preposterous knee slapping show of efficient German comedy” The Independent
From Ireland, Dublin’s very own Michael Redmond, one of the best deadpan comics in the land has appeared in Father Ted and The Stand Up Show.
Grisha is undoubtedly the finest (and only!) Russian character act to visit our shores.
And Australian comedian Marcus Ryan, joining us from down under, puts his sharp wit to good use with tales of his travels and observations from around the globe. This is a first class ticket to a good time.
Adults £10 Concessions £8
SUNDAY 26 JULY
Victoria Theatre 2.00pm
Little Howard and the Magic Pencil of Life & Death
Halifax Comedy Festival welcomes the stars of CBBC and the Royal Variety Performance, Big Howard and Little Howard. Performed at comedy festivals across the globe this smart mix of live performance and interactive animation is perfect for savvy young people who like their comedy with a bit of attitude. Don’t miss this very special one-off chance to see real human Big Howard and the animated six-year-old Little Howard bring their family comedy show to the Victoria Theatre.
Little Howard has discovered the pencil that drew him. But, on the other end of this magic pencil of life is the eraser of death, and a dark force is at large determined to rub the cheeky chap out for good. As if that wasn’t enough, Big Howard has had a real-life baby who is getting a little too much attention! Can Little Howard escape his supernatural nemesis? How will he get rid of this pesky new arrival? Who knows.....but there will be danger, drama and a lot of laughs on the way.
Suitable for all ages Adults £10 Concessions £8 Family Tickets £7.50 per person
Square Chapel 8.00pm
City Life Magazine Special
Previous winners of the coveted City Life Magazine Comedian of the Year award have included Peter Kay, Dave Spikey and Neil Fitzmaurice (all of whom went on to write & perform in Phoenix Nights), Caroline Aherne (The Royal Family) and Jason Manford (celebrated host of 8 out of 10 cats). Following in the footsteps of these comedy giants the Halifax Comedy Festival is pleased to welcome the next great wave of talent:
Seymour Mace who you will recognise as the twins from the BBC sitcom Ideal (and maybe from ITV, Channel 4 and BBC 3, 4, 7) and
John Warburton – From Doncaster to Dubai, this guy has them rolling in the aisles. This could be your last chance to catch him live as he makes his big screen debut alongside Robert Carlyle later in the year! Seymour and John team up tonight with:
Andy Watson – the hardest working man in comedy!
And finally Vince Atta – “An unstoppable force” Chortle
Adults £10 Concessions £8
Victoria Theatre 8.00pm
Comedy Mela
Heading up our gathering of the very best Asian comedy performers, this year’s festival is delighted to welcome the award winning international star Shazia Mirza. A highly acclaimed observational stand up comedian, Shazia presents her hilarious new show full of stories - from her picture being hung alongside Nelson Mandela’s in the National Portrait Gallery’s Top Ten People of the Decade Exhibition to, at 8 stones, being told she is too fat for US TV, having cravings for Oxfam and being a WAG for the day.
Joining her onstage are Imran Yusuf, with a stinging, lyrical street-slang verbiage and super-high energy performance that will leave you breathless and the insightful and thought provoking observations of Jay Sodagar.
Adults £10 + concessions £8
Square Chapel 8.00pm
City Life Magazine Special
Previous winners of the coveted City Life Magazine Comedian of the Year award have included Peter Kay, Dave Spikey and Neil Fitzmaurice (all of whom went on to write & perform in Phoenix Nights), Caroline Aherne (The Royal Family) and Jason Manford (celebrated host of 8 out of 10 cats). Following in the footsteps of these comedy giants the Halifax Comedy Festival is pleased to welcome the next great wave of talent:
Seymour Mace who you will recognise as the twins from the BBC sitcom Ideal (and maybe from ITV, Channel 4 and BBC 3, 4, 7) and
John Warburton – From Doncaster to Dubai, this guy has them rolling in the aisles. This could be your last chance to catch him live as he makes his big screen debut alongside Robert Carlyle later in the year! Seymour and John team up tonight with:
Andy Watson – the hardest working man in comedy!
