See more from: Open-Air Thursdays Open-Air Summer Season

Please note: this event is in the past

Comedians
Overview
COVID-19 Precautions

Join us for a very special comedy night with multi-award winning stand-up comedian and our host for the evening Matt Richardson. Joining him are Stephen Bailey, Mark Simmons, Cally Beaton & Felicity Ward.

At 18 years old, Matt became one of the youngest comedians on the circuit and soon made it through to the finals of two national stand-up competitions – the prestigious So You Think You’re Funny and the Chortle Student Comedy Award – as well as coming runner up in the Reading Comedy Festival New Act of the Year. Since then, Matt has firmly established himself as one of the UK’s most exciting young performers and presenters – hosting the drive-time show on Virgin Radio. His TV credits include co-hosting the Xtra Factor and a series regular role on Viral Tap (ITV2), Nevermind The Buzzcocks, Celebrity Juice, Sweat The Small Stuff, Big Brothers Bit on the Side, I’m a Celebrity Get Me out of here Now! among countless other shows.

"High wattage charisma from a talented young comic whose star is on the rise" - The Guardian

Stephen Bailey is a cocktail of class, caring and comedy, with the most flamboyant umbrella to top it all off. He's a comedian, presenter, television personality and writer, whose friendly and open brand of gossipy humour has made him one of the UK’s most exciting up-and-coming acts in comedy at the moment and an in demand talent for all things showbiz/entertainment. Stephen wrote and starred in his own lockdown mini-series for Comedy Central Comedians in Quarantine: House Olympics. At the start of the year, his star grew as he took on Celebrity Coach Trip (E4). he's returned to host the third series of Celebs on the Farm for MTV and he even made his BBC Radio 4 debut on Sarah Millican's Elephant in the Room. Furthermore, he hosted UK Radio Pride during the pandemic taking gay pride to the airwaves. 

Mark Simmons is an exceptional one-liner comedian. It won him a place in Dave’s prestigious Best Joke of The Fringe in Edinburgh 2017. His solo show at the festival, One-Linerer was also a huge hit, with sell out shows every day and was nominated Best Show by the Amused Moose Comedy Award Fringe Show 2017. He then continued this success with his follow-up show, One-Linererer, which was also a sell out! 

Absolutely hilarious” - The Scotsman 

Cally Beaton is a natural storyteller full of intelligent, distinctive and punchline-rich material and one of the UK’s most sought-after acts for both comedy and corporate bookings. Drawing on her vast experience, eclectic life and unique wit, she is able to strike the perfect balance of smart, insightful, and entertaining. She is a gifted host and MC, with a natural ability to work a room, and gives sharp, inspirational and thought-provoking keynote and after-dinner speeches. Cally has a hard-won skill set few comedians can boast and has worked with – to name a few – Deutsche Bank, Sony Pictures, IMG, Endemol, Channel 4, Hat Trick, ScreenSkills, Women in Film & Television, UCL. PWC, Aviva, Sky Television, L’Oreal, Lloyds, Wella, Capgemini and Disneyland.

Felicity Ward is a London-based comedian, actor, writer and self-proclaimed knucklehead. Felicity came to stand up after starring in popular sketch show ‘The Ronnie Johns Half Hour’. Her quick and playful stand up earned her title of Best Newcomer at the 2008 Melbourne Fringe for her show named Felicity Ward’s Ugly as A Child Variety Show. Since then, she has slept up numerous prestigious titles: best show of 2012 at the Adelaide Fringe and the Melbourne comedy festival and best Australian act at the Sydney and Perth Comedy Festivals.

Booking

If you would like to sit together, please book together, as this allows us to assign each booking a socially distanced space. This performance will take place on the Tea Lawn at the back of Lauderdale House. Chairs will not be provided so please bring either a picnic blanket or a chair to make yourself comfortable. Audience members with chairs will be seated behind those on the ground to make sure that everyone has a good view. If you are booking as a group, the whole group will need to be on chairs or on blankets, rather than a mixture of the two. We do also have a limited number of picnic tables and benches (see map below) available as group tickets – book these early to avoid disappointment. If you have a disability or any special requirements please get in touch with us. 

 

Seating Map

 


Weather

The performance will continue regardless of the weather unless unsafe. Please plan for all eventualities and remember to bring a waterproof layer and a warm jumper. We prefer waterproofs to umbrellas because umbrellas can obstruct views. Don’t forget that if you are on a blanket the ground may be wet so make sure you have a blanket with a waterproof side or bring aplastic sheet. There are no refunds for shows cancelled due to the weather.


Food and Drink

The cafe/bar will be open selling light snacks and drinks before the performance starts and during the interval. You can pre-order food and drinks for collection on the night here. Please select the date of the event and the time you wish the food/drinks to be collected. For this event you can pre-order food/drinks for before the event (select any slot out of 18:30 / 18:45 / 19:00 / 19:15) or for the interval (select the 20:00 – 20:15 slot). Check out the delicious homemade picnic ‘grazing boxes’ – but book soon as these are only available if ordered in advance. Please note that hot drinks cannot be pre-ordered but will be available from the bar. You are also welcome to bring your own picnic to enjoy on the Tea Lawn as you watch the performance.

COVID-19 Precautions

We want to ensure that audience members feel safe and comfortable. We will monitor changes, if any, to government guidelines in the run up to the event. Our current precautions and plans are below. 

On arrival we will:

  • Check temperatures. Anyone with a high temperature will not be admitted along with anyone in their household or 'bubble'. 
  • Ask everyone to register for track and trace - via the QR code or entering details in our file.
  • Ask everyone to sanitise their hands.

We also ask that:

  • Audience members to stay 2 metres from people outside their ‘bubble’ or household where possible (and otherwise no less than 1 metre).
  • Audience members bring a face covering along with them for use indoors (when using the café or toilets). 
  • Audience members keep a distance when/if queuing for the toilets and cafe and follow good hygiene and hand washing regimes. Soap and disinfectant sprays are available for your use. Be careful and considerate.