Comedy’s Coming Home as Chester Comedy Festival 2021 kicks off this Sunday with a top team of comedians!
The Festival takes place from Sunday, 11th July until Thursday, 22nd July with stars including: Jason Manford, Ed Byrne, Rich Hall, Hal Cruttenden, Maisie Adams and Gary Delaney. Visitors can enjoy 12 days of laughter across 12 venues, with 35 top comedians.
This Sunday night has been deliberately kept free so football fans can enjoy watching England playing Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
Chester Comedy Festival Director Brendan Riley said: “We are really looking forward to Comedy Coming Home to Chester this Sunday!
“We were looking forward to staging our third Chester Comedy Festival last year. We had booked all the acts and had planned the whole event but then had to cancel because of Covid restrictions in the UK.
“Everyone could really do with a laugh this year so we can’t wait to be back!
“We are launching our Festival on Sunday daytime. When we programmed the event four months ago we deliberately kept Sunday night free, in case England reached the final!
“To us it was never in doubt that England would get there!”
The Chester Comedy Festival is a joint venture between Chester BID and Big Comedy UK, with this year’s event promising to be bigger and better than ever.
It will see 35 comedians from TV and the national and international comedy circuit performing at 12 diverse and unique venues across the City including Chester Cathedral, Storyhouse, Chester Racecourse, Chester Market, Grosvenor Shopping Centre and internationally renowned restaurants, clubs and pubs.
There will be family events, comedy in restaurants, comedy crawls and the first ever Chester New Comedian of the Year competition sponsored by Concept Mortgages.
Brendan Riley said: “We are really pleased to see Chester BID once again giving its backing to this year’s Chester Comedy Festival.
“This is all about recovery from the Covid pandemic and encouraging people to come back out again to enjoy everything this superb city has to offer.
“Chester BID is championing the local businesses where these performances will be held, supporting local events and giving new reasons for people to enjoy days and nights out in Chester.
“The Festival is also being backed by the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, while a number of local businesses in Chester are supporting us too.
“Some shows have already sold out, but many tickets are still available.
“If you love live comedy, then don’t forget we are also staging Southport Comedy Festival this October, with another superb line-up of acts.”
- For tickets and more details please visit: chestercomedyfestival.com
Chester Comedy Festival Director Brendan Riley
Sunday 11th July
Family Fun Event @ Chester Market
Chester Comedy Festival has lined up an afternoon of family fun with two fantastic shows from two of the best children’s entertainers in the country.
John Harding’s Magic Show
Laugh and be amazed by comedy magician John Harding, a fun filled show for all the family
“Dashed clever… Cunning!” HRH The Prince of Wales
“A master at what he does… funny, inventive and mesmerizing” – Jeff Anderson, Controller, ITV Current Affairs & Documentaries
Martin “Bigpig” Mor presents
Funny Stuff for Happy People
Kids! Do you need somewhere to take your adults without them getting bored and going off in a huff?
Bring them to Funny Stuff for Happy People where the adults can have just as good a time as the kids.
A show full of comedy, circus, storytelling, poetry and stupid science.
As seen on Blue Peter and CBBC Live.
“Uproariously funny and utterly loveable” – Three Weeks
“A comedy institution” – Guardian
And while you’re here, why not treat yourselves before or after the show at any of Chester Market’s food and drink outlets.
Venue: Chester Market, 6 Princess Street, Chester, CH1 2HH
Door: 12.30 Times: 1.00pm to 3.00pm
Price: £5
Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times
Monday 12th July
Best of the Fest featuring Jason Manford, Maisie Adam and Daliso Chaponda.
Join Superstar comedian Jason Manford as he headlines a fantastic night of comedy featuring:
Award winning comedian Maisie Adam as seen on Mock the Week, Have I Got News for You, QI and 8 Out of 10 Cats.
“Go see Maisie now and have bragging rights for years to come” – Herald
With
Daliso Chaponda, as seen and heard on The Royal Variety Performance, Britain’s Got Talent, Britain’s Got Talent Champions, QI, The Apprentice: You’re Fired, The News Quiz and The Now Show.
Venue: Chester Racecourse, Final Furlong Marquee, Watergate Square, Chester, CH1 2LY
Door: 7.00pm, Show: 8.00pm
Price: £18.50
Age Restriction: 16+ PG
Tuesday 13th July
Chester Comedy Festival Special at The Opera Grill
Come and enjoy a fabulous two course meal at one of Chester’s finest restaurants, the beautiful grade II listed Opera Grill, followed by a comedy show with three of the finest comedians from the international comedy circuit.
