Now in its sixteenth year, the Nottingham Comedy Festival is back to alleviate any seasonal in November, with comedy talents from across the country scheduled for a visit to our city. We spoke to Festival Director Helen Stead and some of the comedians involved about what to expect from the multitude of lined-up performances.
Helen Stead - Comedy Festival Director
Was there a defining moment in your life that decided your fate was to become a comedy festival director?
After I left university I got involved in the local improv comedy scene. I realised how much talent there was in Nottingham but no one was celebrating it. Being recent graduates, myself and a friend decided to do it ourselves and our first festival took place in 2009. Fifteen years later we are now celebrating our sixteenth festival.
What do you think about the comedy scene in Nottingham?
The scene in Nottingham is fantastic, it has grown a lot in the past few years. We now have a wide variety of comedy nights and many great local comedians. There is something for everyone in Nottingham, most nights of the week you'll be able to find some sort of comedy going on.
Sum the festival in one sentence...
137 shows in eighteen venues over ten days featuring a wide variety of comedy, something for every taste.
If you could recommend one act at the festival who would it be?
My recommendation is to go see your favourites and take a gamble on acts you don't know.
Harry Ford
Venue: The Embankment
Date: Sunday 10 November
Was there a defining life moment that decided your fate was to become a comedian?
In 2019, a fortune teller told me, “I see lots of people laughing at you in your future.” There and then, I decided I was going to be a comedian. Later that day, I fell over while running for a bus and realised she had been trying to warn me.
What do you think about the comedy scene in Nottingham?
There’s something about the Midlands that brings out the best in comedians and audiences. Loads of the best new acts have come from Nottingham (on an unrelated note, I was born in Queen’s Medical Centre).
Sum up your show in one sentence…
A prematurely middle-aged twenty-something knitwear enthusiast travels to Brazil to meet a Tinder match in person, and hijinks ensue.
If you could recommend one act at the festival, which would it be?
Harrie Dyer is one of the most naturally funny people I have ever met and she once gave me poptarts as a pre-gig snack, so I will always recommend seeing her.
The Mayor (from 'The Mayor and His Daughter')
Venue: Fishergate Point Studios
Date: Sunday 10 November | 2pm
Was there a defining life moment that decided your fate was to become a comedian?
My daughter and I first heard about comedy three weeks ago. We were digging with our hands in the woods when we came upon a nest of DVDs containing an anthology of ur-clowns - most notably Russell Howard. We then realised that sketch comedy was the answer to our prayers!
What do you think about the comedy scene in Nottingham?
Nottingham is the pond from which slipped many of our favourite comedy influences, most notably John Bird of satirical liars Bremner, Bird and Bremner, but also Su Pollard, Joe Dempsie, and former Barnardo's director Mary Johnson.
Sum up your show in one sentence…
I am the Mayor and this is my Daughter; we have come a long way and we don’t want to upset anyone.
If you could recommend one act at the festival, which would it be?
The whole Wormhole Weekend will be spectacular, but if I were to mark out an exclusion zone of excellence, I would ensure it contained the whereabouts of The Glang Show.
Ava Liversidge
Venue: Fishergate Point
Date: Sunday 10 November
Was there a defining life moment that decided your fate was to become a comedian?
I made a bus driver laugh so hard he crashed the bus. A promoter that happened to be a passenger offered me a paid headline gig on the spot. Never looked back.
What do you think about the comedy scene in Nottingham?
I feel like the scene benefits well from the extensive and well integrated colour coded public transport system that makes it easy to travel within the city and surrounding areas.
Sum up your show in one sentence…
A friend will be provided upon entry, that friend is Ava Liversidge
If you could recommend one act at the festival, which would it be?
Katie Mitchell is an act who is always doing really interesting things. I highly recommend her show, Spine Hygiene on the 9 November.
The Nottingham Comedy Festival takes place between 1 and 10 November.
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