Following the large success of last year's punaugural event, theatremaker Gary McNair is bringing his 'Champipunship' pun battle back to Glasgow's O2 ABC on Sat Jul 11. Eight contestants are invited to deploy quick thinking and wordplay in a series of rounds designed to reveal the true World Champipun.
McNair instituted the event last year to raise funds for his Fringe show ‘Donald Robertson is Not a Stand-up Comedian’ (this year, it's his new show, 'A Gambler's Guide to Dying', which he estimates will cost £10,000 to stage). 'Donald Robertson' went on to earn a slew of four- and five-star reviews, though McNair admits that ‘many of the audience members thought that we should actually be taking the champipunship itself to the fringe, and maybe that is something we will do in future years.’
He added, 'I’m a fan of all kinds of humour. I strive to make work that is both funny and challenging and I think that comedy is at its best when it challenges something in society, but there is also a huge place in my heart for a simple, well-constructed one-liner that causes a proper chuckle. I can’t wait to hear what the competitors can come up with.'
In addition to the punnery on-stage, there’ll also be plenty of audience interaction, as well as music provided by a selection of punderful crossover tribute bands including Sigur Bros, Mumford & Sons ‘n’ Roses, Van Morrissey and Elaine Paige Against the Machine.
The Second Annual Champipunship: A Pun Raiser, O2 ABC, Sat Jul 11. Tickets £10.