Comedy in Leicester 2012

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From the comedy festival, to Just The Tonic and the Crumblin' Cookie, Leicester offers a wide choice for lovers of funny. In this section we will bring you the dates, the news, the reviews and the comedians.

4th May

Isy Suttie's tour show at the Y - 25th May

Starring in her show Pearl and Dave at the Y Theatre on 25th May, Isy Suttie talks to us about her show and career as a Comedian.

ArtsIn: Hi Isy. I know you have a show coming up soon, so can you tell us something about yourself? When did you start doing live performances?

I grew up in Matlock and that was a really creative area. I always wanted to write stuff, act and do music but I didn't necessarily think I'd go into stand up. I played the guitar and wrote songs from the age of about 11. I started off writing awful songs about boys. They weren't supposed to be funny but sometimes people laughed. My first live performance was probably in the nativity play but then I was in lots of youth theatre and amateur stuff when I was growing up. I was very shy so I was often in the back row!

Artsin: Can you remember your first gig? How did it go?

Yes. It was in Greenwich in South London at the end of 2002. I was so nervous I had a couple of tequilas. There were only about six people in the audience. Even though it only went ok, I was addicted.

ArtsIn: Tell us about the show you are doing at the Y Theatre. How did the show come about?

The show is a love story about a couple called Pearl and Dave who've met in Butlins when they were young, then he contacts her on Facebook and I tell the story of their internet romance, interspersed with bits of my own love life. Bits of it are sung and it's funny and sad. On a good night! The show came about because I had had a few years off Edinburgh Festival because of filming Peep Show and I just got excited about creating a show again. Sometimes it's nice to have a bit of time off and see things clearly as to what you want to be doing onstage.

Artsin: Is this the first time you have done this show?

No, I've done it for a month in Edinburgh, a handful of times since then and on Radio 4. I'm excited about touring it though, especially as I'll get to see lots of new places and Leicester's not too far from Matlock so I'm hoping I can get some proper Derbyshire Oatcakes - unless you have Leicestershire ones?

Details of Isy's show are on our events listing page

The Y and Bottle Rocket Comedy Club

The Y and Bottle Rocket Comedy Club, have joined forces to create a series of regular comedy nights in 2012, bringing some of the best nights yet for Comedy in Leicester and promising to provide a whole pint of laughter for everyone who comes through the doors!

Bottle Rocket was the winner of 2012 'Best Promoter Award' as voted for by Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival and in the last few years has featured acts that have gone on to become household names such as: Jason Manford, Sarah Millican, John Bishop, Micky Flanagan, Michael McIntyre, Russell Howard, Jack Whitehall, Greg Davies, Reg Hunter, Russell Kane and more.

We are excited to announce that Terry Alderton is our surprise special guest for our launch night on 14th April! As Seen on BBC3's Edinburgh Gala, Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, Dave's One Night Stand and Comedy Central. Winner of The ThreeWeeks Critics Award and Best International Comedian by the New Zealand Comedy Guild. Terry Alderton is back at The Y after his sell out comedy festival show; he's a unique and unforgettable comedy performer whose popularity grows day by day.

So you can be sure that these regular comedy nights will give the comedy lovers of Leicestershire and beyond the chance to see the best acts on the comedy circuit as the regular nights will bring talent from all over Britain and the globe. Starting on Saturday 14th April 2012 we will see the excitable Terry Alderton headlining the night, followed on 28th April by Jarred Christmas. The fabulous Isy Suttie joins us on 25th May with her touring show Pearl & Dave, 16th June sees the enigmatic Phil Nichols headline the night, 30th June will be the brilliant Rob Rouse and the Edinburgh Preview Nights on 14th and 26th July welcome Hal Cruttenden, Lucy Proter Charlie Bakerand Andi Osho!

Bottle Rocket web site

24th April

The Joker Returns - Jonny Lever in Laugh till you Fart

By Harjinder Ohbi

From selling pens on the streets of Mumbai and mimicking Bollywood stars to becoming an Internationally renowned Bollywood actor is no mean feat. Johny Lever has another card up his sleeve.

His acting career is measured by the joy he brings to his audiences with his comedy on the silver screen or treading the boards across the world and has appeared in over 350 films in several Asian languages.

It was while working at his father's Levers factory that was perhaps a turning point for this budding artist who would imitate the likes of the legendary Elvis Presley during the daily breaks and such was the laughter that resonated through the factory that he earned his now infamous surname, Lever, from his working colleagues and that name has stuck.

"As luck would have it, Johny was to join the hugely successful music composers/producers of their time in Bollywood history, brothers Kalyanji-Anandji group and their touring company.

