Mar/Apr free inwww.inbath.netbath MANS NOT OLD Jon Richardson brings his 'Old Man' tour to this years Bath Comedy Festival +What's On | Bath Comedy Festival Preview Bath Half Runners' Stories | Lewis Moody Bath Racecourse Preview Afternoon Tea Focus | ItaliAN Cuisine | Mother's Day Music | Kim Wilde | Easter Days OUt Property | Focus on Lettings | NEw HOmes | and More InBath favourite Viv Groskop and acclaimed Australian comedian Sarah Bennetto, not to mention the Finals of the New Act Competition. The Ring O Bells hosts a concentrated programme of seriously top quality acts performing in the wonderful intimate space which has been a firm favourite for Bath Comedy shows for many years. This year's line-up includes some fantastic talent including Rachel Parris, Ashley Storrie, Janey Godley, Archie Maddocks, Markus Birdman, Diane Spencer, Matt Green and Sally-Anne Hayward. Ab Fab star to host Wine Trail Perennial flagship hit immersive show The Wine Arts Trail makes its bonkers boozy way around Bath's secret corners in the big red Routemaster bus on Sunday 8th April and rumours abound as to the wondrous delights in store this year – organisers promise a very special experience hosted by guest clippie Helen Lederer (subject to availability). Festival on tour! Residents of Bradford on Avon and those up for a ten minute train ride won't miss out as Radio 4 favourite Mark Steel is appearing at St Margaret's Hall on Friday 13th April, and Frome people can look forward to a walking tour with a difference – Rare Species will be presenting Jon Richardson "Frome – The Fecund Coming". Julian Dutton Viv Groskop Affordable fun! The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Meanwhile, there's plenty of stuff for those of us Theatre - Superheroes with thin wallets, as the Affordable "Pay What Date: Thursday 29th March, 2018 You Feel" Festival returns to Bath Brew House Venue: Widcombe Social Club Festival Highlights Doors: 7.30pm for 8.00pm show with a plethora of free entry shows. You can guarantee a seat by purchasing a £5 ticket in Jon Richardson - The Old Man Duration: 2hrs incl interval Viv Groskop - Vivalicious Price: £12 / £10 concs advance instead – a wise choice given the way Date: Tuesday 27th March, 2018 Date: Wednesday 28th March, 2018 Sock! Pow! Wham! Earth's funniest footwear this venue fills up! Venue: Bath Forum Venue: Widcombe Social Club are back with their 10th new show of songs, Doors: 7.00pm for 8.00pm show Doors: 7.30pm for 8.00pm show sketches, socks & violence. Duration: 2hrs incl interval Duration: 1hr Brand new Apex Hotel hosts the Price: £20.50-£25.50 Principal Sponsor Price: £10 This time they're real live Superheroes! You think Bath Comedy Festival in association with closing Comedy Gala A brand new show from Viv Groskop, star of you've seen heroes in tights before? This pair will Off The Kerb Productions BBC1's 'This Week' and BBC Radio 4's 'It's Just Arthur Smith will also be at the Festival's run and run. a Joke, Comrade'. Age 12+ glittering Closing Gala Show at the brand The British Comedy Award nominee and star spanking new Apex Hotel Conference Suite of Live At The Apollo and 8 Out Of 10 Cats is In this age of therapy and reinvention, Viv's latest Space age comedy to knock your socks off" – surely the best new venue Bath has seen embarking on a nationwide tour to complain work-in-progress is about being the very best **** Daily Record in many years. Lucky ticket holders will enjoy about the state of the world and offer no version of yourself. And, really, when is it time to characters by The Fast Show's Simon Day, a solutions. Since his last show he has become a 27 March - 15 April accept you're just never going to be that person? Online booking: visit from Donald Trump & Melania aka ace TV husband and father, seen the UK vote to leave www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3341279 and Radio impressionists Lewis MacLeod and the EU and watched the rise of Donald Trump, Festival Director Nick Steel says "This year sees "Fresh and original" - Sara Pascoe Ronni Ancona (TBC) and a famous headliner yet all of which leaves him asking one question, why Bath Comedy Festival enter its tenth year, and Wonderful Widcombe, comedy centre to be revealed! The inaugural Lovehoney Award does it seem that no one else alive can correctly what a line-up we've got to celebrate! "Viv is brilliant" - Jo Brand of the universe will be presented on the night to reward the most load a dishwasher? Julian Dutton - innuendo-laden joke writer of the Festival. Opening night is 27th March and we're back at Nick goes on to report: "The 10th Anniversary "Completely compelling" - Chortle. Do You Think That's Wise? Come and see what Jon Richardson can do with Bath's fabulous art deco Forum venue, this time has warranted an expansion of the Festival to words when he has more than thirty seconds with Jon Richardson giving us his first Bath gig in a scale hitherto not seen. Widcombe remains Online booking: The Life & Times of John Le Mesurier to work with. Or should that be "with which