Make ’em Laugh

Winter is coming …

IF you loved Game of Thrones – or maybe never saw it but still couldn’t escape its omnipresence – don’t miss A&E Comedy’s brilliant spoof, Game of Crones, making its last appearance in the south west at Exeter’s Phoenix arts centre on Wednesday 25th March. Sharpen your swords and fill your goblets – the dragons…

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Improvising Middle Earth

WHAT do you do if your cinema is planning to show all three Lord of the Rings films in one epic screening – but you only have the sound-tracks? Find out at at Exeter’s Northcott Theatre on Monday 23rd March. You improvise. All three parts of the saga – all those hobbits and heroes, elves…

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Have a laugh at Bath

BATH Comedy Festival returns from 21st March to 19th April with more than 100 shows, featuring well over 300 performances, with big names at Bath Forum including Dead Ringers, Paul Merton and Suki Webster, Harry Enfield and Troy Hawke. The festival also brings a host of acts to its intimate upstairs room at the Ring…

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Geoff is just your average bloke

GEOFF Norcott is that very rare thing in the UK comedy scene – he is a Conservative! But coming out as a right-winger hasn’t impeded his career too badly, and he is now on a new tour, Basic Bloke 2 – “There’s no Bloke without Fire” – coming to Taunton’s Brewhouse Theatre on 11th March,…

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Variety is the spice …

FARNHAM Maltings, much-loved on rural touring circuits, returns to Dorset and Devon with a new play, touring the region until 22nd March. All For Your Delight is a celebration of the world of variety, with a dazzling mix of comedy, songs and games – plus some spectacular roller skating! The show is with Devon’s Villages…

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New medical comedy

TWO popular small touring theatre companies have got together to produce a new comedy, General Medical Emergency Ward 10, which continues at Tacchi Morris Arts Centre at Taunton on 21st April. Award‑winning Dyad Productions and Company Gavin Robertson have reimagined the worlds of Holby City, Casualty, ER, Grey’s Anatomy, Doctors and many more in this…

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When Elvis met Bond

THE inimitable Spitz & Co, creators of Elvis in Blue Hawaii, are back in Dorset with another sideways look at the King – The Spy who Loved me Tender starts its short tour at Wootton Fitzpaine village hall on Thursday 12th February. Spitz & Co are a comedy and physical theatre company who have been…

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Howard Coggins

THE hilariously funny, cuddly, wry and inspired Howard Coggins, best known in the south west as co-founder of Living Spit and nationally for his Lottery adverts, has died at the age of 52. He was diagnosed with cancer late in 2022. Frustrated with playing bit parts in other people’s shows, Howard and Stu McLoughlin started…

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