Antrim Guardian - Features - Comedy Taken to a New Era

Features

Comedy Taken to a New Era

Friday, 11 February 2011

After launching last year and rebranding from Jongleurs, highlight has made comedy tickets available at nine exclusive clubs all over the UK, including popular venue areas such as Camden in north London, Birmingham and Edinburgh. Highlight provides not only the best comedy acts in Britain but also stages some of the country's finest stand up comedians including Phil Butler, Mikey Adams and Smug Roberts.

Highlight remains the home of live comedy all over Britain, as it presents thousands of comedians and hosts gigs which will keep everyone laughing even after the night is over. Throughout the UK, highlight leads the scene in providing the best stand up comedians, giving a chance to both the upcoming artists who can prove their worth and those who have already established themselves as the all-time greats of comedy. Highlight runs one of the best comedy clubs Edinburgh has to offer, illustrated by allowing time for growing comedians such as Jojo Sutherland and Sean Grant, as well as having typical class acts ready to perform with artists such as Steve Harris and John Scott, who was described to "always play a blinder" by the Edinburgh Evening News.

"He made me howl with laughter," said world-famous Scottish comedian Billy Connolly, reflecting his opinion on Steve Harris.

The comedy scene has really picked up in terms of quality over recent years and stand up has become a new trend for social outings which highlight manages to embrace in its reasonably priced comedy package. It is true that it can be incredibly funny to watch Live at the Apollo from your TV set, but a new era of comedy has emerged as it involves not only a laugh but an excuse for an entertaining evening (perhaps even a tipsy one) with friends and family. The public are keen to set their eyes on new evenings, and highlight has captured everything into one, except this time it can guarantee you a laugh for only a sly tenner.

Highlight offers a wide selection of entertainment packages, hiring some of the industry's finest planning advisors to tailor specific requests. Highlight manages to successfully indulge customers into the world of comedy as they provide not only a sturdy drinks menu but also cater well prepared food, which finely complements a good night of laughter.

Camden in north London is one of the trendiest places in the whole of the UK, representing the heart and soul of British nightlife and the new young era where anything goes. Comedy legend Geoff Boyz often takes centre stage on Friday and Saturday at the highlight's Camden branch. The venue seats over 350 people and represents one of the comedy club's leading locations, providing the perfect end to a day's outing in the famous Camden Lock Market, second home to street artist and political satirist Banksy. Highlight Camden not only boasts a comedy club, but also a diner, club and fully licensed bar that remains open well into the early hours of the morning.

Big hitter Matthew Osborn is set to take centre stage in Camden on February 11th, with the stand up named Chortle's Best Newcomer in 2003 after performing solid acts in circuits across the UK, France, Belgium and Monaco. Osborn took a break from stand up in 2005 but returned two years later in 2007 and was voted the English Comedian of the Year shortly after in 2009.

Chortle described him as "a heady mix of gloriously politically incorrect comments, casually unknowing self-deprecation and genuinely funny surrealism...the gags themselves are expertly crafted, perfectly timed and outrageously funny."

Comedy Central and highlight partnered up in recent years and now boast the best comedy Birmingham's highly commercial Broad Street can tender. Highlight Birmingham offers six different rooms and seven bars, catering to everyone's varied moods, whether it is chilling to Café del Mar or David Guetta's latest hit. The club attracts thousands of people each week as it showcases killer comedians such as Carl Donnelly, an act who recently aired on Russell Howard's Good News, and That Was the Noughties. Donnelly is a mad, sweaty and overly sympathetic comic who displays one of the country's leading skits.

Doors open at 19:00 and close half an hour before the show which starts promptly at 20:30 on Saturdays. Comedy tickets can be purchased from its website, ranging from £10 to £18, depending on the acts and venues.