to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3328382 many years - I booked his last Bath outing many the spiritual home of the Festival, with the You saw it here First, folks! Date: Saturday 31st March, 2018 work"? years ago at the old Widcombe Social Club and programme at Widcombe Social Club boasting The New Act Competition is now so popular Venue: Widcombe Social Club I'm over the moon to welcome him back at last! some very special shows! The Club is all set that the heats have been extended to a total of Doors: 6.30pm for 7.00pm show to become a social hub of the Festival, with twelve, to be held in the Igloo underneath the Best known as team captain on '8 Out Of 10 Sarah Bennetto - All My Life's Duration: 55min its unique venue space and newly refurbished Abbey Hotel, The Westgate pub and The Bath Cats Does Countdown', Jon has been massively Mistakes, Catalogued (Volume One) Price: £10 / £7.50 concs Manuel, Basil and she who must be Waterside Arts Bar - truly the place to be seen!" Brew House. in demand for television and radio appearances Leading impressionist Julian Dutton brings to including; 'Have I Got News For You' (BBC Date: Wednesday 28th March, 2018 life one of Britain's best-loved comedy stars, Venue: Widcombe Social Club The Club will be host to some wide-appeal Our previous winners have all gone on to great ONE), 'Live At The Apollo' (BBC ONE), 'Channel revealing the man behind the wry smile and obeyed back by popular demand! Doors: 9.15pm for 9.30pm show evening shows to tickle everyone's fancy, things so it's all to play for, and the final should 4's Comedy Gala Live At The 02' and most urbane English repartee that charmed millions Other shows destined to sell out include a Duration: 1hr including a six-day run of the fantastic five star see another line-up of brand new stars in the recently 'Taskmaster' (DAVE). and turned John Le Mesurier into a household second visit of the fantastic Faulty Towers: The Price: £10 cabaret Mother's Ruin, tickets for which include making. The Winner will make off with the first name as Sergeant Wilson in Dad's Army. Dining Experience (Allium Brasserie at the Abbey "Jon Richardson is developing into a quietly One dimwit comedian's every dumb decision. Hotel, 3rd and 4th April) where the audience a free gin and tonic. The World Famous Scottish ever Lovehoney Newcomer Award, akin to sophisticated comedian who is at turns hilarious Presented in list form. 50 great mistakes Le Mesurier's life was not without tragedy - his become the guests at possibly the worst hotel Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre will be there too, Edinburgh's famous "Perrier". and disturbing and under no circumstances guaranteed. broken marriage to Hattie Jacques, his betrayal in the world, whilst, we might add, devouring a celebrating their status as the only act to have performed at every Bath Comedy Festival since should you miss" **** - The Mirror by his best friend Tony Hancock - all these delicious three course meal. "A generous serving of sterling gags and astutely its inception. In a venue near you! setbacks shook him, but his reputation as "one of our most individual and interesting stand- witty observations." - Steve Bennett, Chortle UK the quintessential English Gentleman never Rachel Parris' show also sold out very quickly, There is a whole host of other shows all over ups" **** - The Times wavered. the latest show to prove that this year you really Other highlights include celebrated impressionist town in venues such as The Bell, The Assembly "Superb. Devastating. Edges towards need to secure your tickets in advance to avoid Julian Dutton with his show about the Life & Inn, The Mission Theatre, St James Wine Vaults, "Sublimely brilliant, stunning..." - Time Out perfection." **** ThreeWeeks, UK "An impressionist tour de force" - Independent. disappointment! But fear not - we've added an Times of John Le Mesurier, Simon Evans, Arthur Komedia and The Rondo Theatre boasts a full extra show at Widcombe Social Club - get in Smith & The Smithereens, German Comedy programme featuring such luminaries as Elf Online booking: Online booking: Online booking quick to secure a seat! Ambassador Henning Wehn, as well as Bath Lyons, David Mills, Tom Stade and John Otway. bathforum.ticketline.co.uk/order/tickets/13330677 www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3337604 www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3338541 MarchApril18.indd 102-103 22/02/2018 10:23 Archie Maddocks Henning Wehn Rachel Parris Sally-Anne Hayward Christopher Macarthur-Boyd The 5 Star Edinburgh Fringe sell-out show, Simon Evans - Genius Rachel Parris - Keynote New Act Competition - Semi-Final Joey Page - Perhaps Under Stars That Christopher Macarthur-Boyd nominated for Amused Moose Best Show Award, Date: Saturday 31st March, 2018 Date: Friday 6th April, 2018 Date: Friday 13th April, 2018 Would Stretch Forever Home Sweet Home from the NZ Comedy Guild Best international Venue: Widcombe Social Club Venue: Widcombe Social Club Venue: Widcombe Social Club Comedian Award Nominee.