CQAF2023 Comedy Archives

Terry McHugh – The World on a String

Posted on 16th February 202331st March 2023 by site_admin

Before he was a non-award-winning comedian! Before he was Jake O’Kane’s opener! Before he appeared on the Blame Game or in Game Of Thrones – North Belfast Comedian, Terry McHugh was an International YoYo Champion, travelling the world bringing joy to the masses with his yoyo.

In 1997 Terry left home as a 17 year old child ready to travel the globe with his World on a String. In 2023 he’s leaving the house as a 42 year old child ready to drive up the road to tell you all about it.

It’s a hilarious show with tales of GIANT Dublin Spiders, Amsterdam’s best Chapel, Eastern European Gangsters and loads more… And just in case that’s not enough for you, there’ll be yoyo tricks too. The yoyo champ in him is coming out of retirement and he plans to come out spinning.

‘Terry McHugh is the best comedian from North Belfast who isn’t Tim McGarry or Jake O’Kane.’-IRISH NEWS

‘Terry McHugh is the finest comedian to leave North Belfast. He’s Funny as Feck’–TIM McGARRY

‘Buy a ticket for Terry’s show it’ll help fund his escape plan from Tyrone…oh, and he’s funny’–JAKE O’KANE

Doors 7.45pm | Unreserved seating

Catherine Bohart: Work in Progress

Posted on 15th March 202331st March 2023 by site_admin

An hour of new material from Catherine Bohart. As seen and heard on Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, Roast Battle, 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Stand Up Sketch Show and The Guilty Feminist Podcast.

Catherine started performing stand-up in 2015 and since then has enjoyed a rapid rise through the ranks of UK and Irish comedy.

In 2016, she was a finalist in both the BBC New Comedy Awards and Funny Women, drawing praise in the final of the former for having “a distinctive voice and a story you’d like to hear” (Chortle) and in the latter for being “pretty much the perfect comedy package” (Beyond The Joke).

Catherine was named on the BBC’s New Talent Hotlist 2017 and was runner-up in the Irish Comedian of the Year Final 2017. Catherine was selected for the prestigious Pleasance Reserve 2017 and has been named a Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year Nominee 2018.

‘Destined for stardom’ (Evening Standard)

‘The laughs keep coming and, finally, so does a tear or two. Marvellous’ ★★★★ (Times)

‘Beautifully-delivered hour’ ★★★★ (Skinny)

‘Packed full of laughs’ ★★★★ (Herald)

‘A winning mixture of self-deprecation and confidence’ ★★★★ (Beyond The Joke)

‘A fully developed comic voice’ ★★★★ (Fest)

‘Truly special’ ★★★★ (Edinburgh Festivals Magazine)

Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved seating

Anne Gildea – How to Get the Menopause and Enjoy It

Posted on 9th March 202324th April 2023 by site_admin

Anne Gildea is waxing her moustache, slathering on the Oestrogel and boiling with excitement about bringing her fabulous hit show to CQAF.

How to Get The Menopause and Enjoy It has been wowing audiences and critics alike, and playing to packed house all over Ireland, since it’s sell-out launch last year.

An original, informative, wet-your-pants excursion through one of life’s last great mysteries – The Menopause! What is it? Why does it happen? Is there anything you can do about it? Why is it named after men? And why oh why is so little known about this inevitable phase of a woman’s life? Anne answers all these questions and more as she brings TMI to a whole new level.

‘This funny and taboo-busting work blasts the lid right off…Never has the female body been put under such an hilarious microscope…utterly punk’ –KATY HAYES, IRISH INDEPENDENT

What Audiences Are Saying

“I rarely find myself laughing so hard for so long at a live comedy event. Your writing, your energy and your added sparkle is worthy of the over-used term.”

“awesome…there’s nothing for it now but to bring a few buddies to forthcoming shows. I will be a How to Catch the Menopause and Enjoy It groupie.”

“Went with 10 friends tonight. Actually have a pain in my stomach from laughing n tears ran down my face! Thank u so much for this important work.”

“I enjoyed it so much I went a second time and brought the husband. He had tears streaming down his face with laughter.”

‘The funniest, most honest, and real show I have ever been to!”

“I’m sitting here today still laughing away to myself… loved every minute of last night … thank you.” “Fab night full of laughs, great for the soul.”

Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved seating

Janey Godley – The ‘Not Dead Yet’ Tour

Posted on 23rd February 202331st March 2023 by site_admin

Janey Godley is ‘still alive, by popular demand’ with a brand-new show for 2023 and can’t wait to be back doing what she does best!

A few words from Janey:

‘My past year has been like a giant “Wordle” game that has swept the nation, I went from “cancel to cancer” in 6 weeks. No, I didn’t smack a man live at the Oscars, in front of millions of people, but I have apologised profusely for historic offensive tweets from over 11 years ago and ended up as the torn, worn out pass the parcel for tribal politics in Scotland. All my own doing, but now it’s time to laugh, live and celebrate after dealing with this dreadful disease.

I suffered severe mental illness during the online onslaught and whilst on my last tour in 2021 found a giant tumour in my ovary giblets and had to FIGHT to stay alive. Never one for the conventional path in life, I am still NOT DEAD YET and bringing my tour back on the road. So many stories of heart-warming love and outpouring of support to the occasional daily messages hoping I might die soon because … well I am a woman who answered back.’

