YORK comedy promoter James Christopher is to close down his club nights to focus on his own burgeoning career.

“These are exciting times for me at the moment, as I’ve just confirmed with the Free Fringe promoter Peter Buckley-Hill that I’ll be doing my debut solo full-length show at next summer’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival,” says James.

“This will incorporate my regular stand-up set, along with a brand new character act I'm working on, and all this means that I’ve got a daunting amount of writing to do.

“As of Christmas, I won’t be promoting any more comedy gigs. 1331 Comedy in York and my regular Leeds gig at The Smirking Room will come to a close with their Christmas shows.”

James’s final 1331 Comedy night will be held on Thursday, when doors open at 8.30pm for the 9pm start upstairs at Bar 1331 in Grape Lane (admission £6, NUS members £5).

“It will come to a very fitting close, with my show mate from this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, Dan Bland,” says James. “Dan becomes the very first and very last comedian to play 1331 Comedy, and he’s a firm favourite with my regulars. The List magazine in Edinburgh rightly celebrates him as a ‘magnetically mournful soul with elegantly written twisted musings’.”

Self-deprecating James and his ubiquitous cravat will take to the stage too. “In order to properly say farewell to the superb comedy crowd, I’ll be opening the show myself and performing a set,” he says. “I’ve always wanted to do a full set at 1331 as it looks really nice!”

To complete the final bill, there will be a support spot from Nick Cranston, one last joke competition and a late bar after the show. “I’ll definitely be having a few after that one!” says James.

A graphic designer by the name of James Everard by day, this bespectacled self-confessed nerd set up his first comedy venture, Black Comedy @ The Black Swan in October 2006, followed by the “more left-field, alternative” nights at the bohemian Bar 1331 in Grape Lane in February 2007.

James later turned black to gold, in the alchemist’s tradition, when transferring his Tuesday night sessions from the Black Swan to Comedy Gold @ the Golden Fleece in February this year before deciding to focus on 1331 Comedy since July.

Now that club too is to have its last stand-up. “I’d like to thank everyone who attended 1331 Comedy; there have been some brilliant nights and I’ll have very fond memories,” says James.


* NO sooner has he recovered from the last-night party for Comedy 1331 than James Christopher will be on compere duty for the comedy night at Bishopthorpe Sports & Social Club next Friday night.

Doors open at 7.30pm for the 8pm bill of opening act Gareth Urwin, the newly crowned Hull Comedian of the Year, and headliner Duncan Oakley, a high-energy combination of bonhomie, one-liners, stand-up routines, visual gags and electric guitar licks. Tickets cost £6 each in advance or £10 for two on 01904 707185 or from Joe Gardham on 07545 770 776 or £8 each on the night.

Looking ahead, the club in The Poplars, Main Street, Bishopthorpe, hopes to establish a regular comedy night…with more engagements for James Christopher, no doubt!