Comedy - stand-up and comedian interviews, previews and profiles

Preview Patrick Monahan, Live in Huddersfield

Hug Me I Feel Good tour heads to Yorkshire

Patrick Monahan‘s Hug Me I Feel Good UK tour throughout this spring looks set to be the latest step towards a higher profile this year for the Irish-Iranian-Teessider comic, as he’ll also be taking part in BBC1’s Sports Relief programme Let’s Dance! in March. The comedian kicks off his stand-up tour on 28^th January and will be appearing in Yorkshire on 22^nd February when he calls in to perform at Huddersfield’s Lawrence Batley Theatre.

Monahan enjoyed a busy 2011: he not only won the ITV1’s Show Me The Funny, but also released his debut DVD and had a string of…

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Preview Phill Jupitus, Live at Leeds City Varieties

Comedian set to perform special stand-up show after finishing Big Society! run at the re-polished gem of a music hall

After a demanding 19 nights performing live musical theatre, you’d think Phill Jupitus would need a holiday – but the comedian is back and live in Leeds for a one-night-only stand-up gig.

After finishing Big Society! the telly comic revisits City Varieties on Sunday 5th February as part of his Stand-Down tour. After an absence from stand-up for more than 10 years, Stand Down is the long-awaited follow-up tour from 1999’s Quadrophobia.

The beautiful City Varieties has become something of a second home for the funnyman over the past month or two – but you won’t hear any…

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Preview Chris Addison, Leeds Town Hall, 19th February

Host of E4's Show & Tell Chris Addison is set to take Leeds by storm as he brings his new comedy gig up north

Ever wondered where in Leeds you can find tattoos, the Royal Family and republicanism all under one roof? Well look no further as funny man Chris Addison is back and he’s stopping off in Leeds as part of his 39 date national tour The Time is Now, Again.

You may recognise this face for discussing Wombles, the barriers of language and sweetcorn’s Green Giant on popular comedy show Mock the Week – where he holds a regular seat on the panel – as well as programmes like Have I Got News For You, Live at the Apollo and the BAFTA-winning…

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Preview Dog-Eared Collective

Mischievously witty Leeds sketch comics Dog-Eared Collective come to The Carriageworks on 3rd March

Struggling to imagine awacky and wonderful world with Abba steam-room wrestling, Girl Guides, topless grandmas and Paddington Bear meets R&B? Well, look no further, we’ve found you one very extraordinary night out.

Renowned for their unique and surreal performances, Kathryn Hanke, James Huntington, Joanna Hutt and Jenny Thomson (otherwise known as Dog-Eared Collective) take to The Carriageworks stage 3rd March.

After their success at the Brighton and Edinburgh Fringe festival in 2011, the Leeds quartetbring their brand spanking new show You’re Amazing. Now Look At Me to their home town.

Their chaotic comic sketches and colorful characters have seen…

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Preview Steve Hughes, Live in Leeds and Harrogate

Stand-up comic and star of Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow brings his nationwide tour to Yorkshire

Intelligent, provocative and profound are just a few of the words that have been used to describe Steve Hughes, who will be tackling social issues with his trademark sharp wit in Leeds and Harrogate in the coming months.

Hughes, who has starred in Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow (BBC One) and Stand-Up For The Week (Channel 4) will be showcasing his debut solo stand-up tour at Harrogate Theatre on 6^th February and at Leeds’ HiFi Club on 8th March – and this ex-heavy metal drummer might just cause a bit of a stir with his close to the bone take on…

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Interview Howard Marks

Sam JT Butterworth meets the former dope baron turned writer, performer and Leeds resident before his show at City Varieties

As I chatted with Howard Marks, he was friendly, entertaining, genuine and erudite – qualities that remained throughout his show at the City Varieties. Later that evening the historic venue reverberated with his gravelly whisper as he told tales of decadent episodes, including one involving Nepalese hash that made everything either very funny, or yellow. He also mentioned the characters he met on his travels: Shane McGowan, the only man he saw being carried into a pub; Bez, the only man who could outdo Howard on any drug of his choice.

He talked about his seven-year prison stretch (“getting all…

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