Christian Reilly
Musical comedian Christian Reilly has established himself as a comedy circuit headliner appearing at international festivals all over the globe.
“If you’re a fan of Bill Bailey or Rich Hall, you’re a Christian Reilly fan already”- The Guardian
“Blisteringly funny songs” – The Stage
Jojo Sutherland
Jojo Sutherland is an unstoppable comedy force. Current holder of the prestigious Scottish Comedy Award for Best Show.
“A performer the audience could have watched all night.” – The Herald
Hosted by Brendan Riley
“Worth the price of the admission alone” – Lancashire Evening Post
Venue: Opera Grill, 3 Pepper Street, Chester, CH1 1DF
Door: 6.00pm, Food: 6.30pm, Show: 8.00pm
Price: £29.25
Age Restriction: 18+
Tickets can also be purchased direct from the Opera Grill on 01244343888 email opera.grill@individualrestaurants.com (no booking fee)
Wednesday 14th July
Gary Delaney – Gary In Punderland
Get ready to dive into a rabbit hole of the best jokes in the world – star of Live at the Apollo and sell-out sensation Gary Delaney is back! One of the most sought after joke writers in the country. Gary has been through the laughing glass and he’s ready to bring you a brand new show with hit after hit of the kind of one-liners only a master could craft. If you’re hunting for snark, Gary’s got it covered!
“A cavalcade of brilliantly inventive puns” – Guardian
“More quality jokes in one hour than most comics have in their entire careers…Quite brilliant” – Scotsman
“A master craftsman” – Times
“One of Britain’s grandmasters of the one-liner’’ – Chortle
Venue: Chester Racecourse, Final Furlong Marquee, Watergate Square, Chester, CH1 1DF
Doors: 7.00pm, Show: 8.00pm
Price: £18.00
Age Restriction: 16+ PG
Thursday 15th July
Chester New Comedian of the Year 2021- Grand Final
Sponsored by Concept Mortgages
Following a national search 8 aspiring comedians will compete to become the first ever Chester New Comedian of the Year. Concept Mortgages and The Chester Comedy Festival are proud to encourage new talent and help them become the stars of tomorrow. Choosing just one winner from an array of comedy talent won’t be easy.
Hosted by Brendan Riley, “A born compere” – The Guardian
Venue: Chester Market, 6 Princess Street, Chester,CH1 2HH
Door: 7.00 show 8.00pm
Price: £5
Age Restriction: 18+
Friday 16th July
Chester Comedy Festival Presents Best of The Fest at Storyhouse
Featuring Reginald D Hunter, Rachel Fairburn and Tez Ilyas
This show brings together some of the finest comedians from TV and the international comedy circuit.
Reginald D Hunter Have I Got News for You? QI, Live at the Apollo and two series of the BBC2’s hugely popular Reginald D Hunter’s Songs of the South and Songs of the Border.
Rachel Fairburn, co-host and co-writer of the worldwide smash hit podcast All Killa No Filla.
Tez Ilyas, star of The Tez O’Clock Show, TEZ Talks and the multi-award-winning Man Like Mobeen.
Hosted by Brendan Riley.
Venue: Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR
Doors: 7.30 pm, Show Starts 8.00 pm
Price £18.50
Age Restriction: 18+
For Tickets: Tickets can be purchased from Storyhouse on 01244 409 113 or www.storyhouse.com
Friday 16th July
Friday Night Comedy
The very best comedians from the UK and beyond right in the heart of Chester every Friday.
Kick off your weekend with some guaranteed big laughs at Alexander’s Live.
Venue: Alexander’s Live, Rufus Court, Chester CH1 2JW
Door: 7.00 pm, Show Starts 8.00 pm
Price: £12, £10 NUS, NHS
For Tickets: www.alexanderslive.com
Age Restriction: 18+
Saturday 17th July
Chester Comedy Festival Family Fun Event at Grosvenor Shopping Centre
Bring your own chair or cushion and join us for an afternoon of family fun at Grosvenor Shopping Centre with two of the UK’s finest children’s entertainers – John Harding and Wacky Woody.
Expect balloon workshops, silly magic and lots of audience participation.
And while you’re here, why not treat yourselves before or after the show at any of the Grosvenor Centre’s many food and drink outlets.
