AN EVENING WITH LENNY HENRY: WHO AM I AGAIN

AN EVENING WITH LENNY HENRY: WHO AM I AGAIN

Join the legendary Sir Lenny Henry as he embarks on a brand new UK tour this autumn.

Lenny Henry is one of Britain’s best-known and celebrated comedians, with a career which began with cult stardom on children’s television to including writer, radio DJ, TV presenter, co-founder of Comic Relief and award-winning actor.

In the first half of the evening, Lenny will take the audience through a jam session of funny and sad memories and stories – from growing up in the Black Country, puberty, school, friendship, family secrets and unashamed racism. With his mother’s mantra of ‘H’integration’ echoing in his ears, Lenny will recount setting out on his rollercoaster ride of a career – but at every stage wondering: Am I good enough? Is this what they want?

In part two, Lenny will be interviewed by friend, broadcaster and author Jon Canter, for further insights into his life and career, followed by questions from the audience. Come and enjoy these honest and tender stories, told with a glorious sense of humour and help Lenny figure out ‘Who Am I Again?

JOSH WIDDICOMBE – BIT MUCH…

The guy everyone can do an impression of is back with a brand new stand up tour. A show that will change your life and how you perceive your place in the world. Bit much? Fine, it’ll be a very funny night of grumbles and jokes in which Josh will finally tackle the hot comedy topics of advent calendars, pesto and the closing time of his local park.

Widdicombe is best known for the twice BAFTA nominated and multiple Broadcast and RTS award winning show The Last Leg, as well as his critically acclaimed sitcom JOSH, Insert Name Here, QI, Have I Got News For You, A League of Their Own and his hit podcast Quickly Kevin Will He Score.

RICHARD HERRING – RHLSTP

Richard Herring’s interview podcast is usually recorded in London’s glittering West End at the Leicester Square Theatre, but now it’s going on the road.

Join the “Podfather” (Guardian) and “King of the Internet” (Time Out) as he chats chats with hilarious star guests in a theatre near you.

Previous guests include Stephen Fry, Dawn French, Sarah Millican, Steve Coogan and Bob Mortimer.

You can listen to all the 200+ previous episodes on Acast and iTunes. But it’s much more fun to see it live and hear all the bits that are too libellous and controversial to podcast.

Winner of Bronze Award for Best Comedy at the 2013 Sony Radio Academy Awards and the Chortle Internet Award 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2018.

JON CULSHAW, BILL DARE: THE GREAT BRITISH TAKE OFF

Comedian and impressionist Jon Culshaw and legendary comedy producer Bill Dare come to Hull City Hall for the first time following their sell-out tour last year.

Join them for an evening of unscripted, unrehearsed, spontaneous comedy and conversation as politicians, sports personalities and celebrities old and new are all up for a roasting. You, the audience, help choose which characters appear and what direction the show takes.

Jon reveals the secrets of mimicry, and shares stories of some of the fascinating characters that coloured his childhood in Lancashire and his early career. Together with Bill he also reveals some of the mishaps and mayhem of life behind the scenes in television and on the celebrity circuit.

With a few surprises for the general public of Hull thrown in for good measure, The Great British Take Off is topical, satirical, anecdotal and highly entertaining; it’s never the same show twice.

AL MURRAY: LANDLORD OF HOPE AND GLORY

A time of crisis, the world in chaos, the country divided as it has never been divided before.

Questions have been asked and non-answered.

What we need is one man, to step forward, one man with all the answers.

Well you’re in luck, ladies and gentlemen – he’s here and touring the nation.

HARRY AND CHRIS:THIS ONE’S FOR THE ALIENS

Harry and Chris (Guardian Pick of the Fringe 2018) are at the top of their field, having invented the field of comedy-rap-jazz. They’ve sold out three Edinburgh shows, appeared on the Russell Howard Hour and were called ‘fabulously entertaining’ by Jonathan Ross (we didn’t even pay him). From the ridiculous to the sublime, the world’s greatest comedy-rap-jazz duo bring award-winning wordplay, awe-inspiring musicality, eyebrow-raising bromance and unashamed joy to the biggest PR task of all time – spinning planet earth.

