Bury St Edmunds hosts first Comedy Festival

Throughout February 2024

Get ready for a month of rib-tickling fun and laughter when Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk hosts its first Comedy Festival throughout February.

The town's history is as rich as the punchlines, which will take you on a rollercoaster ride through the month filled with side-splitting stand-up, outrageous improv, witty poetry and comedy plays creating a fun cocktail that'll leave you in stitches.

Familiar venues will be transformed into laughter sanctuaries with a line-up of comedians sure to make everyone chuckle with no funny bone left untouched.

The fun begins on Thursday 1st February when the Theatre Royal welcomes Gavin Robinson presenting two of Charles Dickens' creepy tales, with a comic twist. This will be followed on 2nd February with an hour jam-packed with laughs from Matt Forde, one of the UK's best stand-ups and host of the hit political podcast 'The Political Party'.

Other big laughs at the Theatre Royal include 'Luke Wright's Silver Jubilee' on 7th February, a witty show celebrating his 25 years as one of Britan's most popular live poets, and Mark Watson on 9th February. Following his successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Mark will present a night of relatable anecdotes and observational humour. Olivier award winning musical comedy Showstopper! The Improvised Musical will also take the theatre's stage on 10 and 11 February.

The Apex welcomes the Fat Club Comedy Club presenting three or four comedians from the national and international circuit, while  stand-up artist Chris McCausland appears on 20 and 21 February. The popular poet laureate of Twitter, Brian Bilston shares the spotlight on 22 February with writer, poet and TV producer Henry Normal.

Stand-up artist Tom Davis is at the Theatre Royal on 24 February, which is also hosting a 'Royally Funny Comedy Night' on 28 February. Go along on 1st March and you can relive key moments from all 236 episodes of 'Friends' as Joseph Maudsley brings to life the iconic character of Gunther.

Thanks to Huffmaster Upholstery Comedy Productions, The Hunter Club will be joined by Aaron Jay with his new headlining show, 'Honey, I'm Home' at the Club's Comedy Open Mic night on 29 February, which is a free entry event with donations for Cancer

Research UK. Aaron is an up and coming comic from East Anglia. He has been performing across the country making people laugh for a couple of years, including stints across Europe. Aaron is also a regular contributor to BBC Local Radio and has written for the BBC New Comedy Show. He has chosen to support Mind Suffolk as his charity, a local mental health organization that is very close to his heart.

More fun nights are being added as the month gets nearer.  To view the full line-up and book tickets priced from £12 per person as well as where to stay, shop, eat and drink visit www. burystedmundsandbeyond.co.uk/comedy-festival.

The first Bury St Edmunds Comedy Festival is a partnership project between the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, The Apex, The Hunter Club and Bury St Edmunds Guildhall.  It is being coordinated by Bury St Edmunds and Beyond, under Our Bury St Edmunds BID.

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