Magners Glasgow Comedy Festival, March 2009
The Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival was established in 2003 and is now in its seventh year. The festival is organised by the Scottish Comedy Agency, a sister company of Salt’n'Sauce Promotions Ltd, which owns and operates the successful Stand Comedy Clubs in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival is also supported by Magners Irish Cider, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, Glasgow City Council, EventScotland and Homecoming Scotland 2009.
The line-up for the 7th annual Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival was unveiled by Scottish comedian Rhona Cameron, revealing an impressive list of performers for Europe’s biggest Comedy Festival.
There may be trouble ahead, but providing the perfect antidote to economic pessimism, the 2009 Festival will have you rolling in the aisles as major comedy names such as Jimmy Carr, Rob Brydon, Ross Noble, Clive James, Ardal O’Hanlon and Paul Merton head an international cast, all ready and able to tickle the ribs of Scotland’s cultural capital and cast a little light amidst the doom and gloom.
Already a major part of Glasgow’s thriving entertainment scene, the Comedy Festival has seen significant growth each year – attracting comedy lovers from all over the world.
This year 104,000 tickets will be available for 370 shows spread across 51 venues over 18 days.
This year’s Festival is also proud to be part of Homecoming Scotland 2009, celebrating the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth by welcoming back some of Scotland’s finest comedy talent, including Arnold Brown and Jerry Sadowitz, as well as showcasing a handpicked cast of New York stand ups, all with Scottish family ties.
Scottish Comedy Agency Director Tommy Sheppard says ‘For many people these are difficult times and it will get worse before it gets better. More than ever people need cheering up – and that’s exactly what we’ll do.’
Jules Macken, GB Brand Manager for Magners said: ‘Comedy is the perfect fit for Magners – and plays an important role in the development of our brand. Magners’ support for the Comedy Festival over the past two years has helped to increase audiences and visitors to the city – and this year we hope that we can build on this success. This year we will be extending our promotional support across TV and outdoor advertising alongside strong support for the licensed trade in Glasgow.’
Bailie Gordon Matheson of Glasgow City Council, said: ‘The Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival is now the largest comedy festival in Europe, entertaining thousands of locals and visitors each year. Once again, the festival team has organised a fantastic programme offering an impressive mix of home-grown and international talent. The festival, which is now a firm favourite in the city’s annual events calendar, also reinforces Glasgow’s growing reputation as one of the top live entertainment centres in Britain.’
Paul Bush, OBE, Chief Operating Officer at EventScotland, the national events agency, said: ‘Glasgow’s International Comedy Festival has grown phenomenally over the past seven years to become one of the most well attended and highly acclaimed comedy festivals in the UK. This year the event forms an exciting part of our Homecoming programme and as such will be welcoming performers and audiences from around the world with an affinity for Scotland. I have no doubt that the event will be bigger and better than ever.’
FESTIVAL HEADLINERS
The Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival has built its reputation on attracting the biggest names in comedy to the City and 2009 sees that reputation being more than fulfilled. With a roster of talent picked from the UK and from around the world the line-up is truly world class.
Public demand for tickets means Jimmy Carr has had to extend his Comedy Festival run to a record breaking four nights at the City’s Clyde Auditorium. Character comedian Rob Brydon, who has starred in virtually every good sitcom this decade brings his stand up to the City. Another TV staple Paul Merton & His Impro Chums will be taking the audience’s flights of fancy and seeing which way they go, while the relatively TV-shy Ross Noble is considered among the doyen of comedians and his surreal off-the-cuff lunacy is sure to be a hit.
Leading the international brigade is Clive James. Since arriving in the UK from his hometown of Melbourne, Clive has been our favourite cultural commentator, mixing the erudite with the absurd to become the king of the chat shows. In striking contrast, fellow Aussies Brendon Burns and Jim Jeffries eschew the urbane for the profane. The Irish must have an assembly line producing top quality comics and the Emerald Isle is lending us the likes of Ed Byrne, David O’Doherty, Andrew Maxwell and Frank Carson for the Festival. Add in the likes of the US’s Reginald D Hunter, Canada’s Tony Law and Holland’s Hans Teeuwen and we have a hugely cosmopolitan mix of comedy.
Naturally enough, a major comedy festival in Scotland’s most exciting city would be incomplete without a veritable raft of the most exciting home based Scottish talent around. So look out for such popular local heroes as Tam Cowan, Janey Godley, Scott Agnew, Des McLean, Kevin Bridges and Bob Doolally.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, mix in an orchestra’s worth of the very best UK stand ups in the shape of Sarah Millican, John Hegley, Dave Spikey, Mark Steel and Richard Herring, amongst many others and you’re looking at a line-up that’s hard to beat.
ACROSS THE CITY
With 51 venues stretching from Easterhouse to Shawlands, via the Trongate to the Clyde, the 2009 Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival guarantees that the whole city will be laughing this March.
From massive shows at the 3,000 seater Clyde Auditorium or in Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall, to the hottest names on the circuit making it standing room only at intimate, atmospheric gigs in Brel, Blackfriars and Universal, there’s bound to be a great event happening right on your doorstep.
And the big names aren’t afraid to get in amongst it, either. Post-show, they’re likely to pop by the late night festival clubs in the West End or the Merchant City to make guest appearances, try out new material and get back to their roots.
The city’s only full-time comedy venue The Stand Comedy Club will be packed with the cream of the UK comedy circuit and the hugely popular Glasgow Stands Up: On Your Doorstep tour is also back for 2009. The hottest names in Scottish comedy will be in your neighbourhood for one night only. Community centres around the City will turn into an authentic comedy clubs with great line-ups. for the night as they host Bruce Morton, Susan Morrison and Rab Brown. At only £3 a ticket, this is a great night out that won’t break the bank and shows the festival’s real commitment towards being an event for the whole city, enjoyable for and accessible to everyone.
ONE STOP COMEDY SHOP: FOR EVERYONE
As ever, this year’s Festival covers all the bases – and even goes on the move! There’ll be sketch shows, character comedians, impro’, music, theatre, poetry, shows for the kids, debates, history, magic, cinema, radio and even comedy speed dating!
There’ll also be solo shows, multiple line-ups, lunchtime specials, matinees, late night line-ups, budget shows, free (!) shows, youngsters, old hands comedic representatives from every English speaking nation. Have a go yourself with workshops or sit in as the audience at shows recorded for radio.
Comedy doesn’t even have to be indoors, so why not join the throngs on the ever-popular comedy crawls around the Southside and West End or hop on board a comedy coach tour. Whether you’re a visitor or a born and bred Weegie these are unique ways to see the colourful history of the Dear Green Place.
Tickets are on sale now and shows always sell out fast so book now on 0870 013 5464 or visit http://www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com/
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