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POST OFFICE SCANDAL - The Inside Story
11.00am Sunday 21 April 2024 Launceston Town Hall
“An extraordinary journalistic expose of a huge miscarriage of justice.” – Ian Hislop, Editor, Private Eye.
“A tale brilliantly told by Nick Wallis, who has dedicated years of work to establishing what happened, why it happened and calling those responsible to account.” – Rev Richard Coles, presenter and author.
This is the true story of how hundreds of innocent people fought to clear their names after being pursued by the Post Office through the criminal courts. Proud pillars of their communities were stripped of their jobs and livelihoods. Many were forced into bankruptcy or borrowed from friends and family to give the Post Office thousands they did not owe. The really unlucky ones were sent to prison.
Having recently been adapted into the primetime ITV drama starring Toby Jones, Mr Bates vs the Post Office, this jaw-dropping, unique and gripping story is now the subject of a compelling stage show.
Journalist/broadcaster Nick Wallis (BBC Radio 4’s The Great Post Office Trial, Private Eye’s Justice Lost in the Post, BBC1’s Panorama Scandal at the Post Office, The One Show and Channel 5’s Criminals Caught on Camera) has drawn on his decade of covering the story to write a best-selling book (The Great Post Office Scandal – serialised by the Daily Mail and featured by the Sunday Times), and it is this book which forms the basis of his new show.
Nick (also a consultant on the ITV Drama) expertly chronicles the twists and turns of the scandal, taking in the shambolic commissioning of the disastrous Post Office Horizon IT system and examining the punitive methods employed by the Post Office – bypassing the police and the Crown Prosecution Service – to create the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK legal history. Nick then narrows in on the subsequent cover-up, and the staggering legal battles fought and won by campaigning Subpostmasters, against all the odds. As the public inquiry into the scandal reveals yet more horrors, Nick will be able to explain the very latest developments and their significance.
Nick will be talking about his experiences and reading from his best-selling book, followed by a Q&A session, giving the audience an opportunity to explore areas in more detail.
JO CAULFIELD - Here Comes Trouble
8.00pm Friday 26 April 2024 Launceston Town Hall
Voted ‘Comedians’ Comedian of The Year 2022’, Jo Caulfield is “quite simply, a damn funny woman.” (The Guardian)
Jo has appeared on Mock The Week, Have I Got News For You, The John Bishop Show, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, The Royal Variety Performance, and Richard Osman's House of Games.
Nominated as “the best female Stand Up in the country” (Chortle) and “one of the Top 100 Comedians” (Channel 4), Jo is a regular on Radio 4 and a returning guest on Breaking The News. Jo’s first book, “The Funny Thing About Death” was published in August 2023.
Here Comes Trouble is 90 minutes of razor-sharp observations and scandalous one-liners, as Jo gets her claws into everything (and everyone) that annoys her.
From stories about arguing with strangers on trains to dealing with over- enthusiastic supermarket staff, and trying to recapture the magic in a long-term relationship to “helping” organise her newly divorced friend’s dating life, this is pure stand-up, delivered with nothing more than a microphone and a bad attitude.
Packed with brilliant lines, embarrassing anecdotes and hilarious insights, Here Comes Trouble “will have you absolutely helpless with laughter.” - The Herald
"Sharp-witted urban comedy that goes down a treat... like a sociology textbook but with jokes” - The Times
“One of the finest female comedians at work” - The Observer ★★★★★
“An evening of perfect comedy” - The Metro ★★★★★
“One of UK’s smartest comics” - The Herald ★★★★★
Guidance 16+
PAUL YOUNG - Behind The Lens
7.30pm Wednesday 24 April 2024 The Main Hall, University of Plymouth
7.30pm Thursday 2 May 2024 Launceston Town Hall
He’s been a major star for four decades. Paul Young broke into the big time 40 years ago when No Parlez went to number one and spawned iconic hits like Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home). More success followed with the number one album The Secret Of Association and the worldwide hit Everytime You Go Away, not forgetting an appearance at Live Aid and more. Paul sustained that success – while having fun in his tex-mex band, Los Pacaminos. Now, on the 40th anniversary of No Parlez, he’s releasing a remarkable new record and publishing his extraordinary memoir; both called Behind The Lens. He’s touring the UK, too, where he’ll meet fans, sing songs and tell stories about his incredible career. It’s time to revel in the classic hits and learn the stories behind them as Paul steps out from Behind The Lens.
NICK HELM's Super Fun Good Time Show
8.00pm Saturday 27 April 2024 The Woolwell Center, Plymouth
Nick Helm – the man with the golden larynx and greatest living all-round entertainer – is BACK!
