While some comedy events can be mostly focused on a series of stand-up events, the Leeds LaughterFEST claims to be a 'comedy festival with a twist'.
Taking place from October 1-11, LaughterFEST had been organised by local comedy curator Ben Brown – aka Ben Randm – with an aim to showcase different strands of comedy and celebrate them with a series of unique events.
This year's festival runs over 11 days, and will feature more than 20 acts, at 13 different venues including Hyde Park Picture House, the Corn Exchange, the Joint, Belgrave Music Hall and Northern Monk.
Leeds LaughterFEST launches with Get Baked's Gang Bang Karaoke Disco at the Joint on October 1 and gets increasingly more diverse from there.
This includes The Not So Late Show, an alternative comedy performance in a chat show format hosted by Ross Brierley and Joshua Sadler, a gunge-infused Family Fun Day at East St Leeds, a Short Film Showcase at the Hyde Park Picture House and even an evening of comedy mixed with wrestling...
For those who like their comedy to be accompanied by booze, there are a couple of events within the festival that are likely to grab your attention. This includes a Performance and Cocktails night at Oporto, which will pit the bartenders of Leeds against each in a series of drink pouring challenges, as well as an intriguing sounding stand up bar crawl.
This event, named L'after Work Drinks, will see a mix of improv, magic and clowning around as the audience follow three different acts to The Lab, Bar Soba and The Brunswick.
Paul Foot
In amongst this collection of comedy curiosities are two headline acts. The first being popular cult comedian and master of bizarre observation, Paul Foot, who will be performing the Northern Monk Refectory on October 6, and a Comedy Disco starring TV clip mixing YouTube stars DJ Rubbish and Cassetteboy on October 8 at the Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen.
For more details of all the events taking place during the festival, take a look at the website. Tickets are available here and here.
Leeds LaughterFEST, October 1-11. Various time and venues.
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