Warwickshire entrepreneurs to host ‘April Fools’ virtual fundraising night of comedy

Live At The Apollo star Laura Lexx headlines a virtual night of comedy for a fundraising event hosted by Warwickshire entrepreneurs.

The event, which is being supported by Lodders, sees the return of charity stand-up events organised by the creatives behind Comedy at Work comedians Anne Docherty from Kenilworth and Mark Hinds from Warwick.

Helping to lay on the virtual laughs, on April Fool’s Day (Thursday, April 1) will be four comedians who are rising stars on the UK comedy circuit.

Award-winning Laura Lexx, from Taunton, is best known for her TV comedy appearances including Live At The Apollo and Mock The Week.

She also hit the headlines last year when she landed a book deal following a series of tweets imagining life with Liverpool FC manager Jurgen Klopp which went viral.

Yorkshireman Scott Bennet has won acclaim with comedy awards and has appeared on BBC Radio 4 as well as alongside the likes of Rob Brydon, Michael McIntyre and Helen Lederer.

New comedian of the Year at Leicester Square Theatre and Bath Comedy Festival in 2019, David Eagle is also an accomplished musician. The blind funnyman from Stockton instantly wins audiences over with his quip about having ‘dark humour.’

Overseeing the laughs will be Samantha Day, from Watford. The former accountant-turned stand-up comedian, reached the semi-finals of Jason Manford’s Best New Act 2020 just before lockdown as well as making it through to the semi-finals of the Best New Act at Bath Comedy Festival in 2019.

Proceeds from the virtual gig will support Birmingham-based charity Networkfour which, for the last 13 years, has worked to shine a light on the issues of poverty, hardship and lives negatively impacted by criminality.

Founder and Project Director Gary Wicker, said: “Networkfour are really excited to work with the amazing Comedy at Work team.

"Their support to put on this fabulous online comedy event will help transform the lives of many hundreds of vulnerable children, at risk young people and crisis families throughout Birmingham and wider West Midlands.”

The 90-minute virtual gig starts at 7.30pm on April 1 st and is accessible via Zoom. Tickets cost £15, plus there are a limited number of ‘front-row’ tickets available at £25 enabling on-screen interaction with the comedians.

Tickets can be booked at: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/comedyatworkltd/495194

Anne Docherty, co-founder of Comedy at Work, said: “After a whole year of not performing at live comedy clubs, we are so delighted that both the comedians and the audiences are embracing and enjoying virtual events.

"The constant feedback we get, is how desperate people are to have a really, really good laugh.

“So why not just put a Netflix comedy on? That’s a possibility if you have anything left to watch! A live event, however, offers you a lively and interactive evening, plus we bring together a unique combination of different comedians, with different styles and different views on life.”

As well as bringing stand-up to venues across the country in support of local charities, Comedy at Work hosts a series of workshops for all ages, all with comedy and well-being at their heart – from school leavers and graduates support through to team building, corporate training and even wedding speech coaching.

For more information go to: https://www.comedyatwork.com/