Pop-Up Comedy clubs will be coming near you!
The Laughter Factory is set to unleash brand new pop-up comedy nights across the Middle East.
Celebrating its 22nd year of bringing the best global stand up to the Middle East and now in all new pop up form. "The Laughter Factory Pop Up Tour" headlined by Ben Norris from BBC's 'Mock the week’ and ‘Never mind the Buzzcocks’ supported by Rich Wilson described as “a very, very funny man” by the mighty Frank Skinner, and “highly entertaining” by Time Out London and a stellar line up is completed by Pierre Hollins a brilliant comic with a razor sharp intellect.
Pop Up shows start at Media 1 Hotel, Internet city on Wednesday July 12th at 8pm. Then we up sticks to Jumeriah Golf estates, where they will be hosting an early show at 7pm on Friday 14th July. Then we rotate our venues round the city to bring live comedy to a whole new audience.
Laughter Factory owner Gail Clough can't wait to bring their unique comedy nights to a fresh new audience. "After all that’s what a live experience is about’, says Clough.
Having some decent banter in the pub before the gig and trying to recall a few of the gags afterwards, we just provide the highly entertaining bit in the middle. The Laughter Factory is not just about the world class acts on stage, we are proud to say we have a wonderful comedy literate audience, that have grown with us over 21 years and now it's time more people got the Laughter Factory feeling."
The Laughter Factory – July listings
What: The Laughter Factory starring Ben Norris, Rich Wilson and Pierre Hollins
Where/when:
Thursday, July 6th – Moevenpick JBR 9PM *
Friday, July 7th – Moevenpick JBR 9PM *
Monday, July 10th – Hilton DoubleTree DOHA 8PM
Tuesday, July 11th – Grand Hyatt DOHA 8PM
Wednesday, July 12th – Media One 8PM
Thursday, July 13th – Grand Millennium (Tecom) Barsha Heights 9PM*
Friday, July 14th – Jumeriah Golf Estates 7PM
Price: Dhs140/QR 140 – book now at thelaughterfactory.com
Contact: 00971 50 878 6728
Evening pre-show drinks and buffet packages are available in venues marked with a *, from Dh260 thelaughterfactory.com.
Ages 21+ only.
Meet the Comics
Ben Norris
Ben Norris might be the most acclaimed stand-up comedian you’ve (probably) never heard of.
Don’t believe us? Critics and comedians alike are united in their universal praise for this bona fide legend of the UK comedy scene. A-list fans include Ed Byrne, Jason Manford (who called Ben “unbelievably brilliant”) and Daniel Kitson (who branded Norris “a wonderful disgrace of a human being”).
Meanwhile, select adoring press quotes include "One of the comedy circuit’s best improvisers" (Daily Mirror), “Splendidly funny” (Time Out London), “One of the most bankable headliners around” (The Guardian) and “It's hard to think of anyone on the circuit who works an audience with as much skill and flair" (The Scotsman). Really.
Meanwhile if you HAVE heard of Norris – respect – it’s likely you spotted his primetime appearances on top BBC panel shows Mock the Week, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and They Think It’s All Over.
Ben received rave reviews on his last Laughter Factory outing – “viciously striking the funny-bone” raved The National – and we’re thrilled to have been able to bag this much in-demand comic for a return visit.
As a stand-up, Ben is of the classically observational, effortlessly relatable bent – known for a relaxed, chatty personality, the lines between fact and fiction, routine and improv, are utterly blurred in Norris’ fresh, friendly delivery. Interesting fact: Ben is also cousin of A-list actor Martin Freeman – of The Hobbit, Sherlock and The Office fame.
After close to 25 years on the circuit, with three hit Edinburgh Fringe solo shows to his name, Ben is rightly regarded as stand-up veteran. Or as the thinking folk at GQ put it so well: “The term ‘circuit legend’ is overused, but Norris is one of a handful that have been headlining for more than two decades and rarely departs a stage without leaving it torn to shreds in his wake. A master of the craft... the most polished stand-up you are likely to see.” So there.
Ben's TV credits include:
“Mock the week” (BBC 1)
“Never mind the Buzzcocks” (BBC 2)
“The Comedy Store” (Paramount and Comedy Central)
“They think it’s all over” (BBC 2)
Ben has written and performed three solo shows at The Edinburgh Festival
‘Sitting room only’ (1997)
’Mr Ambiguousness’ (2013)
and ‘Benny on the loose’ (2014)
Ben was Ed Byrne’s tour support for his 2013 UK tour and appeared at the Apollo, Hammersmith.
