PRESS RELEASE

THE SIXTH ANNUAL NEWBURY COMEDY FESTIVAL
SATURDAY 4 – FRIDAY 17 July 2009
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS

Newbury Comedy Festival is back for its sixth summer of fun and its line up of comedy talent is bigger and better than ever. Packed with award winning talent and some of the finest up and coming and new acts on the comedy scene it has asserted itself on the festival circuit as an important event to attend in its six short years continuing to go from strength to strength in the calibre of the acts appearing and also the adventurous and innovative nature of the programming.

Tickets are on sale now and can be booked through www.newburycomedyfestival.com or by calling 01635 522733.

Here are a few of the festivals highlights:

A number of big names in the comedy world are making their NCF debuts in 2009. First up, the legendary TV star and original comedy store player PAUL MERTON brings his critically acclaimed SILENT CLOWNS show to the festival and the man who has done for mincing what Michael Flatley did for Irish dancing, JULIAN CLAREY . Fantastic mimic ALISTAIR MCGOWAN is the third heavy weight to make his debut in Newbury.

A major first for the festival is The World Premiere of Perrier Award Winner WILL ADAMSDALE's new show. Will, will be previewing his brand new show JACKSON'S WAY LEVEL TWO , co-commissioned by the Corn Exchange.

Continuing the tradition of bringing award winning comics to Newbury, 2007 if.comedy winner BRENDON BURNS heads up the first weekend along with if.comedy Winner JOSIE LONG, if.comedy winner SARAH MILLICAN whose sweetness hides a sharp tongue, and double nominee ANDREW LAWRENCE.

So You Think You're Funny and BBC New Act Winner , TOM ALLEN will be joining locally based duo PLESTED & BROWN as they host a comedy cabaret along with If.comedy nominee IVAN BRACKENBURY with his unique hospital radio show.

Channel 4's King of Comedy and if.comedy nominee ANDREW MAXWELL also makes his festival debut, with his raucous yet charming blend of comedy and social-political observations.

A second film themed night sees JOHN SHUTTLEWORTH making his festival debut with his brilliant film Its Nice Up North , filmed by internationally acclaimed photographer Martin Parr, with impressionist and all rounder JAN RAVENS, best known for her work on Dead Ringers bringing her unique blend of comedy to the festival in the final week.

In a packed fortnight, there are also the delights of ROB DEERING, PIPPA EVANS , JOHN GORDILLO and one of the best new sketch groups to have hit the big time in 2008, IDIOTS OF ANTS.

As if that wasn't enough, there is more with man of the moment RUSSELL KANE with his hilarious FAKESPEARE show, comedy for kids from ANDREW CLOVER , dad, Perrier nominee and Sunday Times Columnist, the ever popular YOU MUST BE JOKING new act competition, which has a history of picking winners who go on to great things, LATE NIGHT JONGLUERS, FESTIVAL PUB CRAWL – THE RETURN! And a LAUGHING BOY COMEDY NIGHT from Off The Kerb. All this goes up to make a festival that should not be by-passed.

Vodafone sponsors the Newbury Comedy Festival.