"Sadly, Kalyanji passed away in 2000.He was a great inspiration and had a fantastic sense of humour. I toured with their company before being recognised for my talent by the late actor Sunil Dutt, who was to offer me my first break in the Bollywood film industry aged 17 in a film called 'Dard Ka Rista", Johny said.

He went onto release an album mimicking various Bollywood stars of the day whilst creating famous characters like Chela Ramani and also featured sketches like Sky Lab , Madrassi Anna Criket, Pathan in the bus and Hijra Kabbadi.

The album was a best seller. but he adds "whilst my first break in the Bollywood industry was with Dard Ka Rista, it was Baazigar, which really lifted my career and I haven't looked back since, having anchored my own show on Zee TV called Johny Aala Re in 2007 in the process", Jonny said.

"Playing comic roles or just acting is very tough out there and you have to think and observe all the time", he said. He was influenced by the likes of the legendary Indian comics Johnny Walker, Kishore Kumar and Mehmood.

"I was taken under the wings of two fantastic mimicry artists Pratap Jani and Ram Kumar who helped me develop my mimicry skills" said Johny. So what are your best film roles to date? I asked.

"Definitly Baazigar, Aamdani Athanni Kharcha Rupatya, Golmaal3 and Houseful2. I am soon to release a Mithun Chakrobarty home production called Enemy, where I play a serious role and comedy also£ said the born again Christian.

He last appeared at the De Montfort Hall, seven years ago, earning a rapturous applause. Laugh till you fart has been described as 'one super-duper evening of pure comedy' but, says Johny, "it is stand up comedy and you are in for a surprise. I will be joined by Gaurav Sharma and D. Mahesh."

Johny Lever appears at the De Montfort Hall during the May Bank holiday Weekend on Sunday 6th and Monday 7th May.

For tickets and further information contact Mr B on 07860280655 or the Box Office 01162333111(De Montfort Hall).

New comedy club Just The Tonic's gigs for March, April and May

Read our review of the launch night.

just the tonic comedy club logo

Just the Tonic: 30 Granby St, Leicester, LE1 1DE. Box Office and info: 0116 2625050 Doors 6.45 pm Show 8 pm. Just The Tonic web site.

The new club promises a glittering line-up of stars. Get the dates of forthcoming gigs.

Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival 2012

It was a massive two weeks. One of the UK's (if not Europe's) leading comedy festivals takes place in our city, every year. That puts Leicester on the map. It also gives local people a great chance to enjoy first class entertainment - in their own backyard.

Not forgetting that people come to Leicester from all over the UK (and beyond) to either enjoy the shows and indeed to take part in them. Boffins at DeMonfort University calculated that over two million pounds is added to our local economy because of this one festival.

artsIn went to a few of the shows, mainly the up and coming new acts at the smaller venues. Our reporters came back with their glowing reviews and we all agreed that we had a really good time.

You can read our review of the shows we went to on our Comedy Reviews page.

Dave's Comedy Festival had a lot of highlights; here are just a few:

Exclusive performances by Russell Howard and Rhod Gilbert.

The the brilliant Cofilmic Tour at the Phoenix (an innovation bringing comedy to the screen.)

The opening of Dave's Curry House (featuring special headline guest Mark Little!.)

Comedy Heaven - The line up for the charity gala finale show hosted by Arthur Smith and featuring New Art Club, Vikki Stone, Chris Stokes, Jonathon Mayor, Mrs Barbara Nice, Ben Hustwayte and some very special guests. It was on Sunday 19th February at Curve.

The Silver Standup competition that brought in the funny over-55s which included Julie Kertesz who started a career in comedy at the age of 77.

Folk got excited about the unexpected arrival of Russell Howard and Sarah Millican at the festival (they both performed surprise performances in tiny venues.)

Nationally acclaimed cartoonist Woody (whose work has appeared in Punch, Private Eye, The Sunday Express and The Independent) captured some of Leicester's flagship buildings and added some quirky twists to give them a flavour of famous past masters, shown at the LCB Depot.

Paul Sinha in Looking at the Star. Paul recently became one of the stars of ITV's quick fire quiz The Chase. A while ago he became an Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee. A long time ago he became a doctor. He remains gay, Asian, an all-round good egg and one of the most critically celebrated comedians of recent years. He appeared at the Firebug on Saturday 11th February in two shows

After over 410 shows in around 50 venues, many of which sold out, packed houses and lots of happy, laughing faces, we can safely say: it was all a great success.

Stay in touch on Comedy festival Leicester.

Other pages you might like:

Spoken word

Dates for all kinds of shows, gigs, concerts and entertainment events