Hi folks,

This is certainly not a very easy message to have to deliver, but one I have to do nonetheless.

Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control and despite a recent determination and resurgence to bring the best comedy available to you, we must regretfully inform you that The Comedy Basement will no longer be running.

We first opened our doors on the 29th January 2009 and have been in action for over two years now, bringing you the best comedic talent from all over Ireland and headline acts from across the globe, from the USA to Australia. However, nothing has given us as much pleasure as allowing you good folk to see top notch local comedy and we hope you’ll be able to recognise some of the guys you saw at the Comedy Basement and be able to remember the days when you didn’t have to pay £20 to see them ;)

So, first and foremost, a massive massive thank you to everyone who has ever performed at the Comedy Basement at any level, a thank you to all our emcees over the years but most importantly a thank you to each and every person who has ever attended the Comedy Basement, we wouldn’t have got this far without you!

Please continue to support local comedy and comedians by seeingt hese guys at other venues across the country, like the Menagerie’s BIG Sunday, the Black Box, Mason’s and the Pavillion etc.

We’d have loved to be able to deliver the show at the end of this month but unfortunately that is now not a possibility, so February 24th was the last gig.

Thanks again for all your support over the years, its been fun!!

Neill

Thank you all for coming down & making the February gig a great night. Now let’s march on to March.

We continue to bring you the best Acts in the country & how we lucky are to have…

EDWIN SAMMON
…Fresh from winning the prestigious Golden Toilet Duck Comedy Award as part of Tedfest in Galway in February, Ed is bringing his surreal take on Irish storytelling & Pop Culture up to Belfast for the first time. Born on the planet Galway and raised in the Offaly nebula, Edwin was brought up by a community of wookies. His early childhood was spent cavorting in the fields, discovering where a female wookies private bits were and fighting the evil galactic Empire. Once he came of age his wookie parents noticed that he had a knack for making people laugh. Edwin left the Offaly nebula to persue a stand up career, slightly less hairy than he had been before.

Sharp, witty, & surreal. Ed is a real treat you don’t want to miss.

SCOTT & STACY
Madcap character Comedy Duo & real live Americans Scott Calonico & Stacy Mead hail from Texas but are now based in the UK.

For the last eight/nine years they have joined forces to write, produce, direct and star in a slew of rather amusing short films that have shown worldwide including screenings at Sundance, Venice, and Rotterdam. In the United States, they have performed all over the US & along the way, they’ve performed with the likes of Doug Benson, Sarah Silverman, Paul F. Thompkins and Johnny Hardwick.

You will not see an act like this anywhere else in the country. Expect something very special!

LORCAN MCGRANE
Beginning stand up in 2006, Lorcan McGrane has foisted his perversions and Peccadilloes on an unsuspecting public in Belfast, Dublin, Norwich, London, and Edinburgh with great success. His One Man Show GEEKDOM was very well received during it’s stint at the Belfast Fringe Festival. Geeky, awkward, intelligent, hilarious.

We are also lucky to have performances from creator of VOICEBOX comedy MARCUS KEELEY & an open spot from BBC radio’s HOTROD MCCAUGHAN

One of NI’s fastest rising acts RUAIDHRI WARD is back again as your regular MC.

“Ruaidhrí is one of the most gifted stand-ups on the scene” – Joe Lindsay. BBC.

A night to be missed at your peril. But we don’t have to threaten you. You know what’s good for you.

Comedy Basement @ McHughs
Thursday 31st March
Doors at 8.00pm – Show at 8.45pm (Advise you turn up early to get seats!)
Entrance: £5.00
Discounts for large groups, feel free to contact info@comedybasement.co.uk if you’re planning a really large group!

That’s all for now, feel free to drop us a line at info@comedybasement.co.uk!

Thanks!

Thanks everyone for making the January gig a night to remember, now, let us make February Hilarious.

We continue to bring you the best Headliners in the country & how we lucky are to have…

ROBBIE BONHAM
Dublin-based stand-up comedian, musician, artist and cartoonist, is there anything Robbie can’t do?

