Recommendations for Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival 2015

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Okay comedy fans - it’s that time of the year again, when the whole city is taken over by funny folks with funny shows, and with over 650 events in this year's festival, the temptation is to just hold your hands up and say “it’s too much to take in, I have no idea what to go to!”
So, because I care about each and every one of you, my little comedy lambs, here is my official guide to what I personally would recommend seeing at this year’s festival. And remember - this is my own personal view, your tastes may differ significantly from mine. This article is just here to point out stuff you may not be aware of already, like, for example...

This is the level of silliness you should probably expect from Weirdos

1. Weirdos Weekender / Heroes @LCB Depot

Last year, one-man chaos engine Bob Slayer brought his legendary ‘Heroes’ venue to Leicester for the first time and took over Hansom Hall, turning it into the most chaotic and unpredictable venue of the festival, and winning the inaugural Liberty Award in the process. This year he’s taking over Leicester’s creative hub - the LCB Depot.

The programme is a mixed bill of Heroes regulars such as ‘chap-hop’ superstar Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer, weed-smoking internet sensation Devvo, Tom Binns’ twisted creations Ian D Montfort/Ivan Brackenbury, tangential storyteller Phil Kay, Radio 4 adventurer Tim Fitzhigham and star of the De Montfort Hall preview show, the multi-award winning Tim Renkow. They also have a smattering of local favourites such as former Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year Matt Hollins, Bruce Edhouse’s murder mystery play ‘Crabula!’ and interactive daftness with ‘The Further Adventures of Shirley’.

The thing I’m most looking forward to though, is the opening weekend, which is packed full of acts from the alternative London collective known as ‘Weirdos’. Chortle called this assortment of oddballs “the closest thing we have to a modern-day Comic Strip”, so if you like your comedy alternative and often unhinged, don’t miss the likes of Adam Larter in ‘Gary and the Crisp Factory' (written specifically for this festival); the anarchic and eccentric Eric Meat; Beth Vyse's twisted daytime TV show host, and group show ‘Chronicles of the Weirdos’.

A whirlwind of words: Ahir Shah

2. Brain Food

As well as all those wonderfully silly shows, there is also a wealth of intelligent comedy out there for those of you that like to think whilst you laugh. Last year’s ‘Best Show’ winner Ahir Shah returns with the winning show ‘Texture’ as well as a new work in progress. Watching Ahir in full flow is like being caught in a whirlwind of words, as he weaves the personal and the political in an astonishingly verbose and insightful way. He also hosts Euroversity Challenge (as the name suggests, a pan-European version of the popular BBC quiz show).
Also for the thinkers amongst you: a discussion on ‘The Role of Comedy in British Politics’ at The Criterion; social and political commentary from a liberal, atheist, feminist perspective with Kate Smurthwaite, star of Question Time and multiple news and current affairs shows; alternative legend Simon Munnery returns with his cerebral show reciting and discussing the work of Danish existential philosopher Soren Kierkegaard; and Nish Kumar gets all ponderous in his new show ‘Ruminations on The Nature of Subjectivity’ - a title that’s clearly designed to attract (or repel) a specific sort of audience! Last but not least, it’s impossible to leave out perennial political activist and mischief-maker Mark Thomas, who brings his new show ‘Cuckooed’ to the Curve, which details his ongoing tussles with Britain’s biggest arms manufacturer.

Click to see what's inside the fridge

3. Leicester Fridge

Its organisers describe Leicester Fridge as being “packed full of nutritious, locally-sourced comedy”, and after a sell-out preview show at The Cookie last Saturday featuring no less than 18 acts, it's difficult to argue with that claim! They’re putting on three special shows in the first week of the festival to further showcase the local scene. The first of these is a pub quiz at Duffy’s Bar on Thursday 5th, entitled 'A Question of Snort'. It features prizes in every round, a team of local comedians to help or hinder your general knowledge, and extra points given out for funny answers. Friday 6th sees the stage set for ‘The Battle for Leicester’, in which four teams representing Leicester’s regular comedy nights go head-to-head in a stand-up challenge at Manhattan34. The four teams taking part are Comedy & Cocktails, Proper Funny Comedy, Guinness & Giggles and The Exchange Comedy Club. (Please note this event starts at 9pm and not 8 as it says in the brochure!)

