The Great Yorkshire Fringe is set to return to York this July following last year's debut festival.
This year's event has been extended by an extra week, running from July 15 - August 1. There will be 18 days of comedy, theatre and family entertainment, centred on Parliament Street.
The full Great Yorkshire Fringe programme is announced today. It features 150 shows or events - up from 63 last year - 300 performances in total and over 600 performers taking part. The Arts Barge Riverside Festival at Tower Gardens on 27 - 31 July will also be part of the Free Fringe.
Comedians already confirmed include Henning Wehn, Tony Law and Simon Munnery. Richard Herring will pick his favourite routines from his 12 previous shows and cram them into 60 minutes. He also brings his award-winning podcast to York. Star of The Chase on ITV1, Paul Sinha returns to stand up comedy after a 4-year break with Postcards From The Z-List. Other big hitters include Jerry Sadowitz, Glenn Wool, Tom Stade and Sammy J and Randy.
Festival founder and York resident, Martin Witts said: “The Great Yorkshire Fringe in 2016 is going to be an even bigger non-stop cavalcade of laughs. Comedy is going to take over the city centre and the sound of infectious laughter will be everywhere! We are also creating The Great Northern Comedy Trail, which will celebrate the lives and work of many of our greatest laughter heroes and venues.”
Further theatrical highlights include classic radio comedy from Round The Horne: The 50th Anniversary Tour and Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, the first improvised comedy group to win an Oliver Award who have just finished a three-month West End season at the Apollo Theatre. There is also Sh*t-faced Shakespeare®, the hilarious combination of an entirely serious Shakespeare play with an entirely drunk cast member.
“We’re also thrilled that the Great Yorkshire Fringe will be the first place you can see new material from many established acts,” said Witts. “It will be the place where acts give birth to new shows before moving on to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and beyond. Whatever your taste in comedy or entertainment we promise to have something for you!”
The full programme can be viewed here.