Venue: Grosvenor Shopping Centre, Eastgate Street, Chester CH1 1EA
Arrive: 12.30pm Times: 1.00pm – 3.00pm
Price: FREE
Advance bookings Only – limited places available
Please contact us via the website to book
Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times
Sunday 18th July
Best of the Fest Featuring Ed Byrne and Hal Cruttenden
Ahead of their forthcoming national tours, multi award winning comedians and stars of TV and radio Ed Byrne and Hal Cruttenden come together for one fantastic night of comedy.
Ed Byrne
As seen on Mock The Week, Live at The Apollo, The Pilgrimage, Top Gear, QI
“He’ll make you laugh, he’ll make you smile, he’ll make you want to fall in love with him” – The Stage
Hal Cruttenden
One of the top stand-up comedians working in the UK today.
As seen on Royal Variety Performance, Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News for You, The Apprentice: You’re Fired, Bake Off: Extra Slice.
Venue: Chester Racecourse, Final Furlong Marquee, Watergate Square, Chester,
CH1 2LY
Doors: 7.00pm, Show Starts 8.00pm
Price: £18.50
Age Restriction: 16+ PG
Monday 19th July
Comedy Crawl
Chester has loads of brilliant pubs but how many have you been to?
Get your walking boots on and join us on a truly unique “Mirthical Mystery” walking tour featuring five top class comedians in four different venues. Your shoes should be the only sensible thing to bring along on this night of beer and belly laughs!
The first of our comedy crawls will start at The Church on Newgate Street but who knows where we will finish
Venue: The Church, Bar & Restaurant, Newgate Street,Chester,CH1 1DE
Meet: 7.00pm, Show: 7.30pm
Price: £5
Age Restriction: 18+
Tuesday 20th July
Comedy in the Cloisters
This show brings two of TV’s finest comedians to one of Chester’s most iconic landmarks.
Tom Binns aka Ivan Brackenbury
Creator and star of BBC One’s Hospital People and 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, multi award-winning comedian, Tom Binns will appear as his alter ego Hospital DJ Ivan Brackenbury.
“Binns has his character absolutely nailed, and mines the comic seam ruthlessly to create top-quality entertainment with practically universal appeal” – The Guardian
Steve Royle Britain’s Got Talent finalist 2020 and star of Phoenix Nights, Max and Paddy and BBC Radio Lancashire
“One of the funniest performances I’ve seen. I was totally wowed” David Walliams
“A brilliant comedian” Peter Kay
Hosted by Brendan Riley. “A great compère” – The Guardian
Venue: The Refectory Café , Chester Cathedral ,St Werburgh Street ,Chester CH1 2DY
Doors: 7.00 pm, Show Starts 8.00 pm
Price £12.00
Age Restriction: 16+ PG
Wednesday 21st July
Chester Comedy Festival Special at Izakaya Lounge
Come and enjoy a delicious sharing platter followed by a comedy show featuring three of the finest comedians from the international comedy circuit at Chester’s newest Pan Asian restaurant Izakaya Lounge.
Featuring Scouse raconteur Jamie Sutherland, “Funny gags, which you cannot beat”-BBC Leicester Comedy Festival. Joining Jamie is award Winning Comedian Nina Gilligan. Described as a bolshier Mrs Merton she’s not one to suffer fools lightly so watch out for a razor-sharp wit used at will.
“A naturally funny comedian with a charming and genuinely likeable style” – John Thomson
Hosted by Brendan Riley
Venue: Izakaya Lounge, Unit R1 Pepper Street, Chester CH1 1DF
Doors: Door: 6.00pm, Food: 6.30pm, Show: 8.00pm
Price £29.00 Includes a sharing platter
Age Restriction: 18 +
Tickets can be purchased from Izakaya on 01244 322216 or www.izakayalounge.co.uk (no booking fee), for enquiries email bookings@iazkayalounge.co.uk
Thursday 22nd July
Rich Hall Live
Multi award-winning comedy legend and star of TV and radio Rich Hall closes this year’s Chester Comedy Festival.
Montana native Rich Hall, is renowned for his expertly crafted tirades, quick-fire banter with audiences and delightful musical sequences. Rich has been described as a transatlantic messenger, lampooning each country he visits with his laser-guided observations.
Rich has appeared on BBC One’s QI, Live At The Apollo and Have I Got News For You, he wrote and starred in his own reoccurring BBC Radio 4 show Rich Hall’s (US Election) Breakdown.
‘As close as it gets to a guaranteed good show’ – Scotland on Sunday
‘Blissfully Funny’ – The Guardian
Venue: Chester Racecourse, Final Furlong Marquee, Watergate Square, Chester,
CH1 2LY
Door: 7:00pm, Show Starts 8:00pm
Price £16.00
Age Restriction: 16+ PG
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