De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) is getting ready to lift the curtain on this year’s Leicester Comedy Festival.
The university is proud to be hosting the launch of the UK’s longest-running comedy festival a week today (Wednesday, February 7).
DMU students launch the first Leicester Comedy Festival in 1994
It means the first gags of the 25th anniversary festival will be delivered at The Gallery in the Vijay Patel Building.
Comedian Lloyd Griffiths will entertain guests at the official launch to kick-start a programme of around 1,000 comedians and performers putting on shows at 847 events across 69 venues.
Lloyd - a huge football fan - is the co-host of Soccer AM on Sky Sports and has recently supported Jack Whitehall and Rob Beckett on their UK tours. He has been praised for his ‘punchy gags’ and as a choirboy, his ‘jaw-dropping singing voice.’
Professor Alison Honour, DMU’s Pro Vice-Chancellor/ Dean of Arts, Design and Humanities, and Geoff Rowe, founder and director of the festival, will also welcome guests.
The invitation-only event is expected to be attended by about 70 people, including business leaders, patrons and sponsors.
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DMU students helping to run the show at Leicester Comedy Festival
Jit Pandya, DMU’s Community Partnership Manager, said he was proud of DMU’s unique partnership with the comedy festival.
He said: “It’s a huge event that is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with a record number of shows and events.
“It started in 1994 when a group of DMU Arts Management students organised the first event as part of their final year practical project.
“It’s great how the festival continues to grow year after year and develops its community initiatives.”
Hundreds of people are expected to once again flock to Leicester for the annual 19-day festival – which attracts crowds from across the UK as well as overseas.
DMU, as the festival’s Higher Education partner, is also hosting a second event in the Comedy Festival’s line-up. Multi award-winning comedian Sara Pascoe will be quizzed by Festival Director Geoff Rowe at The Venue.
The Q&A event on February 16, which starts at 6pm, is billed as the ‘I Say – The Annual Comedy Competition’ in aid of the Big Difference Company.
Sara, who has appeared on Mock the Week, QI and Live at The Apollo, will be talking about her career and her future plans.
DMU’s partnership with the Comedy Festival also sees students volunteering behind the scenes. Arts & Festival Management students will manage venues, sell tickets and promote events, which reinforces DMU’s focus on industry experience.
Tickets for the Sara Pascoe Q&A and all other events are on sale at www.comedy-festival.co.uk or call the ticketing team on 0116 456 6812.
Posted on Wednesday 31 January 2018