ALEXANDER ARMSTRONG ALL MOUTH AND SOME TROUSERS

Alexander Armstrong embarks on his first ever stand-up tour with ‘All Mouth and Some Trousers’.

A brand new and “deliciously irreverent” account of a career that has taken him from Armstrong & Miller, to presenting, documentary making, singing and – ultimately – taking his rightful place as the Voice Of Toilet Duck.

There will be shocking candour.

There will be comic songs.

There will – please God – be trousers.

JONATHAN PIE: FAKE NEWS

If no news is good news then good news is fake news. Jonathan Pie returns to the road once more to berate the people in power – and the journalists apparently holding them to account.

Jonathan Pie is the exasperated News Reporter whose videos have been seen across the world. His previous two tours have taken in venues such as the Hammersmith Apollo and the London Palladium and performances across the US and Australia.

Jonathan Pie has been described as ‘brilliant, brave, raw and analytical without forgetting to be funny’ by Ricky Gervais. With over 1.2 Million Facebook followers, his videos regularly achieve millions of views going viral internationally. His response to the election of Donald Trump was viewed more than 150 million times world wide.

BEST OF ‘ULL

Hull is funny! Prepare for laughter as a selection of Hull’s best comedy talent return to The Bonus Arena for this “Hullarious” showcase to kick off the Hull Comedy Festival 2019.

Come to the Bonus Arena and feel it rumble with laughter, as you see some of Hull’s elite multi-award winning comedians, it’s time to see what everyone is laughing about!

We have the ‘World’s only Bomb disposal Comedian’ Steve Rimmer hosting the show with performances from award winning Hull Acts, Featuring Giggle’s Live Improv Champion and television star Jed Salisbury, one of Hull’s council estate loveable rouges and funny man, David Smith, The Psychic Hairdresser and Life-Coach to the Stars Kelli Taylor and finally Hull Comedy Royalty The Live Naked Idiots.

Already a featured event on the Arena’s Icons Wall, this is a must see event.

We have the ‘World’s only Bomb disposal Comedian’ Steve Rimmer hosting the show, already established as one of the best hosts on the circuit, telling tales of army life and what it is actually like being a working Bomb Disposal Engineer. Steve hails from our very own ULL!! Join him as he talks about Hull’s quirky language and the great parts of the city putting his comedic spin on things!

“Steve is a chatty affable character who doesn’t mind venturing into the, ”did he just say that” territory” Ian Midgley

“Quick whited charmingly cheeky and very interesting guest to have, he REALLY is a Bomb Disposal Engineer” – Tim Shaw – The Wrong Show And Channel 4’s Balls Of Steel

Jed Salisbury performed for the first time at the 2009 Hull Comedy Festival and he has gone from strength to strength. Quickly establishing himself as one of the best things coming out of Hull since chip spice and with recent television appearances on the BBC, Jed is one to look out for in the future. A high-energy comedian with a warming charm and an innate sense of funny. Jed’s act takes the audience on an adventure of hilarity, He combines big belly-laugh jokes with award winning Improv to create a truly unique act.

Giggles Live Improv Champion – Winner

Funny Scunny, Scunthorpe comedian of the year – Winner

JEDDY BEAR & GARY’S PICNIC

If you go down to the woods today you’re in for a big surprise! Hull’s comedy duo Jed and Gary are going to tell you a story, well that is until a very naughty bear storms the stage!

Mayhem and madness ensue in this not-so-traditional telling of the Teddy Bear’s Picnic. There’ll be music, dancing, and pie facing madness…well what else would you expect from these festival favourites?!