After years and years of therapy, pills, personal growth and being a living legend the nation’s favourite Uncle and International Treasure-in-Waiting returns to the road to mesmerise a new generation of thrill seekers in his all new, brand new, box fresh show. Come and see your Golden Emperor shake his ass and give you the only thing you’ve ever wanted... the best damn night of your fragile lives.
Since starting stand-up comedy in 2007, Nick quickly gained attention from across the industry for his unique, powerful and above all hilarious blend of one-liners, stories, poems and songs. His previous shows enjoyed sell-out runs at Edinburgh Fringe, and he has been twice nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Awards.
He has also released two successful albums, played lead roles in hit TV sitcoms Uncle and Loaded, fronted two of his own TV shows Eat Your Heart Out (Dave) and Nick Helm’s Heavy Entertainment (BBC), and was nominated for a BAFTA for short film Elephant, which he co-wrote, directed and starred in. As also seen on Live at the Apollo (BBC), 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4), The Reluctant Landlord (Sky) and many more.
‘Genuinely exciting’ ★★★★★ Telegraph ‘Terrific’ ★★★★ Times
‘A true comedy daredevil’ ★★★★ Time Out
Guidance 16+
Presented by Plosive Live in association with Sophie Chapman Talent
JESSICA FOSTEKEW - Mettle
8.00pm Sunday 28 April 2024, Main Hall, University of Plymouth
A brand new stand-up show about passion, pace and purpose from the critically- acclaimed star of BBC’s QI, Live at the Apollo and C4’s Travel Man.
Jess’ son’s joined a cult AND her cat’s learnt to talk – but despite all that she’s fine, actually. In fact she’s hurtling faster and hustling harder than ever for the things that she wants and needs.
Her last show Wench played a sold-out Edinburgh Fringe run and UK tour and is available now as a special. Her previous show Hench was nominated for Best Show at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards and won Best Show at the Chortle Awards where Jess also won Best Act. It’s available to stream now on Amazon Prime.
Jess is a regular co-host of The Guilty Feminist podcast, host and creator of her own podcast about eating, Hoovering, and star and writer of BBC Radio 4’s Sturdy Girl Club. Jess has also appeared in the award-winning sitcom Motherland and most recently hugely-acclaimed feature film Scrapper which won the Grand Jury prize at the Sundance festival.
She’s also been on all your favourite panel shows from Celebrity Pointless to House of Games.
‘A loud, lively and vital voice’ ★★★★ Evening Standard
‘She wears her smarts on her sleeve’ ★★★★ Guardian
‘She finds a new fiercely funny strain of comedy that’s her own’ ★★★★ Times
Presented by Plosive Live in association with Ebdon Management
MILES JUPP - On I Bang
7.30pm Tuesday 4 June 2024, Main Hall, University of Plymouth
Since Miles’ last tour finished at The London Palladium in 2017, he’s been in The Full Monty on Disney Plus, The Durrells and Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? on ITV, as well as a heap of episodes of Frankie Boyle’s New World Order and Have I Got News For You. He’s made an award-winning radio series and he’s published a novel. But for Covid, he would have played a lead at the RSC. Hey ho. Nevertheless he’s done a play in the West End and played the Emperor of Austria and Europe in a Ridley Scott film.
Yet one sunny day in the middle of all this, he suddenly suffered a brain seizure. This led to the discovery of a tumour the size of a cherry tomato, and a rather pressing need to undergo major neurosurgery. Obviously, one doesn’t wish to make a big deal of it, but the experience has left him with a story to tell and a few things that he’d like to share with the room. So that’s exactly what he’s doing in his new show On I Bang – a tale about surprise, fear, luck, love and qualified medical practitioners.
“JOYFUL SHOW ABOUT NEAR-DEATH IS HIS BEST YET” **** THE TIMES 2024
“ELEGANTLY FUNNY ,TERRIBLY ENGLISH ACCOUNT OF A TUMOUR “ **** THE GUARDIAN 2024
**** The Telegraph
**** Chortle 2024
RIA LINA - Riawakening
7.30pm Thursday 6 June 2024, The Woolwell Centre, Plymouth
In the aftermath of a global pandemic, comedian and scientist, Ria Lina has had a Riawakening and sees the world differently. In this, her highly anticipated debut tour, Ria tackles the issues of coming out of a global pandemic, the new normal, divorce, dating in a new digital world, motherhood and what it really means to be a woman today.
Fearless, provocative, and very funny, Ria Lina is the only Filipina comedian in British stand-up and a hugely admired talent in the comedy industry.