Ben acted in a play developed with the ‘Comedians Theatre Company’ called ‘The last minutes’ which was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2014.
Press Quotes:
The term "circuit legend" is overused, but Norris is one of a handful that have been headlining for more than two decades and rarely departs a stage without leaving it torn to shreds in his wake. A master of the craft, this will be an hour of the most polished stand-up you are likely to see.
GQ Magazine
"Ben Norris may not be a household name, but then very few really good comedians are these days.
The London-based stand-up has been touring steadily for the past two decades, and he's developed a razor sharp act
in the process ; it's hard to think of anyone on the circuit who works an audience with as much as much skill and flair."
The Scotsman
“…He's one of the best headliners around, Ben Norris pretty much improv-ed his way through his 20-minute set, and did so beautifully”
London is funny.com
"...an acerbic attitude, a well-stocked arsenal of sharp lines and the wherewithal to work any crowd make Norris one of the more engaging and enjoyable comics on the circuit"
Chortle
"KILLER GAGS"
The Scotsman
“Impressively dark surrealism..”
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard
“A cast iron guaranteed headliner”
London is Funny
"Superb...a complete natural"
Cape Times
"...one of the comedy circuits best improvisers"
Daily Mirror
"...a splendidly funny live stand-up"
Timeout
With 20 years on the clock, Norris is one of the most bankable headliners around and is a brilliant improviser.
The Guardian
Comedian quotes:
‘..unbelievably brilliant’
Jason Manford
‘Blokey observations, but not always what you expect. He’s an outstanding improviser, and when the comedians get together to play football he does the funniest commentary.’
Milton Jones
“A wonderful disgrace of a human being’
Daniel Kitson
“Hilarious…truly a sight to behold”
Ed Byrne
Pierre Hollins
Pierre Hollins, has made his mark as a comedic breath of fresh air – strafing brows high and low – challenging and cheering audiences in equal measure.
But as well as an intellectual streak, Pierre is deeply down-to-earth, serving withering everyday observational insights, and psychologically scoping into matters of men, women, and the heart.
Some call Hollins a musical comedian, but such a description doesn’t tell the whole story. For one, he eschews the commonplace cheap laughs of strumming parodies of popular songs. He claims he can’t play, but likewise can’t fight – in the words of his own press blurb – a wild “compulsion for absurd guitar posturing”. Which is why the first instrument he brought to the stage was a one-string electric squash racquet (which still makes special appearances at festival gigs).
Oh, and Hollins is also master of the accents-for-funny. From Polish builders to Indian sari salesmen, Pierre strafes the precipice of good taste, always remaining on terra firma thanks to his fine wit and faultless execution.
• He should be: "made the mayor of a small village" Shanghai City Weekend
Pierre Hollins has written for radio and television: (Click HERE for details)
Rich Wilson
It was when working behind the bar at a London comedy club that Rich Wilson realised that, funny as they were, he could do better than the comedians onstage – and promptly picked up a mic.
Call it a stroke of fortune for the comedy world – what if Rich had been behind the bar at a jazz club? Would he be strutting a double bass and pork-pie hat today? – because for more than a dozen years Wilson has been working crowds across the world with his assured sense of style, timing, and an ability to tame the rowdiest of comedy crowds.
Praised as “a very, very funny man” by the mighty Frank Skinner, and dubbed “highly entertaining” by Time Out London, Wilson has proved a global hit, winning Best International Act at the New Zealand Comedy Festival Awards, and scoring high-profile gigs in New York and Las Vegas.
About The Laughter Factory
The Laughter Factory is the Middle East's longest-running comedy night, proudly making the GCC laugh since 1997. Evert month The Laughter Factory hosts a fresh bill of three different professional comedians, many already familiar stars of the screen on hit UK TV shows.
With a reputation for quality and a sharp eye for talent, The Laughter Factory has showcased reams of A-list comics on their way to superstardom, including Michael McIntyre, Russell Peters, Ed Byrne, Dara O'Brien, Ross Noble, Jason Manford, Sarah Millican, Kevin Bridges and Frankie Boyle.
The Laughter Factory's has been recognised by numerous publications, winning several accolades over its two-decade history, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from Time Out Dubai in 2013.
Online
Find out more: www.thelaughterfactory.com
Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelaughterfactory
And Twitter: @LaughterFactory
Media contact
Gail Clough (co-founder)
+97150 100 3074
gail@thelaughterfactory.com
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