10th Southport Comedy Festival opens this Friday with 16 top shows

30th September 2021
Reginald D Hunter and Jo Caulfield

Top comedians from around the world will bring the laughter back when the 2021 Southport Comedy Festival starts this Friday (1st October)!

The 10th anniversary event twice had to be postponed last year due to the Covid pandemic.

Now the Festival is back with what organisers claim is “the strongest line up yet”, with acclaimed international stars including Reginald D Hunter (USA), Rich Hall (USA), Tom Stade (Canada) and Ed Byrne (Ireland), joining recognised home-grown talents including: Russell Kane, Jo Caulfield, Ed Byrne, Mark Thomas, Paul Sinha, Tez Ilyas, Luisa Omielan, Hal Cruttenden, Geoff Norcott, Steve Royle, Helen Bauer, Troy Hawke, Katie Tracey and David Eagle!

Between them they have a string of TV credits to their name, such as Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, The Last Leg and more.

This year’s event, which is sponsored by Anthony James Estate Agents and is supported by a number of local businesses, has a real festival feel to it.

It sees 16 shows taking place at Victoria Park in Southport, home of Southport Flower Show, over 17 days from this Friday (1st October) until Sunday, 17th October, in a large, luxury, heated marquee, courtesy of Elite Marquees.

Guests will be able to arrive early and enjoy drinks at the event, while delicious food will be on offer courtesy of local mobile food business The Rollin’ Stove.

Doors open from 6pm for an 8pm start for all shows except Steve Royle’s, allowing people to leave work and enjoy something to eat and drink with friends before the shows start.

Anthony James Estate Agents is hosting a very special Disco Bingo night which is free for all NHS and care home staff; festival-goers can enjoy a Southport New Comedian of the Year contest; a Disco Bingo night will raise money for Southport Flower Show and Victoria Park; and Britain’s Got Talent finalist Steve Royle will host a Royle Variety Performance which is suitable for all the family.

Southport Comedy Festival Director Brendan Riley said: “From 1st -17th October, stars from the world of comedy will descend on our lovely seaside town for 17 days of laughter! And alongside our festival favourites, we also have some brand-new TV names.

“This is the strongest Comedy Festival line-up we have had, we are really looking forward to it.

“We would love people to buy tickets, come down, have a drink and something to eat, sit back and enjoy some of the top comedians on the circuit.

“Guests can enjoy 16 shows across 17 days between 1st October and 17th October – every night is a headline act!

“Please come out and enjoy some superb live comedy.”

For more details and tickets for the 2021 Southport Comedy Festival, please visit: southportcomedyfestival.com