Comedy is coming back with a bang to the Granite City with a star-studded line-up for the Aberdeen International Comedy Festival 2022.
Tickling funny bones from October 6-16, 2022 three comedians have been added to the line-up which includes the previously announced dead pan comedy legend that is Jack Dee.
Headlining and closing the festival on Sunday, October 16 is the unique and eccentric Milton Jones who is infamous for his over the top shirts. Also announced are the joyful Harriet Kemsley, offbeat comic Jordan Brookes and comedian, writer and podcaster Sara Pascoe who will top the 2023 festival bill with her biggest Aberdeen show to date.
Introduced to the Granite City in 2016 by Aberdeen Inspired the festival has grown considerably and is now firmly established as one of Scotland’s big three and attracts top international comedians every year who play at a host of city centre venues.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “It’s hugely exciting to bring the Aberdeen International Comedy Festival back to the city and we are excited to announce the first comedians who will no doubt make Aberdeen the best place to be next October for live comedy.
“The festival has become a firm favourite in the north-east with both locals and visitors alike. It opens up the city’s venues big and small to everyone and we are committed to building on this with the safe return of the festival in autumn next year.
“The popular event is a great opportunity for comedy fans to grab their tickets and experience all that Aberdeen city has to offer by adding a visit to a local restaurant or bar before the show or even staying in the city for a few nights to take in as many of the gigs as possible”
Debuting at the festival with his brilliantly funny show, Milton: Impossible, Milton Jones, whose last sell-out tour, Milton Jones Is Out There, was seen by over 100,000 people will close the festival with an intimate gig at The Tivoli Theatre on Sunday, October 16. Revealing the truth about being an international spy, before being given a disappointing new identity which forced him to appear on Mock the Week & Live at the Apollo.
Kicking off the 11-day extravaganza we are excited to welcome back festival favourite Harriet Kemsley with her show Honeysuckle Island at the Lemon Tree on Thursday, October 6. Fed up with being told how to look and behave since she was a teenager, Harriet is taking a long hard squint at the beauty industry through her two remaining false eyelashes.
The longest reigning Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner, Jordan Brookes is back with his new show FIX at the Lemon Tree on Sunday, October 9. In it he dives into what you would do when the end of the world finally comes, and you realise it’s going to happen slowly and boringly? Labelled the ‘riskiest comic in the biz’ Jordan Brookes is set to keep the laughs coming at the comedy festival.
Not only has the festival confirmed the three latest comedians for 2022 they have also announced the exciting addition of Sara Pascoe for a one off ‘Festival Nights’ in February 2023. The Dagenham-born comedian, who began her career as a London tour guide before side-stepping onto the Edinburgh Fringe will bring her hotly anticipated new show Success Story to the Aberdeen Music Hall on Saturday, February 4 2023 which will also be BSL signed. Sarah decided she wanted to be famous at 14 years old. Since then, she has auditioned for Barrymore, scared Pete Burns and ruined Hugh Grant’s birthday - but look at her now taking to the stage in Aberdeen.
Ahead of the main festival run in October 2022 there are also a few other one off ‘Festival Nights’ including Scottish Comedy Award winner Gary Meikle who will entertain audiences at the Music Hall on Friday, February 18 2022. The viral sensation ‘eyebrow guy’ brings his playfully dark new show Surreal to Aberdeen as a one off ‘Festival Night’. His cheeky chappie nature and ability to get away with talking about anything will have you laughing at things you probably shouldn’t be.
The Aberdeen International Comedy Festival will run at a multitude of city venues, bars and clubs over the course of 11 days from Thursday 6 October until Sunday 16 October 2022. The festival has been organised and promoted in its entirety by Aberdeen Inspired since 2016.
Tickets for Milton Jones, Harriet Kemsley and Jordon Brookes go on sale this Wednesday (December 1) with Sara Pascoe on sale from Friday (December 3). More acts will be announced throughout the year. For more information on the full Aberdeen International Comedy Festival line-up and to buy tickets go to www.aberdeencomedyfestival.com.