More than 2,000 people attended the first ever New Forest Comedy Festival in May and June, where 20 comedy events and workshops ran across local venues with a huge bill of prolific and local comedic talent. Some of the best headline names in comedy were presented alongside a live podcast recording, a tribute show and exhibition celebrating Tommy Cooper, a show for children, a national stand-up comedy competition and a course for stand-up comedy beginners.
The New Forest Comedy Festival was created as a partnership with Culture in Common, The Attic, Totton, Forest Forge Theatre, Ringwood, Hanger Farm Arts Centre, Totton, Forest Arts Centre, New Milton as well as Leicester Square Theatre and the Museum of Comedy in London.
‘The Festival brought different generations together’
Members of the New Forest Comedy Festival organising team
Programme Director at Culture in Common, Jacqui Ibbotson (pictured above, right) was delighted with the marked uplift in engagement from the community with many new faces showing up, she said:
“The first New Forest Comedy Festival was everything Culture in Common hoped it would be. Working with our partners at The Attic, Forest Forge Theatre, Hanger Farm Arts Centre, Forest Arts Centre and Vibrant Forest Brewery, together with Leicester Square Theatre and the Museum of Comedy ensured a high quality programme that reached parts of the New Forest that rarely get one of the most popular forms of entertainment. I was really surprised and delighted that the Stand-Up workshops for beginners sold out and were so successful that the groups want to continue to meet regularly to write and perform comedy gigs into the future. The festival brought different generations together to address challenging issues of our time with humour and helped us all to feel a bit brighter about the future and the place that we live in – which was a result in my book.”
‘We were delighted so many local New Forest comedians stepped up to the challenge’
Sallyann Fellows
The festival was brought to a close with the final of the first New Forest Comedian of the Year held at Hanger Farm Arts Centre, where Sallyann Fellowes was announced as a winner and the remaining competitors head straight for the semifinals of the national New Comedian of the Year competition at Leicester Square Theatre. Artist Development and Design at Leicester Square Theatre and organiser of New Comedian of the Year competition, David Hardcastle added:
“It was great for Leicester Square Theatre to be able to hold heats of the National New Comedian of the Year competition in the New Forest, since we trialled it in York a few years ago. We were delighted that so many local New Forest comedians stepped up to the challenge, especially as, for some, it was their first time on stage – while remaining places were filled by national and international competitors. All the finalists will go through to the semi finals of the national competition in London in the Autumn.”
‘There is definitely a need for more comedy in the area’
New Forest Comedy Festival at Hanger Farms Arts Centre
The idea of New Forest Comedy Festival was born from one man’s mission to bring comedy to Totton, Owner of The Attic at River Studios, Chris Grayston. After consulting with local residents and venues around the Forest, there was a theme that all wanted to be part of something bigger and let our local community know we are here and what we can provide. He added:
“What an amazing turnout! The Attic venue was sold out during the festival for several events, including Richard Herring, Ivo Graham, Vittorio Angelones and the festival all day performances. There is definitely a need for more comedy in the area, and the idea of a festival for the New Forest was to really make an impact. My venue is only so big! Together, as a group of local venues, we were able to really make an impact and get the New Forest community laughing!”
‘The audiences that attended the show were all new’
John Hewer, performer in the Tommy Cooper tribute show, stands outside Tommy Cooper’s former home in the New Forest
Sharon Lawless, CEO and Creative Producer for Forest Forge Theatre, was particularly impressed with the Tommy Cooper tribute show, she said:
“The audiences that attended the Tommy Cooper tribute show at Forest Forge Theatre were ALL new audience members, which is great news for our venue that is often missed for its out of town location. Also, after the show at their venue, Royal British Legion were chatting away in the interval about all their memories and are now keen to book the act back themselves in the future. It shows that it’s equally important to be developing audience opportunities in the community as well as in venues.”
Venues across the New Forest were invited to take part in The New Forest Comedy Festival and included: Vibrant Forest Brewery in Hardley, The Dusty Barrel, Hythe, Jubilee Hall, Fawley and the Royal British Legion in Blackfield as well as The Attic and Hanger Farm Arts Centre in Totton, Forest Forge Theatre in Ringwood and Forest Arts Centre in New Milton. Taproom Manager at Vibrant Forest Brewery Ryan Dack said:“A massive thank you for involving us. From our point of view, it has been a massive success and brought a lot of energy into the local area. We can’t wait to see what you planned next!”
‘I have gained 15 new friends’
Participants in the beginners’ stand-up comedy workshop
Vibrant Forest Brewery hosted the first performances of Stand Up comedy beginners that had completed the festival course run by Gemma Leader of Above Your Nerve at The Dusty Barrel. Participant Tim Kershaw said:
“I wanted to try something new and to meet funny local people and I did. The course was brilliant and more in depth than I thought it would be – the comedy writing was as fulfilling as the performing. I have gained 15 new friends and the group will continue to meet and perform at Open Mic events.”
You can still visit the Cabinet of Comedy Curiosities throughout June and July, provided by the Museum of Comedy at Hythe Library (until 1st July) and Ringwood Library (5-17 July). The cabinet contains a special video of Tommy Cooper performing, archive images and iconic objects, including props used by the great man himself.
The New Forest Comedy Festival pulled out all the stops to bring more comedy to the woods, giving locals more reasons to laugh and hopes to return in 2024. In the meantime, you can follow it on Instagram @newforestcomedyfestival.
Watch
BBC South Today’s Sam Fraser visited Ringwood to take part in the New Forest Comedian of the Year competition.
A huge thank you to BBC South Today for this news piece and sharing the footage.