Finally, on Sunday 8th, The Guildhall plays host to ‘No Leics than the Best’, a stand-up showcase in which local comics perform material inspired by all things Leicester and Leicestershire, headlined by Liam Mullone from Comedy Central's 'Alternative Comedy Experience'. The Fridge is also supporting a whole host of other homegrown festival shows from the likes of Ian Hall, Ishi Khan Jackson, Rob Coleman, Alex Hylton and Dan Nicholas - these are listed on page 31 of the brochure and on Fridge-branded flyers and posters around the city.

Flair for the random: Lou Sanders

4. Lots of Funny Women

Unbelievably there are still those out there who regard ‘female comedy’ as a genre, as if every single woman in comedy is talking about nothing but babies and sewing and kitten videos. Welcome to the 21st Century guys! The festival is packed with funny ladies, all offering their own unique take on the world, minus the male privilege and macho posturing. For example, 2014 Edinburgh nominee Sara Pascoe goes from strength to strength, mixing insightful social commentary with personal observations in an accessible, conversational style. Suzi Ruffell is another one to watch - last time I saw her she had ditched the TV-friendly fluff and started talking about real issues that are important to her, which gave her set the added bite it was previously lacking. 

The winner of last year’s Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year was Kate Lucas, and I thoroughly recommend checking out her deliciously dark songs which contrast perfectly with her seemingly sweet demeanour. Young rising star Lou Sanders is a must-see if you’re after something different and silly, she has bags of confidence and a flair for the random and absurd that is already earning her a degree of cult success. Also worth seeing are ventriloquist extraordinaire Nina Conti, infectious optimism and offbeat observations from Josie Long, and well-observed character comedy from Hull’s sweet but bewildered Lucy Beaumont.

Master of clowning: Paul Currie

5. Best of the Rest of the Fest in the Lest(ah)

Master of clowning, puppetry and crazy audience interaction Paul Currie returns to the festival with two shows this year - ‘The Sticky Bivouac’ was nominated for Best Show a couple of years ago and ‘Release the Baboons’ was a smash hit in Edinburgh last year, being described by no less than Stewart Lee as his favourite show of this year’s fringe. Obviously Lee himself is performing this year, but I’m sure you know about that already. I’m here to point out the shows you might not know about, such as twisted sketch group The Mitford Sisters, who cleverly confound every expectation you might have of sketch comedy. Or how about some family-friendly craziness from Funz and Gamez, which was one of the most raved-about shows in Edinburgh this year, as was the stage adaptation of the 1980s kids' game show, Knightmare Live.

Comedy connoisseurs should not miss The Comedian’s Comedian Podcast with Stuart Goldsmith, in which a comedy hero is interviewed in depth about their act, what makes them tick and what inspires them. The unashamedly geeky amongst you should not miss The Geek All Death Stars who are performing two shows this year, and Richard Peel who always weaves a fantastical, absorbing and utterly ridiculous tale complete with home-made sound effects and songs. And if you’re a fan of good old no-nonsense observational stand-up but don’t want to pay arena prices, I recommend Yorkshireman Scott Bennett and Leicester lad Jason Neale. I’d also thoroughly recommend going to ‘Midlands Today’ at The Exchange Bar, where you’ll find a collection of some of the finest emerging comics from across the Midlands, absolutely free!



That’ll do for now. Obviously there are a hell of a lot more shows worth seeing, but I don’t want to completely overload you - that would be rather defeating the point! Seriously though, if you like the sound of anything I’ve mentioned here, check them out on Youtube and if you still like them, get yourself some tickets - because there really is no finer experience than seeing a terrific act for the first time, live in front of your very eyes!


Have a great festival everyone,
Paul.