BATH COMEDY FESTIVAL

With more than 300 comedians performing at over 100 events, across 21 days, Bath Comedy Festival 2020, sponsored by Lovehoney.co.uk, will have The City of Bath roaring with laughter this spring.

The 12th annual event will feature performances from Bill Bailey, Josh Widdicombe, Simon Evans, Jess Robinson, Geoff Norcott, Barry Cryer, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Janine Harouni, Marcus Brigstocke, Jen Brister, Mitch Benn, Susan Murray and famous grumpy old man Arthur Smith. The festival will have audiences laughing their socks off in some of Bath’s most iconic locations. Venues span the length and breadth of the historic city, including Widcombe Social Club, The Ring O Bells, The Bell, Bath Brew House, The Forum, The Barley Mo, The Mission Theatre, St James Wine Vaults, Komedia, Rondo Theatre and Walcot House.

Highlights include:

• 1st April – April Fools Gala starring Bill Bailey, Jess Robinson and John Moloney at Bath Forum
• 3rd April – Geoff Norcott (already sold out)
•  4th April – Simon Evans astounding and highly acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe show
• 5th April – Top immersive experience The Wine Arts Trail (TWAT), hosted by mystery guest clippie, always a sell-out
• 11th April – Famously Grumpy Old Man Arthur Smith leads a hysterical historical walk around some of the finest of Bath’s Georgian and Regency architecture… what you never knew will amaze you!
• 18th April – Josh Widdicombe headline event at Bath Forum
• Affordable Festival centred on Bath Brew House and St James Wine Vaults with many “pay what you feel” events.
• Ring O Bells and Widcombe Social Club host plethora of professional shows from the likes of Geoff Norcott, Marcus Brigstocke, Barry Cryer, The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre, Susan Murray, Alan Francis and Edinburgh Fringe star of 2019 Janine Harouni
• Rondo Theatre to boast a programme featuring luminaries such as Fern Brady, Jen Brister and Tom Stade
•  Musical comedy night at Komedia hosted by Mitch Benn & The Distractions with special guests
• 10th April – Veteran godfather of comedy and Festival Patron Barry Cryer to perform live with Colin Sell, at Widcombe Social Club
• 13th April – Jazz and comedy combine at Widcombe Social Club in a performance from internationally acclaimed jazz singer and pianist Ian Shaw
• 16th April – I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again…Again, with guest star Tim Broke-Taylor at Komedia
• New venue The Barley Mo to host all the New Act Competition heats plus a programme of special events including drag queen bingo and a comedy quiz
• 10th April – Walcot House hosts dark tongue-in-cheek cabaret Das Vegas Night with Frank Sanazi
• 19th April – New Act Competition Final with Principal Sponsor Lovehoney.co.uk supporting new talent with awards for Best Newcomer, Best Joke and Best Show

Festival Director Nick Steel says: "This is the festival’s 12th year and we have our best line-up yet. From household names like Bill Bailey, Marcus Brigstocke, Barry Cryer and Josh Widdecombe to up and coming talent like Janine Harouni and The Delightful Sausage, there is something to suit everyone’s tastes. And there is something for everyone’s budget too – our Affordable Festival is back offering dozens of ‘pay what you feel’ events, meaning having a laugh is accessible for everyone. Bath Comedy Festival has grown in scale year on year and Bath is now widely recognised as a centre for comedy and a key date on the annual comedy calendar. We can’t wait to welcome Bath’s residents and visitors for another year of laughter.”