And finally Vince Atta – “An unstoppable force” Chortle
Adults £10 Concessions £8
MONDAY 27 JULY
Victoria Theatre 8.00pm
Tickled Pink!
A combo of the UK’s best lesbian and gay stand-ups invite you to strap yourself in for a ride to the rosy side.
Not just a show for those with a whiff of lavender in their lives, gay, straight or any shade in-between there’s absolutely no doubt that this evening’s line up will leave you totally Tickled Pink!
Paul Sinha, an if.comedy nominee at the 2006 Edinburgh Festival and also a Chortle Award Best Headliner nominee in 2009, brings his witty and intelligent brand of comedy to Halifax.
“This is what a good stand-up should be. Hilariously funny, passionate and articulate.” Chortle
Mr Paul Foot is a truly eccentric, surreal and flamboyant one-off who has appeared on: Last Comic Standing (NBC America), World Stands Up (Paramount) and four series of Out to Lunch (BBC Radio 2).
“Kenneth Williams on Acid” The Scotsman
A bisexual Orthodox Jewish ex-fire eater joins tonight’s bill in the form of Danny Hurst. A true original with a distinctive delivery style who will blow you away with his shameless smut and bitchy observational comedy.
In a relatively short time Bethany Black has well and truly established herself a place on the UK comedy circuit. Described as a natural outsider, Bethany Black has entertained audiences across Europe.
“If having a unique selling point is the secret of success, then Bethany Black should prepare for world domination.” Bruce Dessau – British Comedy Awards Magazine
Adults £10 Concessions £8
Square Chapel 8.00pm
2–4–1 Edinburgh Preview
The hilarious Ivan Brackenbury Hospital Radio Show is ready to broadcast to Halifax. Inept hospital radio DJ Ivan Brackenbury is the creation of Tom Binns. Brackenbury was resurrected for the Edinburgh Fringe 2007 where he was nominated for the if.comedy prize for best show.
“The show is a cheap, obvious and brilliant agglomeration of cheesy DJ clichés, Jonathan King mannerisms and hilariously inappropriate tunes dedicated to the sick and the wounded” Guardian.
Marcel Lucont, France’s premier misanthropist and lover is the classiest act in Halifax. If you don’t believe this, ask him yourself. His dry sardonic wit and Gallic charm have attracted acclaim from several critics and women, sometimes both at once! If you don’t come and see this show you are an idiot!
“Wonderful French wit” TimeOut
Tickets £10 Concessions £8
TUESDAY 28 JULY
Victoria Theatre, Green Room Bar 8.00pm
2 – 4 – 1 Edinburgh Preview
Come and experience two of the fastest rising stars on the circuits on their way to international stardom!
Jason Cook – the Geordie comedian with razor-sharp wit brought “Joy”, a total fringe sell out in 2008. This year Jason examines “Fear”.
“this is a joy to behold and a pleasure to have witnessed.”***** The List
Jonathan Mayor and Auxiliary Heterosexuals. Plunge yourself into Jonathan’s growing cult and revel in his savage wit and audacious charm, seasoned by the twisted talents of his two spindly, confused, straight guests. This show may feature actual live mental breakdowns!
“a self-obsessed glittery queen with a larger than life personality who arrives on stage in a Bamboozling mix of innuendo” – Manchester Evening News
Adults £10 Concessions £8
Dean Clough, Viaduct Café 8.00pm
Mirth, Magic & Mystery
An evening of astounding comedy magic and mystery guaranteed to leave you wondering “What just happened?”!
Ali Cook is best known for his comedy series: Dirty Tricks (Channel 4) and Monkey Magic (Five). Both series were nominated for The Golden Rose of Montreux and The British Comedy Awards. This artist mixes cutting edge magic effects with superb stand up.
“With a pleasing mix of cheesy/sinister, he chews razor blades, crushes doves and gets journalists up on stage to help him perform tricks: Ali Cook simply has no fear” The List
With the audience as the active and amazed participants, Harrison Richards dazzles as a modern metal bending mind reader with the gift of sightless vision.
