"After eighteen years, hundreds of shows and countless laughs, the Scottish Comedy Agency is announcing that it does not plan to organise any future editions of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to the vast majority of shows in GICF 2020 being cancelled or rescheduled, and the festival was not able to go ahead in 2021. The final rescheduled shows from 2020 are now due to take place in March 2022.
After careful consideration, and in light of the fact that the festival has been effectively paused for two years, the SCA has decided to concentrate on other opportunities, including live tours, rather than reviving GICF in the future.
Sarah Watson, Director said "I know that lots of people will be disappointed to hear this news, it's not a decision we've taken lightly. Live comedy is facing serious challenges and we need to explore fresh ideas and new ways of working. We're so proud of everything we've achieved with GICF and believe that this refocus of our energy and resources will allow us to find new ways to do the things that made the festival valuable in the first place - developing and promoting Scottish talent, bringing comedy to different communities and locations, and showcasing some of the best performers working today."
The idea for a comedy festival in Glasgow first emerged in 2002 when the organisers of the city’s Stand Comedy Club approached the city council with a proposal. The club, started two years earlier, had exceeded everyone’s expectations and was now open seven nights a week with a loyal and growing local audience base. This, combined with an excellent collection of venues and a worldwide reputation for being a city with a great sense of humour, made Glasgow an obvious place to have a comedy festival.
There are still some upcoming 2022 gigs advertised on their website such as Fern Brady (King's Theatre, March 17) and Larry Dean, who is playing the King's Theatre on March 13. Book here.
