Comedy / belly laughs
Belly Laughs back for another helping
Set up by Mark Olver in 2018, the original idea behind Belly Laughs was to mitigate the January blues through ‘fun and food for good in the most miserable month of the year’.
The festival featured multiple gigs in memorable and unique places, many of which were in intimate spaces at Wapping Wharf, home to some of Bristol’s most loved food and drink independents.
Continuing with Belly Laughs at Home last year saw Bristol favourites including Stephen Merchant and Russell Howard join Mark for a one-off special gig over zoom, raising over £36,000 for the Julian Trust night shelter, the food poverty charity FareShare South West, GWAAC and the Bristol Old Vic.
is needed now More than ever
Jayde Adams performing over zoom for Belly Laughs at Home – photo: Belly Laughs
For 2022, plenty of new venues across Bristol will be joining the initiative – including the Harbour Hotel, Cider Box, and the Folk House Café & Bar – and there are likely to be extra surprises along the way.
11 dining and comedy experiences are already on sale via the event ticketing partner, Yuup, and though individual venue lineups are kept under wraps, comics confirmed to appear include Jon Richardson, Abi Clarke, John Robins, Jayde Adams and Joe Wilkinson.
Mark Olver – photo: Belly Laughs
Beneficiary charities will include FareShare South West and the Julian Trust, and the combined events are once more expected to provide a welcome boost to the hospitality sector at a traditionally tough time of year.
“I’m blown away by people’s generosity at these events,” says Olver, “and am sure we can raise some money for these great causes whilst having a bit of a laugh at the same time.”
Gigs may be added right up to the start of Belly Laughs, so to avoid disappointment, organisers recommend people purchase advanced tickets and keep checking the lineup for updated venues and shows.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CW8YV_LNj_c/
Belly Laughs will run multiple events in venues across Bristol in January 2022. Updated information and ticket links are listed on www.yuup.co.
Main photo: Belly Laughs
Read more: Comedy night raises more than £35,000 for good causes
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