Preview: Romesh Ranganathan at Barnard Castle

Mock The Week Star to Headline

Barnard Castle Xmas Show

Romesh Ranganathan & Suzi Ruffell

One of the stars of hit panel show Mock The Weekis to perform at a special Christmas show in the North East.

Comedian Romesh Ranganathan will bring his 2014 Edinburgh Best Show Comedy Award-nominated show, Rom Wasn’t Built In A Day, to The Witham in Barnard Castle on Saturday 13 December.

You might recognise Romesh from his many TV appearances, which include Mock The Week, Live At The Apollo, Russell Howard’s Good News, Sunday Night At the London Palladium, and a regular slot on Channel 4’s weekly topical show, Stand Up For The Week.

He’s comedy’s next big star, and you can see him live in Teesdale for one night only. Peter Dixon, of promoters Funny Way To Be, said: “I saw Romesh's Best Newcomer Nominated Edinburgh show in 2013 and along with many others recognised he was a comedian heading for the top. “We had hoped he would come to Barnard Castle last year but TV commitments prevented that, so we are thrilled that he agreed to perform this autumn as the only North East date on his debut UK tour.”

In 2014, over 2,200 tickets have been sold for Funny Way To Be comedy shows in Barnard Castle. Founded by Peter Dixon in 2010, Funny Way To Be is the home of comedy in Barnard Castle. Previous acts include Russell Howard, Russell Kane, Jason Cook and Chris Ramsey.

And to thank Teesdale comedy goers for their support over the record-breaking year, Romesh will be joined by a comedy headliner in her own right, rising stand-up and Alan Carr’s tour support, Suzi Ruffell. In her hotly anticipated second show, Social Chameleon, the 'stand-up gem' (The Guardian) questions why she spent 27 years trying to make anyone and everyone like her. Turns outs it takes a fat bully from Swansea, a too-honest mother and searching a Parisian graveyard for someone she has never heard of to give up trying and just be herself. 

Lee Nelson

The show marks the end of a star-studded autumn season of comedy the market town, which sees Lee Nelson and Susan Calman visit Funny Way To Be in the coming weeks. Peter added: “This show rounds off a fantastic year for us, back for a full twelve months in the redeveloped Witham. 

Susan Calman

 With our proven track record and the fabulous facilities at the Barnard Castle arts centre we are able to attract some of the UK's very best comics. It's a far cry from our humble beginnings over four years ago.  During all this time the audiences have been wonderful and that's a key reason why comedians love to come and play for us.”

Tickets for all shows are on sale now from funnywaytobe.com.

Tickets

•       Wednesday 29 October: Lee Nelson: Work-In-Progress, £17.50, 7.30pm

•       Wednesday 19 November: Silky with support, £5, 8.00pm.

•       Saturday 29 November: Susan Calman: Lady Like, £14/£12 concessions, 8pm

•       Saturday 13 December: Romesh Ranganathan and Suzi Ruffell, £12/£10 concessions, 8pm

Venue

The Witham, 3 Horsemarket, Barnard Castle, Durham, DL12 8LY

Preview: Stand Up in Barnard Castle

Stand Up Stars Bring Laughs

To Barnard Castle

 

Susan Calman

Award-winning comedians, TV stars and rising stand-up talent will perform at a top North East comedy club this autumn.

Teesdale comedy promoters Funny Way To Be, based at The Witham in Barnard Castle, has unveiled its line-up for the remainder of 2014 today.

Lee Nelson

Kicking off the comedy club’s brand new season is star of BBC Three’s Well Funny People, Lee Nelson, who brings his wonderful character-driven stand-up to The Witham on Wednesday 29 October.

 

Susan Calman

Prepare yourself for a night of jokes, legendary audience interaction, games and banter as Lee shows you a side of himself you’ve never seen him before.

Award-winning comedian Susan Calman is next up at Funny Way To Be, as she embarks on her first ever stand-up tour of the UKfollowing rave reviews at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Calman, a regular on TV panel shows including QI and Have I Got News For You?, brings her Lady Like tour to Teesdale on Saturday 29 November.

Romesh Ranganathan

While the season finale, on Saturday 13 December, sees two of comedy’s rising stars make their Barnard Castle debuts.   

Romesh Ranganathan, winner of the Leicester Mercury New Act Award in 2013 and star of Channel 4’s hit comedy show Stand Up For The Week, brings his latest show, Rom Wasn’t Built In A Day, to The Witham.

 

While Suzi Ruffell, tour support for Alan Carr, Kevin Bridges and Josh Widdicombe, rounds off Funny Way To Be’s autumn season on the same night with her brand new show, Social Chameleon. 

 

Romesh Ranganathan & Suzi Ruffell

The full programme is:

·         Wednesday 29 October: Lee Nelson: Work-In-Progress, £17.50, 7.30pm

·         Saturday 29 November: Susan Calman: Lady Like, £14/£12 concessions, 8pm

·         Saturday 13 December: Romesh Ranganathan and Suzi Ruffell, £12/£10 concessions, 8pm

Peter Dixon, of Funny Way To Be Comedy Club, said: “All four comedians in our autumn season are playing Barnard Castle for the very first time so we’re very excited in that respect.

“Their styles are varied but all have one thing in common in that they are tremendous talents and greatly respected in their fields. 

“Lee [Nelson] is arguably the top character comedian on the comedy circuit, Susan Calman has vast standup, TV and radio experience behind and is embarking on her debut tour and the double-header show of Romesh [Ranganathan] and Suzi [Ruffell] brings two of comedy's rising young stand up stars as they also embark on their first UK tours. These are shows not to be missed."

Today’s announcement coincides with a sold-out appearance from Chris Ramsey, who visits The Witham on Thursday ahead of his limited run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Tickets

Tickets for all shows are on sale now from funnywaytobe.com.

VENUE

The Witham, 3 Horsemarket, Barnard Castle, Durham, DL12 8LY