ESP's comedy writer Sarah Slack takes a look at the great comedy nights heading to Peterborough's New Theatre...
After only opening back in 2017 it was such a shame when the New Theatre closed its doors last year, especially as it was becoming an established venue for both its musical and theatrical offerings, but also for bringing some great names in comedy to its stage (the New Theatre also happened to be where I saw my last comedy gig of 2020 after seeing the phenomenal Stewart Lee back in February).
I’m glad to report however that the New Theatre is due to re-open in August 2021 and they’re coming back with a bang due to an impressive line-up of rescheduled and new comedy shows, including the theatre’s first mini-comedy festival!
Sunday 29 August - New Theatre Comedy Festival (Day 1)
Join the New Theatre over the August bank holiday weekend for the first night of the theatre’s first ever mini-comedy festival featuring Daliso Chaponda as MC, who is best known for appearing on Britain’s Got Talent back in 2017. He’ll be joined by festival favourite and award-winning comedian Barbara Nice as well as headliner Mark Watson, who has previously appeared on Taskmaster, Mock the Week and Live At The Apollo.
Monday 30 August - New Theatre Comedy Festival (Day 2)
To finish off the theatre’s first mini-comedy festival Monday night’s line-up will be headlined by Andrew Maxwell, who is best known for his regular appearances on Radio 4 as well as being the voice of MTV’s hit show Ex on the Beach. He’ll be joined by the amazing Luisa Omielan, who is the first British comedian to ever receive a BAFTA Breakthrough Award for comedy, alongside circuit favourites Justin Moorhouse and Hal Cruttenden.
The laughs don't end at the festival as the New Theatre has a whole host of big comedy names lined up to take the Peterborough stage...
Sunday 5 September - Frank Skinner
After being rescheduled from his initial performance in April 2020, Frank Skinner will be bringing his critically acclaimed stand-up show Showbiz to the New Theatre, and readers will be pleased to know that there are still a few tickets remaining. The show has previously sold out a five-week run at the West End’s Garrick Theatre, and previously Frank had also performed sold-out runs of the show at London’s Leicester Square Theatre, the Edinburgh fringe, and a 45-date national UK tour.
21-22 September - John Bishop
Comedy superstar John Bishop will be returning to Peterborough for two dates in September with his highly anticipated brand-new stand up show – Right Here, Right Now. This will be John’s eighth stand up show and it is shaping up to be his best yet. John has achieved huge success with a number of his own comedy, entertainment and documentary shows, but more recently he has starred in four series of the critically acclaimed ‘John Bishop: In Conversation With…’ which saw him chatting one to one with some of the world’s biggest household names.
24 September - Daniel Sloss
The all-new, 11th solo show by one of Scotland’s most popular comics comes to the New Theatre as Daniel Sloss will be performing after his incredible ‘X’ tour sold out across 40 countries and totalled 300 performances, including at a Moscow arena which became Russia’s biggest-ever English language comedy show. Daniel is also best known for his Netflix specials Dark & Jigsaw, with the latter inspiring over 95,000 breakups and 200 divorces world-wide and with some fans even bringing their divorce papers for him to autograph at shows!
3 April 2022 - Lost Voice Guy
Following the success of his huge sell out 2019 UK tour, Lost Voice Guy is heading back out on the road to put a smile on the faces of people up and down the country once again.
The Britain’s Got Talent winner will poke fun at his life living as a disabled person in a post-apocalyptic world, as he tries to cope with the fame and fortune since his memorable victory.
9 May 2022 - Sandi Toksvig
Following the sell-out 2019 tour of her previous show National Trevor, the comedian, broadcaster, writer, campaigner and all-round good egg, returns to over 35 UK theatres with her brand-new show, ‘Next Slide Please’. In an evening of warmth, love and laughter, Sandi will explore reasons to be cheerful after many long months of coronacoaster gloom.
For more information to book tickets for any of these shows at the New Theatre, call the theatre’s box office on 01733 852992 or visit their website, www.newtheatre-peterborough.com.
Sarah Slack