Biggest names in comedy head to York as Fringe festival returns with an extra week
How do you fancy 70 per cent more funny in your life?
The Great Yorkshire Fringe Festival is expanding from ten to 17 days in 2016, bringing more comedy, more music and more family fun to York from July 15-31.
The inaugural 2015 festival, on a temporary village green in Parliament Street, attracted more than 120,000 people with its mix of entertainment, music, cabaret, magic and theatre.
Festival founder Martin Witts said:
We promise to deliver a non-stop cavalcade of laughs over the summer.
New funny faces
The Great Yorkshire Fringe New Comedian of the Year competition will return with the festival, with daily heats leading to a grand final on Sunday July 31.
Tom Taylor, 23 from Harrogate, was crowned the most chucklesome in 2015, beating 74 other aspiring comedians.
The 2016 winner will receive the Golden Pudding Award, £750, and the opportunity to perform at Leicester Square Theatre. The second prize will be £500 and third £250.
The competition is open to any non-professional who’s been performing for five years or less. Character acts, musical acts and sketch groups are welcome. Entries open on January 11.