A line-up featuring international award-winning comedy and one of the North East’s best-loved stand-ups heads to Bishop Auckland Town Hall when Hilarity Bites returns on Friday 21st August.
Top of the bill is New Zealand-born comedian Matt Stellingwerf, a four-time New Zealand Comedy Guild Award winner who has become a regular on the UK comedy circuit since relocating here. He first made his name in his native New Zealand, where he collected multiple national comedy awards and performed at festivals across the country before bringing his stand-up to Britain. His move has seen him become a familiar face at comedy clubs and festivals throughout the UK, where his thoughtful storytelling, dry observations and quietly self-deprecating style have earned him a loyal following. Drawing on everything from family life to the quirks of modern living, his performances are built around carefully crafted stories rather than rapid-fire one-liners, making him one of the circuit’s most distinctive acts.
Joining him is County Durham comedian Lauren Pattison, who has become one of the North East’s best-known comedy exports. After reaching the final of the BBC New Comedy Award, she received an Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer nomination in 2017 for her debut Fringe show, ‘Lady Muck’. Since then, she has returned to the Edinburgh Fringe with a string of acclaimed shows while appearing on programmes including Live at the Apollo, The Stand Up Sketch Show, Comedy Central Live and Dave’s Hypothetical. She has also toured extensively across the UK, with her stand-up drawing on family life, relationships and the realities of growing up in the North East. Combining sharp observations with plenty of warmth, Lauren has become a familiar face on television while remaining a regular on the live comedy circuit.
Holding the evening together is Carl Jones, a familiar face to comedy audiences across the country. An experienced compère, he’s known for his relaxed style and quick thinking, helping to create the easy-going atmosphere Hilarity Bites has become known for. As with every show, the bill also includes an emerging comedian, giving audiences the chance to discover new talent alongside more established names.
Hilarity Bites has been staging comedy nights across the North East for more than 20 years, bringing a mix of established performers and rising stars to theatres, arts centres and community venues.
Tickets, priced at £11.00 in advance, are available at hilaritybites.co.uk.