Her extensive list of credits includes Live At The Apollo, Have I Got News For You?, Mock the Week, Lovestruck High, Richard Hammond’s Brain Reaction, Richard Osman’s House of Games, The Last Leg and Celebrity Mastermind.
“I guarantee you will laugh a lot” ★★★★ THE SCOTSMAN
Age guidance: 16+
TOM DAVIS - Underdog
8pm Tuesday 11 June 2024 Main Hall, University of Plymouth
8pm Wednesday 12 June 2024 Launceston Town Hall
Sweet sweet soul Tom Davis is best known for hit shows King Gary, The Curse, Murder In Successville, Live At The Apollo and his hugely popular podcast Wolf and Owl with Romesh Ranganathan.
Embarking on his biggest tour to date with his brand new show, ‘Underdog’, Tom will be exploring life as the longshot. From leaving school with no qualifications to years working on building sites, all the way to the difficult road to fatherhood, acting in blockbuster films and yet still being told he’s punching by a waiter.
Big Tom Davis’ return to stand up should not be missed.
KIRI PRITCHARD-McLEAN - Peacock
7.30pm Saturday 21 September 2024, The Sherwell Centre, University of Plymouth
Star of 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Have I Got News For You and QI Kiri Pritchard-McLean has had a busy few years. As well as hosting Live at the Apollo, fronting the Radio 4 panel show Best Medicine and starting a comedy school, she’s become a foster parent.
Didn’t know that about her? Well, until now she hasn’t been able to talk about it on stage, she hasn’t even told the kids in her care that she’s a comedian. Oh, and she uses a different name - she’s the Bruce Wayne of comedy but without the mansions.
However, this year something changed and after a couple of the eggiest gigs of her career in boardrooms to social workers a show about becoming a foster carer has been signed off! So, come and join “Louise” as she lifts the lid on social workers, first aid training and what not to do when a vicar searches for you on YouTube.
Age guidance: 15+ some strong language
Duration: 95 minutes plus a 20 minute interval
Photo Credit: Drew Forsyth
MYRA DuBOIS - Be Well
7.30pm Wednesday 9 October 2024 The Keay Theatre, St Austell
8.00pm Thursday 10 October 2024 The Main Hall, University of Plymouth
With her passion for compassion and flair for giving care, the “bust a gut funny” (Graham Norton) Myra DuBois calls out to the disadvantaged, downtrodden and tyrannised of the world with her manifesto for mental health: AdMyrism! But are you ready to receive the call?
Fresh from a barnstorming UK tour in 2023, where she left audiences in physical pain from laughter with her ‘take no prisoners’ brand of rapid-fire comedy; the “acid-tongued, funny to the bone” Time Out, Myra DuBois is back, to lay her healing hands on the masses in this: her wellness sermon.
As seen on Britain’s Got Talent (ITV), The John Bishop Show (BBC1), Big Brother’s Bit on the Side (Five), Pointless Celebrities (BBC), Queens For The Night (ITV), and the major motion picture Everyone’s Talking About Jamie (Amazon Prime).
“Myra DuBois is a COMIC GENIUS, if you don’t believe me... ask HER!” - Bianca Del Rio
“Hilarious” - Boy George
“Hilarious… comic timing that never misses a beat” - Edinburgh Festival Magazine
“Incredibly quick-witted comedy” - The Scotsman
“Raucous” - New York Times
Instagram: @myradubois
Twitter: @myradubois
Facebook: www.facebook.com/myradubois
Guidance 18+
BUDDY HOLLY & THE CRICKETERS - 32 Years of Rocking 'n' Rolling The World
8.00pm Saturday 12 October 2024 Launceston Town Hall
This breathtaking show has rock ’n’ rolled audiences across the globe from Cardiff to California, Barking to Bangkok and Swindon to Sweden and is guaranteed to have everyone singing along to the music and dancing in the aisles.
It stars some of the finest actor-musicians in the UK whose combined West End credits include Buddy, Lennon, Forbidden Planet and Jailhouse Rock and was endorsed as Britain’s most popular Buddy Holly act when the boys guested on BBC One's Saturday night live programme, “The One and Only”, hosted by Graham Norton.
The show rarely pauses for breath and is, quite simply, the most compelling concert of its kind. The hits just keep on coming - That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, Heartbeat, It Doesn’t Matter Anymore, Raining In My Heart, Oh Boy! – and much, much more.
Whatever the season, whatever the excuse to party, make your Heartbeat a little faster with the show that has thousands of fans the world over saying: “I can’t believe it’s not Buddy!”
