The University of Leicester's arts centre - open to all

Friday 4 February at 8pm £10 / £7

Life’s not fair and the world’s a disgusting place to live. Andrew Lawrence tries to find some consolation. Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee 2006 and 2007. Best UK headline act Chortle Award nominee 2010. As seen on BBC1’s Michael Mcintyre’s Roadshow and Channel 4.

May cause offence.

Duration: 110 mins

www.andrewlawrencecomedy.co.uk

Andrew Lawrence will feature as part of the Leicester Comedy Preview show

at DMH, Leicester on Friday 12 January.

"very funny ... not for the easily shockable"The Daily Telegraph

"… Lawrence is one of the most passionate, articulate and talented acts on the circuit…" Chortle ****

Interview with Andrew Lawrence in the Leicester Mercury Thursday 13 January.

Watch clips of Andrew Lawrence here, including Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow Oct 2010, Dublin and Andrew Lawrence on Comedy Central At The Comedy Store.

Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 February at 7.30pm £7.50 / £5

A modern take on two Victorian farces

Saint and Sinner

Letting a room to Mr Saint by day and to Mr Sinner by night works well for Mrs Sharp, until Mr Saint is unexpectedly given a day’s holiday and the two lodgers meet. Left alone while she sorts out another room, they discover they share more than the same bed.

The Proposal

A nervous young man comes to propose marriage to his neighbour's daughter.

But their squabbling threatens to destroy their chances of a match.

For 14+ years. Duration: 95 mins

www.phizzical.com

Special exclusive buy one get one free offer to University of Leicester, and De Montfort University, students

Quote ‘couplings’ and show your NUS card on the night when collecting your ticket.

Tickets must be purchased in advance via Embrace Arts, contact : 0116 252 2455 and NOT online.

This offer will NOT be available on the night. If a student is accompanied by a non student- the cheapest ticket is free.

Thursday 10 February at 8pm £9 / £7

Liz shares her observations and experiences of being a writer, poet, musician, mother and therapist with multiple sclerosis.

This intimate and comical solo show from one of the quirkiest voices on London’s spoken word scene combines stand-up comedy, music and performance poetry in an anecdotal, conversational style.

Duration: 60 mins

www.lizbentley.co.uk

Armed with a ukulele and Casio keyboard, Liz is one of the quirkiest voices on London’s spoken word scene.

"Bentley is beguiling. Such an exhilarating experience" Chortle

"Like a female Ivor Cutler" The Scotsman

"Liz Bentley - a refreshingly multi-talented writer and performer. Her sharp wit combined with her unique style and delivery is highly infectious - comes thoroughly recommended!" New Writing South

Coming soon...

Liz Bentley radio interview coming soon:

Sun 6 Feb Listen to Liz Bentley on The Dave Charles Show 102.3Hfm

Special exclusive buy one get one free offer to University of Leicester, and De Montfort University, students

Quote ‘theatre’ and show your NUS card on the night when collecting your ticket.

Tickets must be purchased in advance via Embrace Arts, contact : 0116 252 2455 and NOT online.

This offer will NOT be available on the night. If a student is accompanied by a non student- the cheapest ticket is free.

Saturday 12 February at 12.30pm Free

Hear from a selection of performers about how they are benefiting from the developing relationship between Leicester Comedy Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe – and how it could help you in the future.

Chaired by Comedy Festival Director Geoff Rowe and featuring a panel of speakers from across the UK. Just 40 places available so please book in advance.

Organised by Creative Leicestershire.

Saturday 12 February at 3pm £9 / £7.50

Paris 1945. Eccentric, short-sighted madamoiselle Christine waits to be reunited with her English fiancé. A tender, comic portrayal of one woman’s experience of love and war from this

Stage Awards 2009 best solo nominee.

10+ years. Duration: 60 mins

www.carolinehorton.net

"this simple and heartfelt show feels like a real labour of love… a really tremendous & rounded performance".  Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

"... Horton’s comic timing and facial expressions move us effortlessly from thunderous belly laughs to tears of heartbreak". Denise Bailey, Metro

**** Time Out

**** Metro

Watch a video clip of the Caroline Horton here

Special exclusive buy one get one free offer to University of Leicester, and De Montfort University, students

Quote ‘theatre’ and show your NUS card on the night when collecting your ticket.

Tickets must be purchased in advance via Embrace Arts, contact : 0116 252 2455 and NOT online.

This offer will NOT be available on the night. If a student is accompanied by a non student- the cheapest ticket is free.

Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 February at 7pm £7 / £6

Alec only knows who he is when he's pretending to be somebody else, somebody like his dead father James. But an unexpected gatecrasher is waiting in the wings, ready to steal his spotlight. And when everyone is playing a part, can you ever know who you really are?

Duration: 40 mins

"The Wake, Bedlam. Absurd, meta-theatrical farce and a lesson on life, love & legacy. Sharply performed with a sparklingly witty script 5/5." Fringe Biscuit

"A surreal comedy about a failed actor who copes with life and his ghastly family by doing impressions of them."Three Weeks

"Must see show... The talk has been worth it – as has the wait, since this is a sizzling piece of comic theatre. Fearlessly plunging into a play that rests as much on physicality as on dialogue, the energy between the two is electric, the humour crackling and frequently shocking..."Nick Awde, The Stage

Special exclusive buy one get one free offer to University of Leicester, and De Montfort University, students

Quote ‘theatre’ and show your NUS card on the night when collecting your ticket.

Tickets must be purchased in advance via Embrace Arts, contact : 0116 252 2455 and NOT online.

This offer will NOT be available on the night. If a student is accompanied by a non student- the cheapest ticket is free.

Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 February at 8.30pm £9 / £7.50

A tale of perfect couples who never quite reach their perfection. With animation and storytelling, this is a surreal cross between South Park and Love Actually.

Duration: 60 mins

www.terrysaunders.co.uk

"This is lovely…. you’d have to have a heart of stone not to enjoy this charming hour."  The Independent

"Sometimes subversive, yet mostly warm and cosy one-man romantic comedy…"The Scotsman

Watch video clips of Six and a Half Love:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Special exclusive buy one get one free offer to University of Leicester, and De Montfort University, students

Quote ‘theatre’ and show your NUS card on the night when collecting your ticket.

Tickets must be purchased in advance via Embrace Arts, contact : 0116 252 2455 and NOT online.

This offer will NOT be available on the night. If a student is accompanied by a non student- the cheapest ticket is free.

Sunday 13 February at 5pm £6 / £4

An afternoon of award-winning sketches, all by professional writers, in this follow-up to the group’s hit show at last year’s festival.

14+ years. Duration: 50 mins.

www.amdram.co.uk

Book for all three shows for £18 / £15

Tickets for this offer MUST be purchased via Embrace Arts by booking through the box office: 0116 252 2455

The John Lewis Partnership Dramatic Society in Comedy Shorts

Starting at 5pm

An afternoon of award-winning sketches, all by professional writers, in this follow-up to the group’s hit show at last year’s festival.

14+ years. Duration: 50 mins. www.amdram.co.uk

MisshapenTheatre Company in The Wake

Starting at 7pm

Alec only knows who he is when he's pretending to be somebody else, somebody like his dead father James.

"The Wake, Bedlam. Absurd, meta-theatrical farce and a lesson on life, love & legacy. Sharply performed with a sparklingly witty script 5/5." Fringe Biscuit

Duration: 40 mins

Terry Saunders in Six and a Half Loves

Starting at 8.30pm

A tale of perfect couples who never quite reach their perfection. With animation and storytelling, this is a surreal cross between South Park and Love Actually.

"You’d have to have a heart of stone not to enjoy this charming hour."The Independent

Duration: 60 mins www.terrysaunders.co.uk

Food and drink offers at The Arts Bar:

If you're feeling peckish why not take advantage of the Arts Bar curry offer?

Curry for 2 and Naan bread, plus 2 beers or 2 small wines for £10.95

Comedy cocktail offers for £3.50 and shooters for £1.50

Thursday 17 February at 8pm £12 / £10

Just get on with life and be happy. Sounds so simple doesn’t it? But it’s easier said than done for Zoe. She has come to realise that life is too short, and she is going to try to enjoy it – although “try” sounds like there’s effort involved and she’s not particularly pleased about that. As seen on Michael McIntyre’s

Roadshow (BBC1) and Mock The Week (BBC2).

Duration: 110 minutes.

www.zoelyons.co.uk

"one of UK comedy’s fastest-rising talents... Lyons has what it takes to delight any crowd"The Guardian

"…a raucous hour of outrageous jokes…"Sunday Times Culture ****

Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow with Zoe Lyons- Sep 2010

Coming soon...

