Exeter Comedy Festival Gala

Showcasing an exciting mix of award-winning comedians, rising stars and local talent, Exeter Comedy Festival returns as Arts Writer, Editor and June Boom Co-Producer Belinda Dillon shares what audiences can look forward to this year...

If you were in need of a reminder that Exeter’s reputation for hosting world-class comedy is rapidly expanding, then last night at Exeter Corn Exchange will have set you right.

A packed house was treated to a sampling of performances by acts bringing the laughs as part of Exeter Comedy Festival, and what lovely evening of comedy tapas it was. Hosted with humour, charm and some very dodgy outfits (New York pimp or the Hoffmeister bear via Eton? You decide!) by Festival founders Will Adamsdale and Spencer Jones, the Gala served up a tantalising taste of the line up over the next four days. And it’s a feast.

First up, the ever-brilliant Paul Foot brought his customary blend of absurd storytelling and frantic physical jerks to the stage, giving us a glimpse into the surreal rabbit holes meticulously excavated in his full-length shows. Resplendent in a red jumpsuit, he ranted about airline safety measures and the patronising lecturing of the RNLI (“just rescue me and keep your opinions to yourself”); from his leather briefcase he plucked a selection of ‘disturbances’, including one articulating the intrinsic misunderstandings between rural and urban via the image of Jeanette enjoying her Aga a bit too much. Unique and eccentric, Paul has two shows over the Festival, and there are still tickets available for ‘An Evening of Comedy with Paul Foot’ at Barnfield Theatre on Friday 5^th. Become a connoisseur!

Next up, Louise Leigh gave us a hilarious snapshot of the life of a menopausal woman – and to say I felt seen is an understatement. From musings on the female equivalents of the mid-life crisis sports car – campervans, multiple ear-piercings at Superdrug – to considerations of how to manage rage at your partner’s noisy breathing, Louise brings honesty, energy and not a little sauce to proceedings. A section about eschewing a meadow burial in favour of being taxidermied in order to be ‘in the way’ for generations to come, reveals a wonderfully surreal seam that left me wanting more. You can catch Louise’s show on Saturday 6^th at The Bootlegger.

Modern life in all its digital peculiarities was at the core of award-winning Australian comic Lou Wall’s outstanding turn. Through the medium of PowerPoint, and not a little musicality, Lou explored the limitations of online therapy platforms. Was ‘Jessica’ an actual qualified psychologist or was she, in fact, a robot… and a Mormon one at that? But it was Lou’s presentation on endeavours to supplement their income by monetising their, um, let’s call them ‘tantalisingly marketable toes’ for the sake of decency, that really had us roaring. Never has PowerPoint been used to such glorious effect. Lou’s show is on tonight (Thursday 4^th) at The Hall.

Another show to catch at all costs is Adam Riches as Sean Bean in ‘The 12 Beans of Christmas’. Yes, you read that right. Adam is channelling the festive spirit and the might of Sheffield’s finest to create a bonkers medieval romp-cum-Christmas game show in which The Bean challenges two members of the audience to answer questions relating to himself in the form of a contest involving grapes, squirty cream and a general flouting of health and safety regulations. A gag in which ‘Sean’ describes himself as a human trebuchet (“a six-foot wooden tool”) had me laughing so hard I don’t think I’ll be able to watch re-runs of Sharpe without collapsing into fits any time soon. You can catch Adam’s show in its full festive glory on Friday 5^th at 1 Guinea Street. I’ll be going back for more, despite still picking bits of mince pie out of my hair. Yes, you read that right, too.

Closing out the night was the ever-popular Mike Wozniak – something of a local hero and perennial favourite of stand-up comedy, TV (Taskmaster et al) and podcast-land. Using a 1960s book about hedgehogs to respond to queries from the audience (what can I do about this rash? Should I marry my partner? Let the hedgehog tarot guide you!), he brought a gently absurd, politely meticulous vibe to proceedings. Mike’s show at The Hall is sold out (of course it is), but you can find him posing the questions to writer/actor/director Alice Lowe at a special screening of her deliciously dark and funny pregnancy rage film Prevenge at Studio 74 (Thursday 4^th).

What a great night, and a wonderful sampling of what’s going to be another brilliant Festival.

Check out the full line-up and get tickets for Exeter Comedy Festival.