Since he first picked up a microphone in a comedy club 6 years ago, Robbie has worked his way up to be a regular Headliner across the country including shows in The Laughter Lounge, Belfast’s Empire, Derry’s Masons & pretty much anywhere that can get him. Along the way he has picked up the prestigious 98 FM’s ‘Best Comedian’ Award, played some rocking gigs at Oxegen and in Vicar Street and is a regular at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

With his beautifully honed & jagged wit and bitterly sharp biting humour Robbie is a firm favourite with any audience.

“Pretty damn hilarious…A talented addition to any line-up” – ComedyEire

“Confident, intelligent, creative and darn funny” – The Laughter Lounge

MAGIC GEORGE QUINN
The resident MC at Belfast’s breeding ground for new acts – Big Laughs at The Big House – George reckons he shambled onto the comedy scene in 2008 when in fact he exploded onto it, & to much acclaim with his eclectic mix of the sublime and ridiculous. A professional magician who has now taken his love of physical comedy, bizarre prop work and rambling musings into the field of stand up, he has been winning audiences over with a visual, quirky act executed by likeable and accessible performer.

With a special guest appearance from comedians comedian MORGAN HEARST, BBC sketch writer PETER E DAVIDSON, & an open spot from Lucy Porters’s recent support act LAUREN KERR this is the night that just keeps on giving.

One of NI’s fastest rising acts RUAIDHRI WARD is back again as your regular MC.

“Ruaidhrí is one of the most gifted stand-ups on the scene” – Joe Lindsay. BBC.

A night to be missed at your peril. But we don’t have to threaten you. You know what’s good for you.

Comedy Basement @ McHughs
Thursday 24th February
Doors at 8.00pm – Show at 8.45pm (Advise you turn up early to get seats!)
Entrance: £5.00
Discounts for large groups, feel free to contact info@comedybasement.co.uk if you’re planning a really large group!

That’s all for now, feel free to drop us a line at info@comedybasement.co.uk!

Thanks!

Hi Folks,

First of all, thank you all so much for making the last gig of 2010 truly a classic! But, out with the old and in with the new as the Comedy Basement returns to make your 2011 hilarious, & what a treat of a night we have in store for January.

PAUL CURRIE
Paul Currie is a Belfast based Fool. He is a trained Jim Henson Muppeteer, Paul performs “POTTO” on Cbeebies Sesame Tree.

One of Irelands funniest & most respected acts Paul incorporates a traditional form of stand up that takes influence from Victorian Music Hall acts to The Goons, Jacque Tati, Andy Kaufman, Vic Reeves and mixes this with modern fools/clowns like Slava Polunin, and Jango Edwards. Paul Currie has been called…

“totally new” – Jarlath Regan http://www.jigser.com/

“a show stealer” – The Dublin Times,

You must definitely catch this act with his unique brand of stand up/clowning.

ENDA MULDOON
One of Ireland’s most sought after comedians Enda Muldoon began comedy over five years ago in a bid to deal with deep seated childhood psycholgical trauma. This badly thought out attempt at purging his demons in public proved not only to be unsuccessful, but has involved many of his shows ending with his admission to a psychiatric unit.

Not strictly a comedian, watching Enda perform is a dark view at the fragility of the human psyche. The fact that anyone would give him a microphone, is proof in itself that the collapse of society is imminent

Your compere once again will be Northern Ireland’s own RUAIDHRÍ WARD. Ruaidhrí is one of the stand out comedians on the Belfast scene at the moment and we are delighted to have him compere the Comedy Basement.
“It’s rare you see something as original these days.” – Tony Law.

With Open Spots from the best new talent Ireland has to offer this is night to be missed at your peril. But we don’t have to threaten you. You know what’s good for you.

Comedy Basement @ McHughs
Thursday 27th January
Doors at 7.30pm – Show at 8.45pm (Advise you turn up early to get seats!)
Entrance: £5.00
Discounts for large groups, feel free to contact info@comedybasement.co.uk if you’re planning a really large group!

Thanks and hope you all had a very happy new year!
Comedy Basement

The Comedy Basement at McHughs presents its End of Year gig with special guest, US comedian ERIC SHANTZ.

