Leicester Mercury

Homegrown talent gets chance to shine

ARTS ORGANISATI­ON HAS RESIDENCY AT PUB

- By STAFF REPORTER comedy-festival.co.uk/events

HOME-GROWN performers are taking centre stage at many shows during the comedy festival, with the help of a not-forprofit arts orgainsait­on.

Furthest From The Sea, Music, Comedy and Arts CIC, founded in Derbyshire, described its vision as supporting individual­s in their personal and profession­al developmen­t and “to engage communitie­s in creative activities”.

This year, it has a residence at Knight and Garter, in Hotel Street, and a total of 14 acts across the fesitval’s three weekends.

A spokeswoma­n said: “Back in 2018, when we first worked alongside Knight and Garter, we had an inkling that something special had begun.

“Since that small but perfectly formed initial run, we have worked closely with this incredibly supportive venue to develop

an outstandin­g experience for audiences, establishe­d acts and new artists. There really is something for everyone.

“We are proud to be supporting a diverse range of comedy talent, with solo stand-up, improv, panel shows, spoken word and even a musical.

“The majority of our guest comedians and artists hail from our East Midlands cities of

Derby, Nottingham and Leicester but we are also delighted to welcome some very funny people from Wales and Ireland, too.”

Homegrown talent from Derbyshire includes Alex Leam with his shows The Joy of Decks (February 18) and Improv Provocateu­r (February19), and writer Graham Hopkins and the cast of his new musical Nelly - An Evening with Nell Gwynne, which will be premiering on February 20, the festival’s last day.

The other Furthest From The Sea acts still to come are:

A Political Breakfast, noon today, 11am, tomorrow and February 19;

A Comedy Tapas. Fridays 5.45pm, Saturdays 3.20pm;

Chips, the World and Everything, today, 7.15pm;

Esyllt Spears: Absolutely Not, 8.45pm;

Rahul Soma: Asian Showcase, tomorrow, 7.15pm;

Wesley Mallan: Have You Tried Cheering Up, tomorrow, 8.45pm;

Ishi Khan: Love, Desires, Strawberri­es, 7.15pm;

Opportunit­y Knock Knocks, 7.15pm, February 19

Tickets are available from the Leicester Comedy Festival website:

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 ?? ?? SHOWTIME: Alex Leam has two shows. Right, Nelly – An Evening with Nell Gwynne, is a new musical written by Graham Hopkins
SHOWTIME: Alex Leam has two shows. Right, Nelly – An Evening with Nell Gwynne, is a new musical written by Graham Hopkins

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