Reviews
“The audience were dancing in the aisles and roaring for more” The Stage
“Buddy brilliant!” Graham Norton, BBC One
“Fantastic...The best... tremendous night out...I can’t praise the show enough” The Kent and Sussex Courier
“Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without Buddy Holly and The Cricketers” Somerset County Gazette
MARK WATSON - Search
7.30pm Thursday 24 October 2024 Launceston Town Hall
Mark Watson's 12-year-old son has just got a phone. His 70-year-old dad has been through the most frightening experience of his life. Both a dad and a kid himself, around the midpoint of his life, the Taskmaster star and multiple award-winner - now also famous as one-third of YouTube cult sensation No More Jockeys - returns.
He'll consider the search for meaning that we're all on, with or without Google. There'll be a lot of jokes, and a show that's different every night.
★★★★★ 'A genius-level comic doing what he does best... it's magical to watch and just so funny' Time Out Melbourne
★★★★★ 'Quite unlike anything else I’ve seen in almost 20 years of covering the Fringe...witty, warm, perfectly judged' Telegraph
★★★★ ½ ‘An hour or two of our limited span on Earth in his uplifting, witty company is time excellently spent' Chortle
★★★★ 'A master at letting us in on his vulnerability' The Times
★★★★ 'This is a stand-up operating at the very top of his game' Independent
Website: https://www.markwatsonthecomedian.com/
Facebook: MarkWatsonComedian
Twitter: @watsoncomedian
Guidance 16+
ALFIE MOORE - A Face for Radio
7.30pm Friday 25 October 2024 Launceston Town Hall
7.30pm Saturday 26 April 2025, Plymouth
Somewhere in a parallel universe little Alfie’s natural comedic performance skills were recognised by his doting parents who encouraged and developed his blossoming talent. After several years as a stage school brat Alfie’s angelic face was launched on stage and screen and the rest is history.
Meanwhile, in this universe Alfie Moore was told to stop messing about in class before being ‘encouraged’ into the grinding, grimy world of an apprenticeship in the Sheffield steelworks. When recession hit he traded steel for copper by joining Humberside Police.
Thirty years of shift-work, initially in the Sheffield steelworks and then as a copper on the beat (where he was punched in the face quite a lot), has left him with ‘a face for radio’. A face not so much ‘lived in’ as inhabited by a settlement of squatters with little regard to property maintenance and repair.
In his 40s a surprising career shift turned middle-aged Alfie from street cop to BBC radio star. But when TV fame beckoned could he grasp it or was he past it?
“…offbeat, revealing and very funny” You Magazine
“…thoroughly engaging, endlessly funny. His charisma shines through as bright and colourful as a twirling blue light. Mature Times
MAISIE ADAM - Appraisal
8.00pm Tuesday 5 November 2024 Launceston Town Hall
Fresh from Live At The Apollo, A League Of Their Own and Have I Got News For You, Maisie Adam is heading back out on tour with a brand new show. She’s five years into her job as a comedian now, so she’s due an appraisal. Join her for the ultimate performance review, where you’ll either see just why she was awarded Best New Act and nominated Best Newcomer…or, you’ll see someone who’s ready for “organisational restructure”. See you at the appraisal, she looks forward to seeing you, kindest regards!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Daily Express
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Guardian
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Chortle
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The List
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Evening Standard
Presented by Mick Perrin Worldwide Ltd in association with PBJ Management
Recommended 16+
MILTON JONES - HA!MILTON
7.30pm Saturday 14 December 2024 Main Hall, University of Plymouth
This is not a musical. Milton Jones is tone deaf and has no sense of rhythm, but at least he doesn’t make a song and dance about it.
He has more important things to discuss. Like giraffes…and there’s a bit about tomatoes.
You might know him from Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo or Radio 4. Or that time he stood for the Scottish National Party, fought a hard campaign, but in the end had to respect the wishes of the people of Cardiff.
A whole new show of daftness. You know it makes sense.
WARNING
*contains jokes from the start.
“He’s fast, absurd and very Funny” Radio Times
‘No-one can touch Jones when he hits his stride’ The Guardian
LOU SANDERS - No Kissing in the Bingo Hall
8.00pm Thursday 24 April 2025, Plymouth
A show about being human-can you relate???
Just like Tom Cruise does all his own stunts, I'm going to do all my own jokes!
A deep, dumb show for the masses.
Star of Dancing On Ice (ITV), champion of Taskmaster (Channel 4), co-host of Mel Giedroyc's Unforgivable (Dave), regular on QI (BBC) and as seen on The Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS) and Would I Lie To You? (BBC)
Guidance 16+