Having worked on such Hollywood television shows as; ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, MTV’s Wild N’ Out, and Spike TV’s Scream Awards, Shantz brings a hilarious unique style for the second time to Belfast’s Comedy Basement. Bringing with him extensive experience, gigging in New York, Los Angeles, London and more recently throughout I…reland, Shantz is one act not to be missed!

http://www.myspace.com/shantzcomedy

Supporting Eric will be UK’s AL COWIE. Having shared a bill with acts from Mitch Benn, Robin Ince, Andi Osho, Paul Sinha, Terry Alderton and Felix Dexter, and with appearances on both TV and radio, Al is a rising comedic star and a quality act, having extensive experience throughout the country including a 44 run show at the Edinburgh Festival.

Your compere for the evening will be Northern Ireland’s own RUAIDHRÍ WARD. Ruaidhrí is one of the stand out comedians on the Belfast scene at the moment and we are delighted to have him compere the Comedy Basement this month. “It’s rare you see something as original these days.” – Tony Law.

This is shaping up to be a great way to get some high quality chuckles in before the sobriety of the new year hits us all! So don’t miss out!

Comedy Basement @ McHughs
Thursday 30th December
Doors at 7.30pm – Show at 8.45pm (Advise you turn up early to get seats!)
Entrance: £5.00
Discounts for large groups, feel free to contact info@comedybasement.co.uk if you’re planning a really large group!

That’s all for now, feel free to drop us a line at info@comedybasement.co.uk!

Thanks!
Neill

Hi Folks,

There will be no Comedy Basement this coming Thursday (25th November) as we are busy preparing for a special End of Year Comedy Extravaganza on the 30th December, featuring top comedians from home and abroad to help celebrate another year of hilarity passing! More details to follow in the coming month, keep your eyes on this website for more information!

Secondly, there’s an awesome event on at Belfast’s Elmwood Hall on the 25th November as part of the charity Concern’s fundraising, FASTIVAL is providing some great comedy entertainment in the form of Tim McGary, Kevin McAleer and Jake O’Kane, with Comedy Basement favourite Ruaidhrí Ward supporting the trio! Great charity and a great comedy night out! Check it out here!

So that’s all for now folks, so don’t forget, earmark Thursday 30th December for a Comedy Basement special to end another year of comedy at McHughs and this coming Thursday for Fastival Laughs!
See yous in December!

Neill

Comedy Basement

Hi Folks!

The Comedy Basement returns on THURSDAY 28th OCTOBER bringing you the cream of the crop of local comedic talent, many of whom have bringing their solo shows to the Belfast Festival

This time round, the Comedy Basement presents:

SEAN HEGARTY
Fresh from his first solo show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Sean Hegarty returns to the Comedy Basement bringing his likeable personality and snappy one liners along with him. The Lurgan comedian is most notably recognised for his winning appearance on the BBC NI Show, Find Me The Funny, where he was one of six winners in the competition.

“Very very funny!” – Jason Manford (Comedian)

“Great show. He handled a tough crowd like an old pro! Hope to work with him again soon!” – Jake O’Kane (BBC’s Blame Game & MC for The Empire Comedy Club Belfast)

ADAM LAUGHLIN
Expect well-constructed gags, bizarre and surreal set pieces, an unending energy and an undeniably hilarious stage presence. He has played venues such as The Pavilion Bar, Voicebox Comedy, The Empire and Lavery’s Bar.

MARCUS KEELEY
The man behind the successful underground Belfast comedy gig, The Voicebox, brings his delightful mixture of “old beyond his years” ryness and a unique approach to stand up comedy.

The evening will be presided over by the zany George Quinn, a professional magician who has now taken his love of physical comedy, bizarre prop work and rambling musings into the field of stand up comedy.

That’s it folks, we hope to see you all there at McHughs Basement bar for The Comedy Basement at McHughs!

Thursday 28th October
McHughs Basement Bar
Doors: 7.30pm
Show: 8.45pm
£4.00 entrance
Bring all your friends and tell everyone ;)

For more information, visit our website, drop us an email, visit us on Facebook or Twitter! (No excuses! :p)
http://www.comedybasement.co.uk
info@comedybasement.co.uk
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45153104373
http://twitter.com/ComedyBasement

Thanks folks and see you all there!

Neill
Comedy Basement