Adults £10 Concessions £8
WEDNESDAY 29 JULY
Piece Hall Marquee 2.00pm
Mike Hancock “All Shook Up”
A glorious comic kaleidoscope of magic, circus and audience participation. Come down and join the party at the Halifax Comedy Festival’s fun filled afternoon for all the family. Suitable for kids from 3 to 103!
Amazing value, the price of this ticket includes a circus skills taster workshop which will take place after the performance including unicycling, juggling and Diablo.
Adults £6 Concessions £5
Suitable for all ages
Victoria Theatre, Green Room Bar 8.00pm
Martin Bigpig’s Adult Circus
The beast within the boy unleashed at last, he became the dynamic, multi-skilled performer Martin Bigpig Mor, combining startlingly original material with bold, energetic improvisation. His love of working the audience, coupled with an inability to remember his script, mean that every show is a unique interactive live event, and no two shows are ever the same!
“Explosive visual comedian who should carry a Government health warning.”
City Life
Be amazed and amused by Raven, the finest female entertainer of her kind. Fire eating, glass eating, magic - you name it .... and all with a sense of humour! Think Circus of Horrors without the blood! Truly bizarre.
Adults £10 Concessions £8
Square Chapel 8.00pm
2 – 4 – 1 Edinburgh Preview
..and the laughs just keep coming. Settle in for an evening of anarchic tales as another couple of cracking comedians perform their 2009 fringe shows just for you...
Justin Moorhouse: SEVEN
Blake’s. Wonders. Dwarves. Samurai. Oceans. Brides for Brothers. Seas of Rhye. Justin celebrates this fabulous number in a romp through the seven basic stories. Expect tales of comedy, tragedy, heroes and overcoming the monster in this stand-up journey from the star
of ‘KEY 103’, ‘Phoenix Nights’ and Ken Loach’s ‘Looking for Eric’.
“Comedic tour de force .... excruciatingly funny” Herald
Kent Valentine tells stories that are full of jokes. This show is about how you share something you love with people you can’t stand. It also contains traces of Star Wars, Nazis, pigeons, fights & London.
“a natural raconteur with winning stories full of mischief, optimism and warmth” Chortle
Adults £10 Concessions £8
THURSDAY 30 JULY
Victoria Theatre 2.00pm
Tall Stories present Room on the Broom
How the cat purred and how the witch grinned, as they sat on their broomstick and flew through the wind…until a stormy wind blows away the witch’s hat, bow and wand.
A helpful dog, bird and frog find the witch’s lost things, and they all hop on the broom for a ride. But this broomstick’s not meant for five and – CRACK!!....then when a hungry dragon appears, who will save the poor witch?
This production, by the acclaimed Compass Theatre and adapted from the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo is full of songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3 and up.
Adults £10 Concessions £8
Family Tickets £7.50
Dean Clough, Viaduct Café 8.00pm
An Evening with Robin Ince
The brilliant Robin Ince presents his brand new stand up show ‘Bleeding Heart Liberal’, mixing up stories of childbirth, astronomy, evolutionary conundrums and a to-do with Vanessa Feltz and a crazed preacher, plus readings from his new favourite charity shop finds. Will anything top the bizarre blouse removal advice of The Secrets of Picking up Sexy Girls?
“one of the great under-rated stand ups” Daily Telegraph
“when someone writes the history of modern comedy, they should make room for Robin Ince” The Guardian
“thoughtful, provocative and very funny” The Times
Adults £10 Concessions £8
Victoria Theatre, Green Room Bar 8.00pm
Here Come the Girls!
Four fast paced female comedians take to the stage to dazzle you with their wit and repartee.
An evening of female perspectives – think you can handle it boys?
Not for the faint hearted or hard of thinking, “Dame” Mandy Knight delivers her jokes with all the force of an iron fist in a velvet glove. Having headlined all over the world, the winner of the Time Out Best Female Comic award arrives to invigorate the Festival crowd.
Livewire Annette Fagon is tonight’s compere, bringing exuberance and confidence to the evening with observational comedy and natural comedic instinct.
“She’s just like Peter Kay would be – well, if he were female, black and from Leicester” Chortle
A relative newcomer to the comedy circuit, Rachel Fairburn moves from amiable and engaging comedy to serial killers in the same sentence! A finalist in both the Funny Women and City Life North-West Comedian of the year competitions in 2008, this promises to be a gripping show!
