GAZETTE & HERALD

Rib-tickling talent for Devizes

11:00am Friday 23rd September 2011

Jim Davidson, the veteran comedian who headlined last year’s inaugural Devizes International Comedy Fest-ival, recommended the top acts for this year.

Although he was ready to return to Devizes after last year’s sell-out gig, Mr Davidson was not invited by organiser Mark Cann because Mr Cann wanted the festival, which opens next Wednesday, to “stand on its own feet”.

But Mr Davidson was asked who he thought should be booked for this year’s event and replied: “John Moloney is one of the best comedians around.”

Mr Moloney is booked to appear on Friday, September 30, the third and final night of the festival. Mock the Week regular Seann Walsh will also be appearing as will Simon Evans, who has starred on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow on BBC and The News Quiz on Radio 4.

But it is not all about big-name professionals sweeping in to astonish the natives.

Open mic nights for local talent have already taken place at The Bear Hotel, The Moonrakers Arms and the third was due to be last night at The Crown.

Mr Cann said: “Some real talent has been discovered, including last year’s winner Stanley Matthews and Ben Borrill, who did a very funny number in the style of Sesame Street.”

The winner, as well as receiving a coveted Waddie Award, will get to perform on the main stage at the Corn Exchange alongside Mr Walsh and Mr Moloney.

Two runners up will be invited to share the stage on Wednesday next week with the Raymond and Mr Timkins Revue, last year’s best stand-up act Jamie Sutherland, and the up-and-coming Jason Patterson.

Mr Cann added: “The festival has a line-up of some of the best comics in the country.”

 

JIM DAVIDSON RECEIVES A £1000 CHEQUE ON BEHALF OF THE BRITISH FORCES FOUNDATION FROM THE DEVIZES COMEDY FESTIVAL

As well as being an outstanding success, the Devizes Comedy Festival raised money for three charities including £1000 for the British Forces Foundation. Jim Davidson, founder of the charity British Forces Foundation, based in Pewsey, accepted a cheque for £1,000 this week from festival organiser and charity chief executive Mark Cann.

RAVE REVIEWS FOR INAUGURAL COMEDY FESTIVAL

The very first Devizes International Comedy and Ukelele Fetival has been heralded as a major sucess. Organisers have received rave reviews about the three-day event with Jim Davidson 'storming' the Comedy Club and selling out his own show.

And the success wasn't only limited to the stage - three local charities, The Bpbby Van Trust, The British Forces Foundation and the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal, will get a share of at £1,100 raised during the course of the Festival.

One Festival goer wrote: "Thank you so much for the Most entertaining evening last night – we absolutely loved it and haven’t laughed like that for ages! Brilliant evening, lovely people, very amusing comedians. It clearly took a lot of work and was done with great organisation and style. You have definitely put Devizes on the comedy map!!"

WADDY WINNERS!

Jim Davidson received the Waddy's Lifetime Achievement Award when he performed at the Devizes Comedy Festival. Other Waddy's winners were: Kev Orkian as Best International artiste; Jamie Sutherland as Best Stand-up; and Stanley Mathews as the Open Mic winner.

WHAT AN OPENING NIGHT!

The Devizes International Comedy and Ukulele Festival kicked off with a fantastic evening. Starting with The Hot Potato Syncapators - a wonderfully extravert team of Ukulele players from Bath who put everyone in a jovial mood. They were closely followed by Jamie Sutherland who started to make the laughing muscles hurt and had one or two of us crying with laughter. After a short break the star of the show Kevin Orkian (from Armenia) appeared with his piano - what a 5* performance, a true genius, noone in the audience left the Corn Exchange with out hurting from laughter, as well as having been wowed by his musical talent.

Initial comments have been: "Incredible evening, what a genius Kev Orkian is!", "What a start to The Devizes Comedy and Ukulele Festival - I hope it goes on forever...",  "Put us down for next year and what else can we come to this year?"