Full of mischief, audience participation and lots of fun to keep the whole family laughing and entertained. Don’t forget to bring your teddy bear!

Jeddy Bear & Gary’s Picnic – (in the PDR Lounge)

The Stephen Frost Improv Allstars

Four brave performers arrive with no script and not the faintest idea of what will happen. Willed on by a supportive crowd (that’s you!), through improvisation they create sketches and comic dramas that are amazingly inventive and sometimes take off into flights of surreal brilliance. Stephen Frost’s Improv Allstars grew out of the popular TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway? and the Allstars troupe has played festivals all over the world.

Tickets £14.50/15.50

ADAM KAY – TWAS THE NIGHTSHIFT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Following the million-selling success of This Is Going To Hurt, Adam Kay delves back into his diaries for a hilarious peek behind the blue curtain at Christmastime.

Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas is a love letter to all those who spend their festive season on the front line, removing babies and baubles from the various places they get stuck, at the most wonderful time of the year. This brand new live show mixes highlights from the book with his award winning stand-up comedy and exclusive new content. The ticket price includes a hardbook copy of the book (RRP £9.99) and you will have the opportunity for Adam to sign copies after the show.

GLENN MOORE: LOVE DON’T LIVE HERE GLENNY MOORE

Glenn Moore (star of Mock The Week, The Stand Up Sketch Show and Absolute Radio), presents his first solo UK tour, full of the distinctive jokes and offbeat gags we’ve learned to accept from him.

Moore’s bringing you two ‘blissfully silly’ (The Guardian), ‘brilliantly original’ (Chortle) shows in one night, featuring last year’s Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated effort ‘Glenn Glenn Glenn, How Do You Like It, How Do You Like It’, and this year’s highly anticipated ‘Love Don’t Live Here Glenny Moore’.

“The best showcase of pure joke-writing skill on the Fringe” – The Guardian ****

“A prolific writer of clever, distinctive gags” – Chortle ****

“This is a comedian putting others to shame. A stunningly well-crafted show” – The List ****

“Exquisitely-crafted gags” – Evening Standard ****

“A class act” – The Herald ****

Jon Culshaw, Bill Dare: The Great British Take Off

Comedian and impressionist Jon Culshaw and legendary comedy producer Bill Dare come to Hull City Hall for the first time following their sell-out tour last year.

With a few surprises for the general public of Hull thrown in for good measure, The Great British Take Off is topical, satirical, anecdotal and highly entertaining; it’s never the same show twice.

HORMONAL HOUSEWIVES

Weight gain, weight loss, mood swings, men, zumba, men, bikini waxes, online shopping, chocolate, wine, more chocolate, more wine, teenage tantrums, going out and staying in are mercilessly sliced and diced with vivacious abandon! And that’s not all – some of the very best bits from the previous tour of this smash-hit show will have audiences rolling in the aisles…again!

A seriously funny evening – what these women can’t teach you about modern womanhood isn’t worth knowing!

GARY MEIKLE – THE IBROW GUY

Scottish comedy award winner & viral sensation Gary Meikle is back with a bang and new brows as after racking up over 100 million views with a rant about his daughters eyebrows

women all over the world have ditched the classic ‘Does my bum look big in this?’ and replaced it with ‘Do you like my eyebrows?’

During his second show he’ll guide us throw eyebrow etiquette, logic and laws & how its changed his life and how he feels about being known forevermore as the eyebrow guy.

Gary as ever will always draw on his relationships with his girls but this time we’ll get more of an insight into the workings of his mind, his thoughts and opinions on things he dare not verbalise until now. Gary isn’t one for mincing his words so expect the unexpected from this playfully dark effervescent rising star.

Gary is being tipped by many to be the next big household name and has just finished supporting Jason Manford on his Muddleclass tour, come see what all the fuss is about.

Ingenious storytelling – Chortle

Wonderfully raw and real – The Herald

Uniquely hilarious – The Scotsman

Terrific story teller – The List