THE CARLSBERG Comedy Carnival started in Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens yesterday with the first of more than 60 international and Irish comedians taking to the stage. The four-day festival will include 44 shows from Irish and international comedians.
The overseas line-up includes Phill Jupitus of Never Mind The Buzzcocks; internet celebrity Bo Burnham; Emo Phillips, described by Jay Leno as the best joke writer in America; and Arj Barker, star of Flight of The Conchords.
It will also feature Jason Manford, team captain from Channel 4's 8 Out of 10 Cats, Chris Addison from The Thick of Itand Rufus Hound, who recently dressed up as Cheryl Cole and danced to Fight for This Lovefor Let's Dance for Sport Relief fundraiser.
The home-grown performers include the Apres Matchteam, Tommy Tiernan, Ardal O'Hanlon, Des Bishop, Jason Byrne, Neil Delamere, Jarlath Regan and Maeve Higgins.
Last night, RTÉ 2fm presenter Jim-Jim Nugent made his debut at the carnival, following a challenge to do five minutes of stand up comedy.
Festival director Bren Berry, of Aiken Promotions, said this was the strongest line-up yet for the comedy festival.
He said the comedy carnival was now firmly established as part of the international comedy festival circuit. “It’s a great compliment to the event that so many acts from around the world want to be involved.”
The shows are being performed in four, fully-seated, purpose-built venues – the Iveagh Theatre tent, the Carlsberg Comedy Carousel, the Shack and the Grand Pavilion. Other attractions at the festival include jugglers, stilt walkers, acrobats and live music and street entertainers.
Tickets for the over 18’s festival are sold on a show-by-show basis starting from €23.
www.carlsbergcomedy.com
