NOT one, not two, but three Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Christmas specials are lined up for York Barbican.
“Each show features a full bill of three top professional comedians plus a top-notch host MC,” says promoter and compere Damion Larkin.
Friday the 13th will be headlined by international touring sensation Matt Price. “Matt is known for having some of the most extraordinary and outrageous stories drawn from the wilder side of life,” says Larkin.
“Hailing from Cornwall, he brings true warmth and heart to the stage while finding some audacious laughs in the most unexpected places.”
Price has notched up five tours of Australia and 13 Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, played at most of the major British clubs and headlined in South East Asia. He has supported Stephen K Amos, Russell Kane and Norman Lovett and has been a warm-up act for both Channel 4 and the TLC Channel.
Michael Legge headlines Saturday’s bill. “He’s a truly sought-after comedy mind, extremely in demand at an international level,” says Larkin. “Everyone wants a piece of Michael.
“His often improvised irreverence and spiky, tongue-in-cheek antics have been put to use on the likes of Sky One’s Street Cred Sudoku and MTV’s European Music Awards.”
Legge’s themes include the spontaneity of his surroundings. “This livewire performer has funny popping out of him at every opportunity,” says Larkin.
Legge has written for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, MTV, VH1 and other media and he has appeared in numerous venues throughout the UK, as well as in Australia, the United States, Canada, Singapore, the Netherlands, Germany and Dubai.
Legge has performed warm-up spots for television shows such as 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Would I Lie To You?. Before becoming a professional comedian, he featured in several TV commercials.
Legge co-founded and performed in the cult comedy sketch show The Real Daniel O’Donnell Show (2007–2008) at The Albany, London. The monthly show featured Legge alongside Paul Litchfield and Jeremy Limb, from the sketch group The Trap, and Margaret Cabourn-Smith and Zoe Gardner of The Congress of Oddities, complemented by stand-up comedian guests and live bands. The London show spawned the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe show The Clock Hour.
Legge was nominated for a BAFTA award for his writing on the MTV website of The Osbournes show and his blog won the 2009 Chortle award for Best Off-Stage Contribution
Mancunian Mike Newall takes top billing on December 20. “Regarded by many as having the best hair in the UK comedy scene with a throwback to Oasis in 1990, he’s one for the ladies and the gents too. As a result many are now calling him ‘The Real Magic Mike’,” says Larkin.
“He was a big hit on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, where he impressed the judges so much that Simon Cowell said ‘it was like an Oasis concert where the music ran out and Liam decides to tell a few jokes’!”
In 2010 Newall performed his Edinburgh Fringe show Mr Famous, followed in 2011 by Mike Newall’s Get Better Box. That same year he headlined the Big Value Comedy early show, then returned in 2013 with his show Six Weddings. In 2013 too, he was asked to be the support act for Alun Cochrane’s Moments Of Alun tour.
“Fortunately he’s also one of the country’s most consistently reliable comedy storytellers and proud possessor of a breezy, casual style that’s the envy of many of his contemporaries,” says Larkin.
“Frankly we’ve never seen a comedian so laid back and yet packing so much comedic power. Swiss clock timing and that certain knack for a sharp turn of phrase means he is living proof that you can’t learn to be funny; it’s a gift and he has it by the bucket load.”
Larkin further enthuses: “Manchester has had more than its fair share of comedy heritage over the years. Mike is without doubt the latest smooth talking, globe-trotting Manc export and could even go on to become the greatest.
“He has that rare knack of being like the boy the next door but with huge star quality. He’s like your best, most humorous friend – only funnier!”
Doors open at 7.30pm for each 8pm bill. Box office: lolcomedyclubs.co.uk or yorkbarbican.co.uk.