The opening season features appearances by Sara Barron, Rob Auton, Nic Sampson, Glenn Moore, Bella Hull, Ria Lina, Seann Walsh, Arthur Smith, Robin Ince and Love Island voiceover regular Iain Stirling.
Events range from Park Laughs Sundays in the main 200-seat space to more intimate stand-up in Park90, and will include two comedy shows for children.
It’s the first time the theatre has staged a comedy programme and the initiative has been introduced by new Executive Director Catherine McKinney, who joined Park Theatre in late 2023 from Soho Theatre – which has a track record for spotting the next wave of comedy talent.
She said, “Park Theatre has two beautiful performance spaces, and it’s exciting to open them up for more shows alongside our fantastic theatre programme, and to broader audiences. Finsbury Park is a great location for comedy, and Park90 is a perfect, intimate space for new work and previews.”
The season kicks off with Julia Masli: Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha named by the Guardian as the best comedy show of 2023. On January 20 is Comedy Club 4 Kids which brings together stand-ups, sketch acts and cabaret stars from the circuit to perform for a family audience aged 6 and up.
On March 9 there’s the Blue Badge Bunch an engaging, inclusive game show dubbed the ‘disability Taskmaster’, and hosted by disabled comedian Benny Shakes.
Park Laughs Sundays run over four weekends (28 January, 18 February, 21 April, 26 May) with a mixed bill of comics including Glenn Wool, Arthur Smith, Finlay Christie, Ria Lina, Angelos Epithemiou, Seann Walsh, Robin Ince and Thanyia Moore.
And Park Laughs Previews run February 15-17 in association with comic talent agency Avalon, with double bills of comics testing out new Edinburgh Fringe shows including Sara Barron and Rob Auton, Iain Stirling and Nic Sampson, and Glenn Moore and Bella Hull.
Finally North London comic and Arsenal supporter Jacob Hawley brings his show Space to Park Theatre on June 9 riffing on politics for idiots, feminism for lads, love stories for louts and self-care for those who don’t care.
All events run at Park Theatre in Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park.
https://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/24042354.park-theatre-finsbury-park-stages-park-laughs-stand/
