A MONARCH of mirth will be crowned at a new comedy talent contest next month.
The inaugural Comedy Cellar New Act Final will see nine Yorkshire based up-and-coming wits face-off for a £100 prize, a trophy and a contract of paid UK gigs.
The contest, at the Lawrence Batley Theatre, is the brainchild of Comedy Cellar MC Anthony J Brown.
He said: “I was headlining at a gig where the rest of the bill comprised a ‘Gong Show’ competition whereby new acts performed knowing they could be hauled off the stage at any moment at the behest of the audience.
“This struck me as a grim throwback to the days of the posh folk guffawing at the dizzying array of freaks in Bedlam.
“It’s a bleak proposition for a would be gagster having to make a four hour round trip from Rotherham only to be cut short after 57 seconds due to some impatient clowns in the crowd.
“There are a lot of splendid new acts emerging and I wanted to be able to offer them a spot in a final where they get to deliver their material without the threat of a figurative crook dragging them off the stage and in the delightful surroundings of the Syngenta Cellar at Lawrence Batley Theatre rather than in the greasy function room of a flea-bitten hostelry.”
The evening of laughs will also feature a headline set by established comedian Carl Hutchinson while Huddersfield will be represented at the crunch gig by Jonny Addy.
The Comedy Cellar Best New Act is on June 9. Doors 7pm, show 8pm sharp. Entry £10/8
