Leicester Comedy Festival Our top picks

WHAT’S ON IN LEICESTERSHIRE A laugh and a half

Every February, comedy takes centre stage in Leicester. Our comedy festival is now the largest of its kind in Europe, with over 800 shows happening in the city and wider county over the course of 17 days. Here are a few

upcoming highlights WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

Leicester Comedy Festival 2023

February 8-26

All tickets available via comedy-festival.co.uk

It’s would be very easy to stick to the familiar names when it comes to the festival. The city’s biggest venues host comedy’s biggest names, but don’t be afraid to take a risk and check out the performers in back rooms of pubs or restaurants. You never know what gems you’ll encounter!

Comedian’s comedian Stewart Lee (February 9-10, De Montfort Hall) returns to the festival for two nights at DMH. One of the most highly regarded, critically acclaimed stand ups working today, he’s a master of long-form comedy.

The Same Faces (February 9, 16, 23, Wygston’s House) are Leicester’s longest running improvised comedy show. Similar to Whose Line Is It Anyway?, featuring sketches, games,

STEWART LEE

songs and one liners, all created on the spot. The group are two-time Leicester Comedy Festival award fi nalists, and will be celebrating their 10th anniversary in April this year.

Fans of festival cult sensation, The Elvis Dead, will be pleased to learn that Rob Kemp is back at the festival with a new show, You May Be Wondering Why I Called You All Here (February 9, Manhattan 34 and February 18, Grays@LCB Depot). A previous festival award winner, Rob’s surrealist world is often a unique experience.

Olga Koch is on the rise, having appeared on Mock The Week, Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, and Late Night Mash. Please Respond (February 11, Manhattan 34) is her latest show. Koch o ers a unique perspective of British culture, having been born in Russia, educated in America, and now living in England.

The annual tradition of The UK Pun Championships (February 13, De Montfort Hall) will see the very best one-liner comedians and punsters battle it out for the title of UK Pun Champion. Last year’s competition was won by the Punball Wizard, Richard Pulsford, and has historically been hosted by Jason Byrne.

If you’re looking for a Cluedoinspired, improvised comedy murder mystery, then Murder She Didn’t Write (February 18, The Little Theatre) is the show for you. With nothing planned in advance, anyone could’ve done it!

Celya AB was one of the highlights of the Festival’s Gala Preview Show. The French comedian was Chortle’s Best Newcomer in 2022, and brings her show, Celya AB Has A Bit Of Fun (Is That Such A Crime?) (February 24, The Big Di erence) to Leicester following a sold out run at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe.

Ending the festival with a competitive edge, eight of the country’s fi nest improvisers go headto-head in Improv Smackdown 2023 (February 26, Upstairs at the Western). Working together to create a night of outstanding comedy before your very eyes, the performers are also battling it out to claim the crown.