Celebrating 32 years of laughs, De Montfort University, Leicester (DMU) is thrilled to continue its partnership with the Leicester Comedy Festival for 2025, set to kick off next month.
Founded by DMU Arts and Festivals Management student Geoff Rowe, Leicester Comedy Festival is now one of the biggest and longest running comedy festivals in the whole of Europe, bringing thousands of people to the city each year.
The line-up for the festival, which runs from Wednesday 5 February to Sunday 23 February 2025, is set to be a record-breaking year with more than 720 events being staged in 80 venues big and small around Leicester and Leicestershire.
The festival’s vast line-up will feature a mix of household names and emerging talents, ensuring a wide appeal to comedy enthusiasts, including a De Montfort University Students’ Union event on Thursday 20 January.
As a nod to the festival’s fun-loving spirit, this year’s mascot - a giant, bright yellow five-metre-high inflatable duck - is making its way around the city promoting the lead-up to the festival. And its second stop, until January 20, is right here on DMU’s campus.
Fi Donovan, Head of Engagement and Partnerships at DMU, said: "At the heart of this year's Leicester Comedy Festival is our shared belief in the power of laughter to bring communities together.
“Our long-standing partnership with the festival reflects our commitment to fostering creativity, connection, and a little bit of fun – and what better way to celebrate that than with a five-metre inflatable duck gracing our campus?
“It’s bold, it’s playful, and it’s exactly the kind of joy we’re proud to champion in 2025 and beyond."
Charlotte Laidet, festivals and programme director at Big Difference, the charity behind the festival, said: “Thanks to the support of BID Leicester, a business-led, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to transforming Leicester's city centre, we are excited to bring our duck installation to the area for the next few weeks.
“We hope it sparks joy for residents and visitors in the city. Every February, Leicester Comedy Festival and The UK Kids' Comedy Festival shares laughter throughout the county.
“In the meantime, we hope this bright yellow duck will put a smile on everyone's face!”
The 32-year link between DMU and the Leicester Comedy Festival not only enhances the university’s cultural presence but also provides students with the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals, building connections and gaining practical skills that will serve them in their future careers.
DMU is also home to the Leicester Comedy Festival archives, containing items such as posters, programmes, tickets, scripts and props.
The Leicester Comedy Festival has a significant impact on the local community, contributing to both the cultural vibrancy and the economy of the region, a partnership DMU is proud to be part of.
The 2025 Leicester Comedy Festival is set to be the biggest and most exciting yet, with a wide range of events for comedy lovers of all kinds. For more information on the events and tickets, visit the official website.
Posted on Wednesday 15 January 2025