Zoe Lyons radio and TV interviews coming soon:

Tues 11 Jan Listen to Zoe Lyons on Kerrang radio

Sat 15 Jan Watch Zoe Lyons live on Sky News

Tues 1 Feb Listen to Zoe Lyons live on the Ian Collins radio show on Talksport

Sat 19 March Watch Zoe Lyons on Frank Skinner on Absolute

Friday 18 February at 8pm £9 / £7

Life, relationships and the perils of eating your girlfriend’s Chunky Kit Kat – this stand-up show gently sticks two fingers up at those who get offended on people's behalf. Having lost his sight to a degenerative eye condition, Chris has become all too prone to surprise attacks from stealthy lamp posts. If he can’t be an emotional retard, then surely love can’t be blind and the economy can’t be crippled. As seen on Comedy Central, BBC TV and ITV4.

Duration: 60 minutes

www.chrismccausland.com

"An unexpected whirlwind. Pure joy!"The Stage

"pick of the bunch was Chris McCausland whose stand up material is truly brilliant observational humour. He has a natural gift and is one of the funniest stand ups that I have seen in recent years." **** Three Weeks 23/08/10

"... this guy will be huge in the very near future"***** one4review 18 Aug 10

"Always excellent!"The Times

Watch Chris McCausland here

Chris featured on Vista news story and podcast.

Saturday 19 February at 8pm £10 / £7

Paul Sinha has spent much of the previous decade garnering rave reviews for his self-deprecating tales of his life as a GP, lovelorn gay bachelor, quiz fanatic and social coward. This year, he doesn’t want to discuss turning 40, because he has bigger fish to fry. A racist called him a racist. Paul would like to fight back.

Duration: 60 minutes

www.paulsinha.com

"an utterly amazing piece of standup."Fringe Guru

"Superb comic writing."  Times

"Fast becoming the master of intelligent, self-deprecating, storytelling comedy."Metro

Watch a recording of Paul Sinha by the BBC Asian Network

Watch the paul Sinha appearance on The Now Show (BBC Radio 4) that someone has had fun with!

Coming soon...

Paul Sinha radio interviews coming soon:

Friday 28 January (repeated on Saturday lunchtime) - Paul will feature on “The News Quiz” – a flagship comedy programme for Radio 4.

Friday 4 February - Paul will be a guest on Ian Wright's Rock 'n' Roll Football Show on Absolute Radio.

Friday 8 February - Paul will be interviewed on Talksport, as part of the Hawksbee & Jacobs Show in the afternoon.

Friday 18 Febraury and Saturday 19 February- Paul has been asked to appear on the News Quiz again this week on BBC Radio 4.

Saturday 5 March- Paul will appear on Ian Wright's Rock 'n' Roll Football Show on Absolute Radio from 5pm.

Friday 25 February at 7.30pm

£7 / £5 (concession, including full time students)

The next generation of dance artists, drawn from the Netherlands, Austria, Turkey and the UK, share their ideas on the future of dance performance.

Expect to be intrigued and surprised as, fresh from some of Europe’s most important dance festivals, they bring their exciting new perspectives to Leicester.

A thought-provoking evening of performance and discussion for dance professionals and all those interested in the future of this art form.

Special exclusive 2 for 1 offer to University of Leicester, and De Montfort University, students and staff.

Quote ‘Dance4’ and show your NUS card on the night when collecting your ticket.

Tickets must be purchased via Embrace Arts, contact : 0116 252 2455 and NOT online.

If a student is accompanied by a non student- the cheapest ticket is free.

Thursday 17 March at 6pm

£4 / £3 (includes free drink)

How can the arts debunk patients’ myths and fears about radio-activity imaging?

Find out more about a unique collaboration exploring this question in an evening of lively discussion and performance. Featuring contributions from Professor Alan Perkins from Queens Medical Centre, Dr John Lees from Leicester University, Andrew Williams, Director of Random Line Performance Company, and students from Crownhill School, Leicester.

Plus the world premiere of a new artwork produced by Random Line in collaboration with Movers Theatre Company, the Embrace Arts theatre company in residence.

Café Sci is where anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science and technology outside a traditional academic context.

www.cafescientifique.org

Thursday 24 March at 6pm, FREE

by Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest

Over the millenia astronomy has flourished into the most all-embracing of the sciences.

Its progress has been led by inspirational characters and outright mavericks who have pushed our knowledge of the heavens forward. This stunninglyillustrated presentation by two of today’s most-respected astronomers concentrates on the people and personalities who have asked the biggest questions of all.

Free but donations on the night welcome. Proceeds to benefit scholarships in the College of Science and Engineering.

Please book your seats in advance through the Embrace Arts box office. All enquiries to Sue Rees at [email protected] or call 0116 223 1071.