Preview: South Tyneside Comedy Festival at South Shields Customs House

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SARAH MILLICAN TO PLAY THE SOUTH TYNESIDE COMEDY FESTIVAL

South Tyneside Comedy Festival

South Shields Customs House

Friday 29^th July – Sunday 7^th August 2016

The organizers of the South Tyneside Comedy Festival have announced that Sarah Millican will be part of the incredible festival line up this year.

Paul Sinha

She will be joining the tv names already confirmed: Chris Ramsey, Jason Cook, Justin Moorhouse, Gary Delaney, Paul Sinha, Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Joel Dommett.

Sarah Millican

Sarah's show will be a fundraiser for her hugely successful Standard Issue magazine.  The sharp and witty online women’s magazine hosts a killer line-up of funny women talking about comedy, women, feminism and other topics as yet undecided. Join Sarah Millican, comedian Dotty Winters and Standard Issue editor, Mickey Noonan, and another brilliant woman who’ll be added to the bill soon for what’s bound to be an excellent  afternoon of chat.  

Sarah said "I couldn't possibly not pop in at the very first South Tyneside Comedy festival! Thrilled to be involved. Congrats to Jason and hooray to be spending more time at the glorious Customs House."

Jason Cook and Ray Spencer

Festival Director Jason Cook said “We’re so grateful to Sarah for supporting us in our first year, she’s topped off what has turned out to be an incredible festival lineup. And, in line with our other shows, she’s doing it at a rock bottom ticket price so we can make great comedy affordable for the people of Tyneside."

Ray Spencer, Executive Director of the Customs House said “Always a joy to have our Sarah pop in.  Not only is she a massive star but also a proper Sandancer My guilty pleasure is Standard Issue so I am delighted that Sarah is bringing this live edition to the House. The festival just gets bigger and better by the day!’

Chris Ramsey and Jason Cook

As if that's not enough, Chris Ramsey and Jason Cook have announced a second performance of their highly popular "Mucking About" shows. The first on July 29^th sold out in just 2 days so another, the final show of the festival will bring the programme to a close.

An entirely improvised show based on suggestions and questions from the audience, Cook and Ramsey have used these shows in past years to develop new material for tours and tv scripts.

Cook said "the first one flew out of the door so it seems daft not to do a second. The beauty of it is that no two shows are the same so people who have tickets for the first one will see a totally different show at the second on!"

Chris Ramsey said “I love doing these shows, it’s total free for all comedy and we’re thinking on our feet. The audiences seem more electric at these gigs, because they can see the comedy forming right in front of them."

Filling out the bumper crop of shows added to the festival line up is a long awaited return from Adam Rowe, Liverpool Comedian of the Year, bringing his new solo show to the festival on it’s way up to the Edinburgh Fringe where he is tipped for great things this year.

Adam said: "I absolutely can't wait to get back to South Shields. It reminds me of certain areas of Liverpool; just proper working class people who are up for a laugh. The response from the audience last time, both on the night and on social media was really great so I'm hoping enough of them remember me & make it down to see me do a full hour. Don't tell anyone else, but this is the Edinburgh Preview I'm looking forward to more than any other."

Jason Cook said “Adam is the most requested act for me to have back at the comedy club after he ripped the roof off on our opening night. His new show is an absolute belter so people need to come down and check him out before he gets too big for us to book."

The South Tyneside Comedy Festival will run in 3 spaces at The Customs House in South Shields from July 29 - August 7 with almost all shows being 10 pounds or under.

On The Web:

Details can be found here: www.southtynesidecomedyfestival.co.ukand http://www.customshouse.co.uk/