The line-up for the Bath Comedy Festival 2018 has been announced. The festival celebrates its 10 year anniversary with acts including Jon Richardson, Viv Groskop, Rachel Parris, Zoe Lyons, Simon Evans, Helen Lederer and famous grumpy old man Arthur Smith.
The festival runs for a 20 days from March 27th - April 15th with events across a range of iconic venues in the city.
Highlights include:
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Opening Event at Bath’s largest event venue - The Forum with British Comedy Award nominee and 8 Out of 10 Cats star Jon Richardson
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Vivalicious- A brand new show from Viv Groskop, star of BBC1's 'This Week' and BBC Radio 4's 'It's Just a Joke, Comrade'
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Mother’s Ruin - A Cabaret about Gin - flagship 5* cabaret show on for 6 nights
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Immersive experiences with Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience and The Wine Arts Trail- TWAT- hosted by Absolutely Fabulous actress Helen Lederer
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Acclaimed 2017 Edinburgh Fringe solo stand-up show Sarah Bennetto presents ‘All My Life’s Mistakes, Catalogued (Volume 1)’
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Affordable Festival centred on Bath Brew House and St James Wine Vaults with many “pay what you feel” events.
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Ring O Bells and Widcombe Social Club host plethora of professional shows from the likes of Simon Evans, Rachel Parris, Arthur Smith, Colin Hoult and Diane Spencer
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Rondo Theatre to boast a full programme featuring luminaries such as Elf Lyons, David Mills, Tom Stade and John Otway
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Closing Comedy Gala hosted by Bath’s brand new Apex Hotel with ‘grumpy old man’ Arthur Smith, ‘The Fast Show’s’ Simon Day and Zoe Lyons
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10th Bath Comedy Festival is supported by Principal Sponsor Lovehoney supporting new talent with the Lovehoney Newcomer Award
Festival Director Nick Steel says "This year sees Bath Comedy Festival enter its tenth year, and we have an amazing line-up to celebrate. For our opening night we are back at Bath's fabulous art deco Forum venue, this time with Jon Richardson giving us his first Bath gig in many years - I booked his last Bath outing a long time ago at the old Widcombe Social Cluband I am over the moon to welcome him back for our 10th year!"
Brimming with new talent the city has seen the BCF New Act Competition become so popular that the heats have been extended to a total of twelve, to be held in the beautiful creative space of the Igloo (underneath the Abbey Hotel); The Westgate Pub and The Bath Brew House. Previous winners have gone on to great things and the final will see another line-up of brand new stars in the making. The Winner will make off with the first ever Lovehoney Newcomer Award, akin to Edinburgh’s famous “Perrier”.
The Affordable Pay What You Feel Festival returns to Bath Brew House with a plethora of free entry shows playing host to Friday and Saturday evening events organised by Mirth Control, featuring headliners Jonny & The Baptists, Jarred Christmas and Arthur Smith. Widcombe remains the spiritual home of the Festival, with the programme at Widcombe Social Club boasting some special shows such as celebrated impressionist Julian Dutton with his show about the Life & Times of John Le Mesurier, Simon Evans and Arthur Smith.The Ring O Bells programme showcases Edinburgh style professional solo shows from the likes of Ashley Storrie, Janey Godley, Colin Hoult, Diane Spencer, Matt Green and Joey Page as well as Sam Fraser – the first BBC Weather presenter to turn to stand-up.
The festival is also the first ‘F’ (female) rated United Kingdom comedy festival - continuing to fight against the traditional perception that comedy is male-dominated by championing female acts every day.
Arthur Smith will also perform at the Festival’s glittering Closing Gala Show at the brand new Apex Hotel Conference Suite – one of the best new venue’s Bath has seen in many years. Audiences will be able to enjoy characters by The Fast Show’s Simon Day, a visit from Donald Trump aka ace TV and Radio impressionist Lewis MacLeod and headliner Zoe Lyons. The inaugural Lovehoney Award will be presented on the night to reward the most innuendo-laden joke writer of the Festival.
More information here: www.bathcomedy.com