‘A stand-up so personal in approach I wouldn’t be surprised if she breast-fed the front row’ – TIME OUT

‘The type of act you want to catch again and again, year after year.’★★★★★ – ONE4REVIEW

‘The Glasgow comedy queen’ – THE LIST

‘The most outspoken female stand-up in Britain… The most ribald and refreshing comedy talent to have risen from the slums of Glasgow since Billy Connolly…‘ –DAILY TELEGRAPH

Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved seating

Sarah Firby: Don’t Threaten Me with a Good Time

Posted on 15th March 20231st May 2023 by site_admin

Sarah Firby has been a favourite on the NI comedy scene for 5 years, and is the founder of Coven Comedy Club.

Sarah is one of Belfast’s most exciting new standup comedians and is performing her debut solo hour for CQAF. Don’t Threaten Me With a Good Time is about Fun, not having fun and the inner peace that comes from finally admitting you don’t want to. It’s a brand-new show infused with joy, wisdom, compassion and dark wit (as well as a disturbing amount of cat material).

“It’s about bloody time this show happened. Sarah is funny, smart and doesn’t have time for your nonsense.” – Teresa Livingstone

Supported by The CQAF Creative Bursary programme.

Yippee Ki Yay

Posted on 9th March 202324th April 2023 by site_admin

“You’d have to be as heartless as Hans Gruber not to be touched and uplifted.”

James Seabright presents

Yippee Ki Yay

by Richard Marsh

Acclaimed retelling of classic film Die Hard from Richard Marsh – Fringe First-winner, London poetry slam champion, BBC Audio Drama Best Scripted Comedy Drama award-winner and New York cop (one of these is untrue). This joyfully funny show heads out on tour following rave reviews for its premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe, which also won it a London transfer.

When gunmen seize an LA skyscraper, off-duty policeman John McClane is the hostages’ only hope. This uplifting action romp (and unauthorised parody) pays affectionate tribute to the iconic 80s festive fan favourite. Essential viewing for Hans Gruber superfans and newcomers alike.

Content warning: divorce, foot trauma, German terrorists.

“Whether you’re a Die Hard fan or not, it guarantees happy trails.”

★★★★ The Guardian

“Epically entertaining show is a love letter to a masterpiece.”

★★★★ The Times

“Playful, inventive… genius creation.” ★★★★ Mail on Sunday

“An exciting, poetic dramedy gem… simply to Die Hard for.” ★★★★ Scottish Mail

“Rollicking fun!” ★★★★ British Theatre Guide

“Absolutely glorious! His rhyming Bruce Willis is spot-on, but it’s the concurrent love story that really pulls you in.” British Comedy Guide

Critic’s Choice – The Stage, Time Out, Telegraph

Cast and Creative team

Written and performed by Richard Marsh

Alternate performer Darrel Bailey

Directed by Hal Chambers

Movement and Associate Director Emma Webb

Lighting Designer Robbie Butler

Sound Designer and Composer Ben Hudson

Ykylive.com

Rob Auton: The Crowd Show

Posted on 9th March 202331st March 2023 by site_admin

The Crowd Show is a comedy/theatre/spoken word show about crowds, people and connection. The Crowd Show is a show suitable for anybody who has been in a crowd or wants to be in the crowd for this show.

Rob Auton is an award-winning writer, actor and podcaster, named the “Brian Cox of Comedy” by the Guardian.

Rob has written eight hit Edinburgh Fringe shows, which have led to nationwide tours and television/radio appearances. Rob has had four collections of poetry and illustrations published byBurning Eye Books and Harper Collins.

In 2020, Rob started The Rob Auton Daily Podcast which went on to amass over two million listens and win a gold award for Best Daily Podcast at the British Podcast Awards.

Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved seating

‘A genuine original. Poetical, philosophical, humane, completely charming and funny to boot.’ – THE GUARDIAN

‘Makes laughter out of wonder and brings us all together. We need him.’ –THE SCOTSMAN

‘Something that’ll leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy round the edges.’ – THE HERALD

‘Brilliant.’ – STEWART LEE

Lara Ricote : GRL/LATNX/DEF

Posted on 15th March 202318th April 2023 by site_admin

WINNER: Dave’s Best Newcomer at Edinburgh Fringe 2022

Lara’s a small Latin American girl (woman?) who won the Funny Women 2021 (right, ‘woman’) Stage Award and is now doing a show about what it’s like to be Latin and deaf and a girl who’s now a woman at the same time.

You know, minority jokes for majority crowds. If you read this and you don’t come, what’s that say about you? Huh? You hate disabled people? Maybe come and prove you don’t. Love you.

‘LARA RICOTE IS SEEMINGLY BLESSED WITH FUNNY BONES.’ ★★★★ Fest
‘WICKEDLY BLACK SENSE OF HUMOUR.’ Scotsman
‘GRL/LATNX/DEFIS A GIGGLING HOUR OF JOY.’ Time Out

As seen on E4, Comedy Central and Dave.

Performance captioned by Claire Hill: Wed 25 Jan, 8.30pm

Doors 1.30pm | Unreserved Seating

Tim Key: Mulberry

Posted on 21st October 202231st March 2023 by site_admin

Tim Key (Alan Partridge, The Witchfinder,Tim Key’s Late Night Poetry Programme) is back with an all-new show. Ruminations about the great indoors with a bit of stamping around. Velour tracksuit, continental lagers, some “poetry”.

‘The greatest stand-up response to Lockdown so far’★★★★★The TimesKey’s new book,Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush, is available to buy at all good bookshops and at www.utterandpress.co.uk

Presented by The MAC and Plosive Live in association with PBJ Management

Doors 7:15pm | Tickets £18