Karen Bayley packs a punch with her commanding delivery and brilliant comic timing. Non-stop laughs from the Brummie comic with the truly inspirational punch lines.
Adults £10 Concessions £8
FRIDAY 31 JULY
Victoria Theatre, Green Room Bar 8.30pm
Dick & Liddy’s Comedy Club
The hottest comedy ticket in town brings you the compelling observational comic Paul McCaffrey, a performer with limitless energy and charm who has his own unique take on the frustrations and inaccuracies of life.
Also on the bill is Joe K, an up and coming comedian with an innovative imagination and great stage presence who is on his way to stardom.
Adults £10 Concessions £8
Square Chapel 8.00pm
2 – 4 – 1 Edinburgh Preview
The Submariner & The Policeman
An enjoyable evening with two storytellers who will engage
you with tales of their experiences whilst “on the job”.
The Submariner, Eric, offers a unique, riveting, funny and sometimes poignant glimpse into the life of Royal Navy nuclear submariners. Having spent 17 years in submarines, Eric brings his one-man autobiographical confessional stories to the stage. A truly excellent example of the genre and a gifted raconteur.
“Best thing I saw this Edinburgh. One of the best things I’ve ever seen” Wil Hodgson – Perrier Winner Best Newcomer
The Policeman, Alfie Moore, has been a full-time policeman since 1992. Alfie’s seventeen years experience on the beat has given him more than enough material to keep an audience captivated with his anecdotal tales.
“There’s no way of escaping this conclusion:
he’s an arresting storyteller”. Chortle
Adults £10 Concessions £8
SATURDAY 1 AUGUST
Victoria Theatre, Green Room Bar 8.00pm
Scouse Spectacular
Capital comedy direct from the Capital of Culture. Come along and partake in an evening of all things “scouse”. Four of Liverpool’s brightest comedians perform on the same bill – the greatest Liverpudlian line-up since the Beatles!
Winner of the Liverpool Echo’s Comedian of the Year competition, R David brings his punchy routine to Halifax to delight the audience.
Keith Carter’s alter ego, Nige, is cited as the reason for Liverpool’s successful Capital of Culture bid! Be amazed by this surreal thinking comedian’s musings about life and his acute observations on diverse subjects like his grandma’s cat (Bin Laden) and alien abduction.
Stephanie Davis is newly single and has plenty of hints and tips on the do’s and
don’t of dating, but be careful – one word out of place and you will feel the wrath
of the princess of put downs!
One of the freshest and most original acts to emerge in the last few years, Jamie Sutherland is now well established on the comedy circuit. There’s something for
everybody in his act including gags, tales and stories all delivered with scouse style.
Adults £10 Concessions £8
Square Chapel 4.30 pm
ComedySportz
Not to be confused with a sports quiz, ComedySportz is in fact the UK’s top improvised comedy show.
Fast-paced improvisation with two teams pitting their razor wits against each other for the biggest laughs. Driven by the unpredictable suggestions from the audience the teams create sketches and songs producing an original show every time. In case things get out of hand there’s a referee (that’s the sportz bit!) on hand to call any fouls and help the audience decide the winner. A fun and feel good show for the whole family.
Adults £10 Concessions £8 Family Tickets £7.50 per person
Square Chapel 8.00pm
Charlie Chuck’s Cavalcade
An original evening of comedy with the grandmaster of comic timing Charlie Chuck.
A seasoned veteran of the comedy scene, this comedian has been around for over twenty years and one thing is certain, this will be a slick and pacey performance. Come along and share in the experience with a comic who clearly enjoys his job.
Also on tonight’s bill are Freaks Outing, an outrageous comedy duo featuring bizarre songs with twisted lyrics performed live in a wide range of styles on an array of musical instruments.
Like the foul mouthed illegitimate son of Mighty Boosh and Flight of the Conchords....magnificent” Comedy Review
Finally, Jeff Downs, Conspiracy Theorist. From JKF, twin towers to why Marathon was changed to Snickers - all the major theories dealt with!
Adults £10 Concessions £8
