Winter is always a difficult time, it’s cold, dark and everyone has post-Christmas blues. However, things are not all bad as The Atkinson is offering light relief with its incredible comedy programme
This season the venue has TV comedians such as Omid Djalili , Laurence Clark, Mitch Benn, Phil Wang, David Baddiel, Simon Evans, Carl Hutchinson, Britain’s Got Talent’s – Daliso Chaponda and Ed Byrne!
Omid Djalili heads to Southport on Saturday 27 January with his show Schmuck for a Night, having had to extend the tour due to popular demand. Intelligent, sometimes provocative and always entertaining, his stand-up is a hugely energetic and captivating comedy masterclass. His credits range from Hollywood to television and live on the West End stage. Earning praise across the world for his performances Omid recently starred in Dickensian BBC1 and Lucky Man Sky1. Tickets are £24.
One of the most joyfully smart, stimulating and entertaining comedians this country has’ The Telegraph
Liverpool’s own Laurence Clarke appears at The Atkinson for the first time on Saturday 17 February. His stand-up show Independence sees Laurence spinning his tales of adolescence, love and Harry Potter, discovering that he doesn’t have to be Superman and do everything. But life throws up the unexpected when you depend on others to fasten your jeans for you. Tickets £12 (£10 concessions).
“Wickedly funny” ★★★★★ Herald
Live at the Apollo and Comedy Roast favourite Phil Wang and his new stand-up show Kinabalu takes place on Wednesday 28 February. He is a son of the British Empire. But in a world intent on building walls and bolstering borders, what is a Commonwealth man to do? Some blistering new comedy gold – that’s what! See him now while you can as he will soon be filling arena’s. Tickets £12
★★★★ “This is intoxicating stuff” – The Telegraph
Congratulations! It’s 2018 and you’re still here! So is Mitch, (“the country’s leading musical satirist” Times) looking backwards, forwards and sideways trying to make the world a better place, one silly song at a time. Join him as he looks back over what for the lack of a better word he still refers to as his “career” and ponders where he – and indeed all of us – might be going next. Mitch Benn – I’m Still Here can be seen on Friday 9 March, tickets £13 (£11 concessions)
Simon Evans is back with his new show Genius on Thursday 15 March. Ever since he was a small boy, all Simon Evans really wanted was to be recognised by the world as a man of genius. He has, until now, remained thwarted. Tickets are £14.
‘A masterclass in socio-political comedy…The Show is called Genius. It comes very close’ ***** The Scotsman
Geordie comic Carl Hutchinson has been making a right name for himself on the circuit. Uniquely stubborn, outright impractical and undeniably hilarious, he heads to Southport on Friday 16 March for an evening of laughter and will return as Chris Ramsey’s support for his tour All Growed Up again in May. Tickets are £12.
Adam Kay: This is Going to Hurt (Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor) sold out Edinburgh completely! The award-winning comedian Adam Kay reads from his diaries as a junior doctor in this ‘electrifying hour’ (Guardian) of stand-up and music on Wednesday 28 March. Tickets are £15 and copies of the book, a Sunday Times bestseller, will be available to purchase and have signed!
★★★★★ “Intersperses horror stories from the NHS frontline with a catalogue of sublimely silly spoof songs, and some blissfully brilliant wordplay” – Mail on Sunday
Britain’s Got Talent’s very own Daliso Chaponda has performed at The Atkinson before as part of our comedy club – but he is back on his first stand-up tour What the African Said… on Thursday 26 April. He was Amanda Holden’s golden buzzer act for the 2017 show and he captured the nation’s heart. Tickets £15
“Laugh after laugh after laugh” – Amanda Holden
Ed Byrne is a firm favourite and one of the finest observational comics in the industry. His new show Spoiler Alert on Saturday 28 April looks at life and asks if it is really that bad. In short, are we spoiled? Ed takes this question, turns it upside down and shakes it until the funny falls out. Go on, spoil yourself! Tickets are £24 and selling fast.
Comedy’s Holy Grail. Go See!’ Sunday Times
Our monthly comedy club Laugh Out Loud continues to grow from strength to strength and has new, upcoming and established comics on the circuit appearing. Come and see for yourself on the first Saturday of every month. Tickets are £17.50 doors (£15 advance or you get a full season for £40).
They even have comedy for families with the popular James Campbell and his new show – The Hilarious Funny World Of…Last time he performed it was s sell out so don’t miss him as part of this February’s Kidsfest (which has moved from October half term to February).
Hold onto your socks, take the banana out of your ears and enjoy the best comedy for kids from the man who invented it. James’ show will find The Hilariously Funny Things about everything including pets, couscous, Spaniels, making your own yoghurt, bees, why we have hair and will answer questions such as:
“ I should have given him six stars – just too brilliant “ – The Sunday Herald
Catch the show with your family on Thursday 15 February; tickets are £8 (£6 children /£24 family).
So if that lot isn’t enough to make you smile – nothing is!
Tickets can be bought online at theatkinson.co.uk or contact Box Office on 01704 533333.
Join the e-mailing list to find out about our events and exhibitions first.
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EDITORS NOTES:
For interviews images or further information, please contact Emma.Lloyd@Sefton.gov.uk ________________________________________________________________
LISTING INFORMATION
Omid Djalili: Schmuck for a Night
Saturday 27 January
8pm
£24
Laugh out Loud Comedy Club
Saturday 3 February
8pm
£17.50 doors / £15 advance / £40 season ticket / £10 groups of 10+
Laurence Clark: Independence
Friday 17 February
8pm
£12
Phil Wang:Kinabalu
Wednesday 28 February
8pm
£12
Laugh out Loud Comedy Club
Saturday 3 March
8pm
£17.50 doors / £15 advance / £40 season / £10 groups of 10+
Mitch Benn: I’m Still Here
Friday 9 March
8pm
£13 (£11 concessions)
Simon Evans: Genius
Thursday 15 March
8pm
£14
Carl Hutchinson Live
Friday 16 March
8pm
£12
Adam Kay:This is Going to Hurt
(Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor)
Wednesday 28 March
7.30pm
£15
strong>Laugh out Loud Comedy Club
Saturday 7 April
8pm
£17.50 doors / £15 advance / £40 season / £10 groups of 10+
Daliso Chaponda –What he African Said…
Thursday 26 April
8pm
£15
Ed Byrne – Spoiler Alert
Saturday 28 April
8pm
£24
Please be advised that there is a £1 per ticket booking fee for telephone and online sales and a 2% fee for credit cards at the Box Office.
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About The Atkinson
The Atkinson is Southport’s beautiful home for music, theatre, art, poetry, literature and history, right in the middle of Lord Street in Southport. The stunning 19th century buildings were refurbished in 2013 to create a really welcoming family friendly multi art-form venue with a strong contemporary feel.
The Atkinson offers an exciting and varied destination for families, cultural tourists and arts enthusiasts alike, with a full day and night time offer. Wander through the major exhibitions and see performances from some of the UK’s foremost musicians, actors, performers and companies, films, family activities and much more.
Find out about Sefton’s heritage with amazing tales of the sea, Red Rum, Dan Dare and Motor racing in the Museum and then ‘Discover Ancient Egypt’ in our Egyptology Gallery, this remarkable collection of archaeology was discovered by Mrs Goodison from Bootle and until 2015 had not been seen for over 40 years.
Our lovely gift shop is well worth a visit, with its handmade in Merseyside jewellery and crafts collection and Southport memorabilia and then relax in our new café – Great Little Place.
Posted on 22 January 2018 under General news
