91Èȱ¬

Stockton Riverside Fringe Festival will descend on Stockton Riverside from Friday 31st July until Sunday 2nd August, with pre Riverside events starting on Thursday 30th July at The Georgian Theatre.

And this year, your funny bone will be pleased to hear, sees the return of the much loved Comedy Tent at the festival.

It's aimed at broad-minded adults, and unfortunately unless accompanied by a responsible adult, young people below the age of 16 will not be admitted to the Comedy Tent... even though some acts are family friendly (ff).

As with all Fringe Festival admission to the Comedy Tent is free, and most importantly is actually a tent... which will come in useful if it pours down!

Friday 31st July, Doors 18.00

Matt Reed (MC)

22:25Ìý Jason Cook - Comedy fans across Teesside will know to prepare for anything when razor-sharp Geordie Jason Cook takes to the stage.

22:10Ìý Break

21:40Ìý Craig Campbell - Canadian Craig Campbell is an internationally acclaimed stand up, with a unique ability to find humour in the mundane, coupled with his own natural eccentricity, making for truly inventive storytelling.

21:05Ìý Andy White - Brummie Andy White started his working life in a call centre, however having escaped he is now a hugely successful stand up comedian, performing sell out gigs across the United Kingdom.

20:40Ìý Break

20:10Ìý Duncan Oakley - With musical skills that would easily fit into many rock bands, Duncan Oakley performs an infectious mix of musical comedy and stand up with one of his trusty guitars.

19:35Ìý Mike Newall - Mike is a gentle, amiable power-house of a comic, his timing is the envy of performers with ten times the experience, and living proof that you can’t learn to be funny, some people just are.

19:15 Break

18:45Ìý Silky - Liverpudlian-in-exile Silky did his first gig in 1994, and his fourth gig was the final of the 91Èȱ¬ New Comedy Awards shown on 91Èȱ¬1.

18:10Ìý Daliso Chaponda - From Malawi, to Canada, via South Africa and finishing at Teesside, the show kicks off with globetrotting tour de force Daliso Chaponda.Ìý

Saturday 1st August, Doors 15.00

Matt Reed and Chris Ramsay (MCs)

22:15Ìý Martin Bigpig - Born into a circus family Martin Bigpig had an early career as a juggler, unicyclist, knife thrower, fire-eater, and magician. With his unique, exciting and often unpredictable show, Martin is sure to close the night with a bang.

22:00 Break

21:30Ìý Jonathan Mayor - With Jonathan Mayor it's all "Me! Me! Me!" and as he bounds on to stage you can see why. Imagine a Christmas tree has just exploded over the campest Bollywood star you know.

20:55Ìý John Scott - Hugely popular across Scotland and the North of England John has a slightly risqué edge and has been known to push boundaries when he feels the time is right.

20:25Ìý Break

19:55 Phil Nichol - Former member of the award winning Canadian comedy trio, Corky and the Juice Pigs. Since going solo, Phil’s performances have earned him huge critical acclaim and many awards (including the prestigious Perrier Award). A Tasmanian devil with a guitar, wickedly funny songs and superb improvisational skills.

19:20Ìý Tony Law - Genius cult comedian Tony Law has the surreal brilliance of Eddie Izzard, delves into the downtrodden irritation of Jack Dee and rubs elbows with the sarky wit of Jo Brand.

19:00Ìý Break

18:25Ìý Lucy Porter - A chirpy exterior conceals a sharp mind and a wicked streak, and it’s this hidden persona that has made her one of the hottest properties in British stand up.

17:35Ìý Danny McGloughlin - Amiable and confident Danny delivers material with more than just an immediate pay-off line, preferring to take the joke one or two steps further.

17:15Ìý Break

16:45Ìý John Warburton - Having recently been seen on Coronation Street, as Barry Sidwell, and is now coming to regale us with his combination of one-liners, observational comedy and the occasional song.

