Southport Comedy Week’s game for a lot of laughs

Oct 15 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

Brendan Riley _320

SOUTHPORT Comedy Week is upon us once more, with a festival of gigs and special events coming from the resort.

Big names such as Justin Moorhouse and Jimmy Carr lead the charge, alongside up-and- coming talent, family fun, the usual comedy pub crawl and more.

It all starts rolling next Thursday, with Phoenix Nights star Justin Moorhouse, who takes to the Southport Arts Centre stage with his new show, Ever Decreasing Social Circle.

The following evening, John Bishop appears at the same venue with his highly acclaimed show with a jovial look at Liverpool's Capital of Culture status in his Edinburgh show, Cultural Ambassador.

Highlights of the festival fringe include The Reduced Shakespeare Company, who bring The Bible: The complete word of God (abridged) to the Arts Centre on October 25, Laurence Clarke's 12% Evil on October 26, and Jimmy Carr with his show, Joke Technician, at Southport Theatre on October 27.

The first-ever Comedy Week pub quiz takes place at the Wellington, on Eastbank Street, on October 29, preceded by the annual Drink Up Stand Up – four pubs, four comedians, and a compere guiding hundreds of people around Southport with a loud megaphone – starting at the Falstaff pub on October 27.

For children, Professor Bumm's Story machine will get the over-sevens giggling at the Arts Centre on November 1, and, the following day, the Comedy Week comes to an end with the usual Best of the North West show featuring Simon Bligh, Phil Walker, Alex Boardman and Steve Gribbin, and hosted by compere and Formby's finest, Brendan Riley, at the Arts Centre.

Crosby comic Silky revives his Capital of Comedy night at the Arts Centre on October 30 alongside the ever-popular Keith Carter as Nige.

FOR more information about all the acts appearing, the venues involved and how to buy tickets, go to www.visitsouthport.com/comedy

vickyanderson@dailypost.co.uk