The fiendishly titled Stockton On Tee-Hee’s Comedy Festival will take place at The Georgian Theatre in Stockton on Saturday 11th October, boasting a stellar comedic line-up for the evening.
While the three shows on offer are all work-in-progress showcases, there’s no shortage of talent on display. These raw performances often promise a freer, more unpredictable vibe – along with a chance to witness material being shaped in real time. It’s a rare peek behind the curtain at the creative process that leads to the polished, tour-ready shows.
Lou Conran will open proceedings with the first hour. With bags of experience and widely respected for her prowess as both MC and stand-up, Conran is ideally suited to this kind of environment. Closely associated with Sarah Millican – both as a support act and resident MC for Millican’s new material night ‘The Playground’ – Conran has mastered the still-underrated art of flat-out funny storytelling. There are few subjects she can’t mine for humour, and this evening is sure to showcase that.
Next up is Tez Ilyas, a real coup for the bill. Ilyas has carved out a formidable public presence, with a host of mainstream TV credits on panel and stand-up shows, as well as acclaim as the best-selling author of ‘The Secret Diary of a British Muslim Aged 13 ¾’. He also fronted his own satirical Channel 4 show, ‘The Tez O’Clock Show’. The latter, in particular, revealed his cutting wit, cheeky celebrity send-ups, and sketch work – along with the delightfully subversive streak running through his comedy. A master at luring the audience in before flipping a bit on its head, Ilyas is a comedic tightrope-walker not to be missed in this intimate setting.
Rounding off the evening is a closing hour from The Halls of Ridiculous, an award-winning improv pairing featuring Chris Lumb and Phil Allan-Smith. The audience won’t just watch but participate, directing scenes as the duo conjure up characters, sketches, and rapid-fire surrealism on the spot.
This rich and varied menu of comedic talent once again proves just how much brilliance is thriving in town centres across the UK – and why this line-up more than earns the title of a festival.
Tickets, priced from £12.00 in advance, are available at georgiantheatre.co.uk.
