Riverside Fringe Festival Comedy
Evening Gazette
THE laughter line-up has been announced for the 2009 Stockton Riverside Fringe Festival.
Setting up camp from Friday, July 31, to Sunday, August 2, the event will see the return of the popular Comedy Tent alongside its musical offering.
The internationally acclaimed Canadian stand-up CRAIG CAMPBELL will light up the stage with natural eccentricity and an ability to find humour in the mundane on Friday evening.
Razor-sharp Geordie JASON COOK, fresh from a tour of New Zealand, presents his mix of audience interaction, storytelling and improvisation.
On Saturday’s bill, LUCY PORTER’S chirpy exterior conceals a sharp mind and a wicked streak.
Tasmanian devil PHIL NICHOL with guitar and funny songs follows, with ex-circus juggler, unicyclist, knife thrower, fire-eater, and magician MARTIN BIGPIG sure to close the night with a bang.
Sunday’s star DAN NIGHTINGALE began his comedy career while living in Newcastle and working at a comedy club as a sound man. Six months on and Dan has enjoyed a meteoric rise, performing sell out shows across the country as well as supporting the likes of Ross Noble and Daniel Kitson on tours.
Also back again after last year’s side splitting performance is ANVIL SPRINGSTEIN with MATT REED compere for the three days.
All Fringe events are free, including the main music stage and comedy tent. More details at www.teesmusicalliance.org.uk/fringe
:: JON RICHARDSON, one of our most hotly tipped comics, is to preview his Edinburgh show at Stockton’s Catch 22 Comedy Club a week today.
He has supported Alan Carr on a 60-date national tour, presents a weekly music show on BBC6, and nominated as Best Newcomer in the hugely prestigious if.comedy Awards in 2007. Jon brings new show This Guy at Night to Stockton before a month-long run at the Edinburgh Festival in August.
The bill also includes DAVE TWENTYMANwhose improvisational style has quickly made him a firm favourite on the national comedy circuit.
Matt Reed, himself a Comedy Store and Jongleurs regular, is MC.
Catch 22 tickets are £9 or £11 for reserved front row table seats, details on 01642 525199
:: TWO of TV’s favourite comics are coming back to Middlesbrough Town Hall this summer after being hugely impressed by their previous visits to the town.
MICHAEL McINTYRE has chosen to play an exclusive warm-up gig in July before his huge arena tour kicks off later this summer; while JIMMY CARR has added an extra date in August for his Joke Technician tour after describing the Town Hall as his “favourite gig” on national TV.
Michael McIntyre will be at the Town Hall on Thursday, July 16, tickets £27.50; you can catch Jimmy Carr on Tuesday, August 11, tickets £20.
Details on 01642 729729.