16:10Ìý Greg Cook - The 46-year-old’s deadpan style and mastery of the spoken word have led him to be described as a Les Dawson for the 21st Century.

15:45Ìý Break

15:15Ìý Mike Wilkinson - Taking a bemused glance at the world, the laughs come thick and fast with Wilkinson's dry humour and razor sharp wit.

Sunday 2nd August, Doors 13.00

Matt Reed (MC)

22:25Ìý Anvil Springstien - In spirit of tradition, and following last years side splitting finale, the Riverside Festival will be closed in style by Anvil Springstien.

21:50Ìý Dan Nightingale - Dan has enjoyed a meteoric rise to stardom, performing sell out shows across the country. Dan's improvisational style makes him one of the most exciting acts on the comedy circuit.

21:15Ìý Steve Shanyaski - Steve walked out on a mind numbing office job and straight onto a comedy stage in the beginning of 2003, and has not looked back since. With a bucketload of charm, some surreal and silly material coupled with his brilliant comedy songs, Steve’s comedic star is on the rise.

20:55Ìý Break

20:25 Gary Delaney - This hard hitting, one-liner based comedian’s tightly written, original material makes him one of the most quoted comics on the circuit. Brilliant, razor-sharp and often dark lines win over any crowd and leave them struggling to remember all the ones they want to tell later.

19:50Ìý Barry Dodds - Geordie Barry has charmed audiences nationwide with his uniquely tailored combination of disarming North East wit and wry, down-to-earth observational humour.

19:25Ìý Break

18:55Ìý Steve Harris - Named North West comedian of the year 1998 as well as making the finals of both the 91Èȱ¬ New Comedy Awards and Channel 4’s So You Think You’re Funny. Steve has something for everyone, mixing puns, musical comedy, observational humour and straightforward gags.

18:20Ìý Paul Sinha - The official Rainman of live entertainment, Paul has appeared on a wide variety of TV shows over the past two years including Mastermind, Soccer AM, University Challenge and The World Stands Up.

18:05Ìý Break

17:35Ìý Mark Maier - Mark's extraordinary talent for accents and dialects not only keeps him busy as a voice over artist, but resulted in his one man show 'Objects' transferring to Radio 4, receiving high critical acclaim.

17:15 Carl Hutchinson - Hutchinson’s trump card is the way he interacts with the audience, rolling with every ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ his material generates, giving a dynamism and spontaneity to his performance that’s rare among newer acts.

16:45Ìý Break

16:15Ìý Dave Twentyman - Dave might be lacking the physical strength of twenty men (or one Teesside lass), but he certainly has the charm, talent and warmth of many. Dave's strengths are his improvisation and interaction, making each and every gig totally unique.

15:45Ìý Mick Ferry - Mick is renowned as a fine purveyor of lugubrious surrealism and has quickly established himself as one of the most sought after comics on the British and International comedy circuit.

15:30Ìý Break

15:00Ìý Jimmy Cricket (ff) - Back by popular demand, comedy legend Jimmy Cricket returns to the Stockton Riverside Fringe Festival after blowing the roof off last year’s event. With a show business career spanning over 40 years, the iconic Cricket will be bringing his distinctive mix of gags, puns and letters from Mammy.

14:30Ìý Magic Sam (ff) - ‘Magic Sam' the people’s magician is not only a very skilled card magician; he is also a sleight of hand artist and juggler, with an alternative rock style. Eminently lovable, delightfully hilarious, completely fearless and wonderfully talented, Sam may just be the perfect magician.

14:15Ìý Break

13:45Ìý Steve Royal (ff) - Comedian, actor, writer, comedian, juggler, Steve Royal certainly is a master of many trades.

13:00Ìý Pat Monahan (ff) - As well as being the world’s number one Irish/Iranian/Geordie comedian, eagle-eyed Teessiders will recognise Pat Monahan from his daily appearances on the Paul O’Grady show.