THE first Harrogate Comedy Festival at Harrogate Theatre is exceeding the expectations of co-promoters Toby Clouston-Jones and Kevin Jamieson.

The North Yorkshire spa town was once so prim that the town council banned Monty Python’s Life Of Brian in 1979 without members even seeing the allegedly blasphemous film, but this month its theatre is playing host to a festival line-up of pretty-boy wind-up merchant Simon Amstell on Wednesday, sardonic Irishman Sean Hughes on October 25, confrontational Aussie Jim Jeffries on October 28, potty-mouthed Yorkshireman Daniel Kitson on October 29 and saucy Julian Clary on October 30.

“It’s surpassing our hopes both in terms of sales and the delight that people have taken in it, and we’re already planning for next year’s festival,” says Yorkshire comedy impresario Clouston-Jones, who has pencilled in October 12 to 29 for the 2010 programme.

“We see it becoming a bigger event, more of a condensed fortnight with something every night and a gala start and a gala finish – and part of the 2010 festival will run over the half-term so there’ll be children’s events in the daytime.”

Clouston-Jones already runs the regular Hyena Lounge Comedy Club nights at Harrogate Theatre (as well as City Screen, York) and he and Jamieson, the theatre’s communications manager, saw the chance to capitalise further on the nationwide comedy boom.

“We realised there was quite a gap to establish a comedy festival in the north of England,” says Toby.

“The partnership between me and Kevin is one we’ve talked about for a couple of years and what we wanted to achieve was an example of the diversity of comedy, so that there really was something for everybody. By the end of September, we were already at 150 per cent of our sales target with 4,000 tickets sold.”

The festival opened earlier this week, with shows last Monday by Scouse firecracker John Bishop and two nights ago by the state-of-the-nation agent provocateur Stewart Lee.

As well as the names mentioned earlier, Russell Kane will play on October 19; Milton Jones on October 26; Grumpy Old Women Live 2: Chin Up Britain, with Jenny Éclair, Susie Blake and Wendi Peters, on October 27; children’s comedian Ian Billings on October 29 at 2pm; and a Hyena Lounge triple bill of Phil Kay, Mark Olver and Dan Nightingale on October 31.

“Over five years we’ve built up the Hyena Lounge at Harrogate and it’s been hard work, putting the effort in and explaining things, even to the extent of taking 360-degree photos of the theatre to show the comedians what the auditorium looks like, but it was worth it,” says Toby.

So much so that he and Kevin Jamieson have put Harrogate Theatre on the comedy map.

• For Harrogate Comedy Festival tickets, phone 01423 502116 or book online at harrogatetheatre.co.uk

All shows start at 8pm unless stated.

• The Hyena Lounge Comedy Club presents Junior Simpson, Paul F Taylor and Dan Nightingale in The Basement at City Screen, York, on Sunday evening. Doors open at 7pm for the 7.30pm start; tickets, 0871 704 2054.


Simon Amstell fact file

Name: Simon Amstell.

Profession: Comedian known for open, intelligent and thought-provoking stand-up.

Style: Distracted mad professor.

Born: November 29, 1970, in East London to Jewish parents.

Early steps: Comedy career began aged 14. In 1998, became youngest finalist in BBC New Comedy Awards.

Teething problems: Sacked from presenting on Nickelodeon, allegedly for being “sarcastic and mean to children”, he claims.

Change of direction: Landed presenter’s job on Channel 4’s Popworld, where ironic style and ability to make popstars feel uncomfortable led to cult following.

Biggest success: After appearing as guest star several times on BBC pop quiz Never Mind The Buzzcocks, he took over from Mark Lamarr as host in 2006, later winning two British Comedy Awards among others.

Mind the gap: Gaping hole in presenter’s chair left by his decision to quit Buzzcocks in April to focus on live tours and performances.

Live shows: Regular at Edinburgh Fringe Festival since 2005; appeared for first time in West End in 2007; completed first national tour in 2008.

Personal life: During his time on Popworld he came out as gay although initially no one believed him. Occasionally includes references to his sexuality and religion in performances.

Future plans: Starring in new comedy project for BBC in 2010.

Latest tour: Do Nothing, ongoing since August 2009, will visit Grand Opera House, York, on Monday at 7.30pm, and Harrogate Comedy Festival at Harrogate Theatre on Wednesday, 8pm.

Tickets update: Harrogate show has sold out, as his last Grand Opera House gig did in 2008. There are around 50 tickets left for Monday's show at the Grand Opera House in York.

Simon says: “Hello. Like everyone else, Simon Amstell will die. However, before that he will be performing stand-up comedy in York and Harrogate theatres next week. Please do not attend if the dates clash with something in your own life. Thank you. Goodbye.”