Comedy Festival – Bury St Edmunds

Get ready for a month of rib-tickling fun and laughter when Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk hosts its second Comedy Festival throughout February 2025.

The town’s history is as rich as the punchlines, which will take you on a rollercoaster ride through the month filled with side-splitting stand-up, outrageous improv and witty comment creating a fun cocktail that’ll leave you in stitches.

Familiar venues will be transformed into laughter sanctuaries with a line-up of comedians who are masters of their craft catering for every comedic taste making it a very funny February.

The festival begins on Wednesday 5th February when Luke Wright returns to Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds with a new set of poems that get to grips with the idea of JOY. Is it possible, as a 42 year old to feel pure unbridled happiness, and what does it look like? The French novelist Henry de Montherlant said that “happiness writes white” but Wright’s not exactly starting with a blank page. With a mix of the comic and the wistful, JOY takes in consumerism, boozing, cancer scares, abseiling vicars and the joy of language itself.

This is followed on Thursday, 6^th February with a stand-up comedy night at ICE restaurant  with three top comedians guaranteed to make you laugh out loud. ICE will be offering a reduced menu featuring a selection of their popular dishes while the well-stocked bar will keep the drinks flowing all evening. For details and to book tickets at £10 per person visit www.ice.restaurant/comedy.

On Sunday evening, 9^th February the Fat Cat Comedy Club at The Apex presents three or four comedians from the national and international comedy circuits, some might be new faces, others rising stars or old friends making a welcome return visit. Admission £14.50 (plus a £2 booking fee) book by telephone, online or in-person at The Apex www.theapex.co.uk.

The next big laugh is on Valentine’s night, Friday 14^th February at the Hunter Club Arts Centre with a Young Comedians Show featuring up-and-coming artists from all over England including whippersnappers Luke Harrower, Aaron Hood, Becky Jade, Madeline Quinne and Adam Offord. There’s also a special Valentine’s cocktail and prosecco deals plus free pool. Tickets are £6 per person booked in advance or £8 at the door, www.hunterclub.org.uk.

Bury St Edmunds Abbeygate Cinema is also joining in the fun on Saturday 15^th February with its Comedy Night when local comedians take centre stage while the  chefs at the venue’s  No. 4 Restaurant + Bar will be serving a dine-in menu  www.abbeygatecinema.co.uk.

Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds comedy series continues the next evening, 16^th February with Jon Culshaw. The star of BBC Radio 4’s Dead Ringers, BBC One’s The Impressions Show and Channel 4’s Partygate, Jon has taken his new show, Imposter Syndrome, on the road following a sell-out season at the Edinburgh Festival. Join Jon for an evening of comedy and music as he conjures up an array of the best-known personalities from the worlds of entertainment, politics and beyond in his trademark style.

Laughter at the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds continues with an evening with Zoe Lyons – she is… Werewolf on 22^nd February. The host of BBC’s ‘Lightning’, a regular on ‘Have I Got News For You’, ‘QI’, and ‘Mock The Week’ – and a survivor of ‘Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins’ and ‘World’s Most Dangerous Roads’ on Dave – Zoe is one of the country’s best-loved comedians.

Leading political comedian and satirist Matt Forde takes the stage on 26^th February with his ‘End of an Era’ show’. The UK has a new government, which means there’s some new people he can mock.

Finally, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds presents 144 episodes of the hit 90s TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as told through the eyes of Spike on 27^th February.  Funny, satirical, and bursting with 90s pop culture references, this fast-paced gem is the perfect parody for Buffy aficionados and those who never enrolled at Sunnydale High. Created by comedian Brendan Murphy whose last show, FRIEND (The One with Gunther), won Best Play at the World Wide Comedy Awards.

Tickets for Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds comedy evenings start from £12, book online at www.theatreroyal.org.

More fun nights are being added as the month gets nearer.  To view the full line-up and book tickets priced from £19 per person as well as where to stay, shop, eat and drink visit www. burystedmundsandbeyond.co.uk/comedy-festival.

Bury St Edmunds Comedy Festival is a partnership project between the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, The Apex, The Hunter Club Arts Centre, Abbeygate Cinema and ICE. It is being coordinated by the town’s tourism brand Bury St Edmunds and Beyond, under Our Bury St Edmunds BID.

Luke Wright (image courtesy of Luke Wright)