Bath Comedy Festival

The Bath Comedy Festival (30 Mar - 9 April 2012) has been designed to bring the beautiful World Heritage City of Bath to life with a colourful, vibrant, inclusive and dedicated mix of comedy – in all its many guises.

Starting on 30th March 2012 this exciting programme will take place in a fantastic selection of venues and will spill out onto Bath's historic streets in a hubbub of anticipation and laughter.

From stand up to street theatre, farce to silent movies, mime to cartoons, from buskers to celebrities, it will be a celebration of the art of making people laugh.

This year's festival is looking like the best ever!

Festival Director Nick Steel reports: "I'm already very proud of the programme - at classic comedy venue Widcombe Social Club there will be 15 shows over 11 days, starring a host of well known names like Barry Cryer and Jeremy Hardy, some highly unusual cabarets and the popular Sunday Lunch shows with great musical comedy on the side. Look out for local favourites like Jarred Christmas (yes, that chap with the big sideburns), Chippenham's fabulous fast-talking raconteur Wil Hodgson and Bristol's up-and-coming star Jared Hardy, plus "Show Me The Funny" winner Patrick Monahan, German Comedy Ambassador Henning Wehn, and the one and only Piff the Magic Dragon.

"Musical comedy will be provided by Mik Artistik's Ego Trip, Bill Smarme & The Bizness, Earl Okin and those darlings of the London cabaret circuit The Segue Sisters, who will be starring in an Easter Eggstravaganza Cabaret hosted by Arthur Smith. There are too many great shows to mention here - check out the web site for more details.

"There's a run of events at the Rondo Theatre starring amongst others Robin Ince and Mitch Benn, and shows all over town including the Mission Theatre, Komedia, Bath Central Library, the Assembly Inn, Ye Olde Farmhouse, and not least the brand new Comedy Cavern at Baroque nightclub, which will be host to the New Act Competition heats as well as their regular Sunday evening shows.

"The Natural Youth Theatre will be entertaining on the streets on April Fool's Day, and festival stalwart Arthur Smith is returning to lead a grown-ups' Easter Egg Hunt... There are workshops led by Women on the Make and Tony Allen, and something for the kids too with a comic art masterclass where everyone goes home with their very own comic! .

"This year's Bath Comedy Festival line-up truly has something for everyone - stand-up, street theatre, sketch comedy, story telling, character comedy, comic art, cabaret, music, magic, mystery tours, walks, workshops and puppetry...and that's just the classifiable stuff!"

The shows confirmed so far are already listed on the Festival web site What's On page - keep your eye on it, as there's more to come!

If you require accommodation during the Bath Comedy Festival, use the 'Book Accommodation Nearby' box to the right, or use the Accommodation tab at the top of the page. This will provide you with an online booking service for accommodation in Bath and the surrounding area. Alternatively, contact our personal accommodation booking service: + 44 (0) 844 847 5256.