The Glasgow International Comedy Festival has unveiled its biggest line-up ever, as this hugely popular event in the comedy calendar prepares to return for its 15th year from Thursday 9 – Sunday 26 March. This year’s festival features performances from household names like Jimmy Carr, Al Murray, Stewart Lee, Russell Howard, Bridget Christie, Omid Djalili, Reg D Hunter, Sue Perkins and Frankie Boyle; along with shows from some of the biggest acts on the UK circuit including Richard Herring, John Shuttleworth, Josie Long, Simon Munnery and David O’Doherty.
Highlights from the city-wide event include: Taggart’s Alex Norton making his solo debut at the Citizens Theatre; West End stars the Reduced Shakespeare Company bringing William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged) to the King’s Theatre; Stuart Cosgrove and Tam Cowan making a triumphant return with Off The Bawl; acclaimed journalist and broadcaster Jon Ronson’s Psychopath Night; a rehearsed reading with live music of Ian Auld and Willy Maley’s The Lions of Lisbon at new GLICF venue Barras Art And Design.
The Glasgow Live International Comedy Festival has a reputation for showcasing the very best in local talent and this year is no exception – Fred MacAulay, Des Clarke, Craig Hill, Susan Calman, Mark Nelson, Janey Godley, Iain Connell and Robert Florence are lined up alongside the rising stars of Scotland’s world renowned comedy scene, including Richard Gadd, Fern Brady, Darren Connell, Ashley Storrie, Scott Gibson, Larry Dean, Scott Agnew and Jamie Dalgleish, plus the CHUNKStival at McPhabbs, another new venue for 2017.
The line-up also brings international humour with Greg Proops, Hailey Boyle, John Hastings, Rich Hall, Tony Law and Abigoliah Schamaun coming to the city, while perennial sell-out showcase America Stands Up! introduces some of the most exciting comedians working in the States right now.
The eighteen-day festival takes in stand up, sketches, improv, theatre, film and family fun, with shows putting a comedic spin on everything from gin to gussets, football to climate change. There will be podcast recordings, science and magic, a pub crawl and a quiz.
As well as performances in the city’s biggest venues and intimate gigs in pubs, the Glasgow International Comedy Festival features Bob Slayer’s anarchic Blundabus pulling up at the Riverside Museum, classic silent movies with live music at the Britannia Panopticon, laughs for little ones at the Scottish Mask & Puppet Centre, and a BBC Comedy Workshop on how to make your funny ideas a reality.
Events take place every day throughout the Festival and tickets for all shows are on sale now, with some performances already selling out.
Sarah Watson, Festival Director, said: “We’ve pulled out all the stops for our fifteenth year and are very pleased to be offering festival goers our biggest programme ever. It’s great to have new venues like the Riverside Museum and Barras Art And Design on board, and our new partnership with title sponsors Glasgow Live will make it even easier for visitors and locals to keep up with all the latest festival news. 2017’s Glasgow Live International Comedy Festival offers something for every taste and budget so I hope people will dive in to the programme, make a date to see their favourite comedian and hopefully discover some brilliant new acts too.”
Councillor Frank McAveety, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “Some of the biggest names in comedy have graced the stages of the Glasgow Live International Comedy Festival over the years and the calibre of this year’s programme is again a strong reflection of this – it’s diverse, bold and packed with an eclectic mix of top performers from the UK and internationally.
“Glaswegians are renowned for their hospitality and good humour so it’s no surprise that we’re home to one of the best comedy festivals in the world, which perfectly encapsulates our city’s personality. We’re also well used to staging major events with global appeal and with more than 470 shows across 50 venues, visitors and locals alike are in for a real treat.”
Keep up to date with all the latest news by registering at glasgowcomedyfestival.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter @glasgowcomedy.