No Laughing Matter Comedy Nights
Come see what the comedians get up to when they are not out training for the 3 Peaks Challenge. Most of these stand-up shows will take place at the Comedy Store in Manchester. The June 6th show will be at Jester's in Bristol.
Proceeds from these benefit shows will go directly towards the fund-raising goals of the event. Click on a date to see the line-up for that night. Also watch out for special appearances by big-name comedians in addition the the fabulous acts taking part in the challenge.
Click on a date to see the line-up for that night.
Friday 29 June ( in Scotland )
Monday 10th September
Monday 19th November
celebrity special guest Dave Spikey
The Comedy Store Signs Up to Combat AIDS in Africa
Manchester’s favourite comedy venue, The Comedy Store, has become the latest company to join forces with Manchester based charity Act4Africa in the fight against AIDS. “The Store” has agreed to stage a series of “No Laughing Matter” comedy nights, to raise funds for Act4Africa as part of the charity’s “1 Million Lives Plus” campaign to combat AIDS in Africa.
Act4Africa has pledged to deliver HIV and AIDS Prevention Education Programmes to over a million Africans by World AIDS Day (December) 2008. The charity currently trains and funds teams of Africans to deliver the AIDS Prevention Programmes and combat the stigma of AIDS through education in Africa all year round. It also takes teams from the UK to work alongside its African teams in some of Africa’s toughest to reach communities.
The charity is currently organizing a Three Peaks Challenge, which a team of the UK’s best loved comedians have agreed to participate in. When the comedians also suggested that they’d be keen to stage a charity night too to raise even more money, Act4Africa’s Campaign Coordinator Lesley-Ann Newman approached The Comedy Store for help. She said,
“The Comedy Store was brilliant. I showed Paul, the manager, a brief film about the work that we’re doing in Africa and he was totally onboard with what we’re trying to achieve. It is absolutely tragic that 20% of all teenagers in Africa are HIV+ and most will die before their 21st birthdays. To combat this horrific disease education is the key, but sadly, in Africa, education does not come free. At the end of our meeting, The Store signed up, not just to stage one comedy night for us, but a whole series during the 2 year campaign!”
Said Paul Home, Manager of the Comedy Store in Manchester
“The reality of AIDs in Africa is almost too horrific to comprehend. I understand that, with over 12 million AIDS orphans in Africa, that’s the equivalent of every school aged child in the UK waiting at the school gates, but without a single parent coming to pick them up, because every single one has been obliterated by AIDS. On a personal level, I felt absolutely compelled to do something. I also think it’s something that our customers would really want to get behind. If the Comedy Store can help stage a series of events which will, in turn, help to ensure that many more young people in Africa don’t die of ignorance, then we’re really pleased to be involved.”
The first “No Laughing Matter” Comedy Night and Auction in aid of Act4Africa will be on Monday 23rd April 07 and will feature members of the Three Peaks Comedians team including: Martin Bigpig Mor, Steve Harris, Rex Boyd and John Bishop and special celebrity guest Dave Spikey.
Tickets (£10, £8 concessions) from Ticket Master Hotline: 08705 932932.
If you would like to donate auction lots or find out about other Act4Africa “1 Million Lives Plus” events contact Lesley-Ann Newman on (01606) 44168 or log on to www.act4africa.org.uk
AIDS in Africa – It’s No Laughing Matter
More About Act4Africa
Act4Africa is a UK based charity working to combat AIDS through HIV and AIDS prevention education. The charity trains and funds African teams to deliver HIV and AIDS Prevention Programmes in schools, communities, prisons and army camps in Africa. With a focus on short term expeditions, it also trains UK teams to work alongside the African teams, delivering AIDS education and behavioural change programmes using performance arts and sports. The charity works to breakdown the stigma of AIDS and give peace, hope and comfort to those impacted by it. Act4Africa was launched in 2000 and has delivered Prevention Programmes to 600,000+ young Africans since.
Help Us Spread the Word
Click on the two yellow posters above to download the full versions with more info about upcoming shows.
And while you’re at it, why not print off a few copies of your own and help us publicise this fantastic event?
