Page 28 • The HERALD • 11th May 2023 v WE’VE BEEN YOUR LOCAL SINCE 1994 v EXPERT DOMESTICS APPLIANCE SERVICES Sales and Repairs to All Makes and Models 169-171 LONG LANE, HOLBURY • TEL (023) 8089 0054 POSSIBLY THE ONLY INDEPENDENT MAIN DEALER IN THE NEW FOREST For Bosch, Belling, Britannia, Candy, Ebac, Hotpoint, Hoover, Indesit, Ice King, LG, LEC, Liebherr, Miele, Neff, Sebo, Siemens, Stoves, Whirlpool, Zanussi and more... Free Standing & Built In Sales Centre Over 300 appliances in stock www.expertdomestics.co.uk ALL ASPECTS OF ELECTRICAL WORK UNDERTAKEN • Full Rewires • New Circuits • Consumer Unit Replacements • Electric Vehicle Charging Points • Landlord Certification • Smart Homes • Central Heating Controls 023 8089 0932 or 07534 343631 www.alnelectrical.co.uk info@alnelectrical.co.uk REFURBISHERS ALWAYS TRY TO MEET YOUR BUDGET RELIABLE! EXCELLENT REFERENCES! INSURED! Catalogue of previous works to view Plaster work • Floor & Wall Tiling • Wall removal • Bathroom Design & Fit • Laminate/Wood Flooring • Painting • Insulation • Decking • PVCu Gutter & Fascia OUR HANDYMAN SERVICES • Rubbish clearance • Gutters • Jet washing conservatories, paths and patios • Flat pack assembly • Van removals • NO JOB TOO SMALL • FIXED PRICES • WRITTEN QUOTATIONS P Strus 07414 779083 Email: p.strus7@gmail.com FAMOUS COMEDIANS BILLED FOR THE FIRST NEW FOREST COMEDY FESTIVAL AND £500 PRIZE FOR LOCAL TALENT e rst ever New Forest Comedy Festival is set to kick o on 27th May and runs to 17th June across local venues with a huge bill of proli c and local comedic talent including Richard Herring, Jen Brister, Tom Ward, Tony Law, Ivo Graham, Paul Foot, Alison Spittle, Tom Houghton and Jack Skipper. Beyond the epic line-up of comedians and the promise of laughter, the festival brings a range of interactive workshops and events for all ages in a bid to engage and entertain the New Forest community through comedy. And, for local budding comedians, the festival is running a NEW FOREST COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR competition in partnership with the Museum of Comedy and Leicester Square Comedy Club, which includes a range of heats, culminating in a nal show and £500 prize for the winning comedian, £250 for the runner up. e New Forest Comedy Festival has been created in partnership with local venues, Leicester Square eatre and Culture in Common - a brand new programme creating more opportunities for residents to see and take part in creative activities across the New Forest, funded by Arts Council England. Venues programming events for e New Forest Comedy Festival include; e Attic, Totton, Forest Forge eatre, Ringwood, Hanger Farm eatre, Totton, New Forest Arts, New Milton, Vibrant 23.4% of over 65’s wanted more in their area. When you consider that half the British population have been to at least one comedy event in the past three years, the ndings are more a re ection on the lack of events, rather than the interest in comedy. Programme Director at Culture in Common, Jacqui Ibbotson explained: “Research shows us that there is an increase in people in their 20’s and 30’s in the New Forest and that they have a thirst for comedy, but a lack of regular comedy events close to home. This is why Culture in Common and the partnering venues have embraced the opportunity to launch the New Forest Comedy Festival. The programme offers the best of UK talent; the opportunity to try Stand-Up courses for the brave-hearted; a great tribute to our own Tommy Cooper as well as hilarious shows for children. We have tried to reach out across the district and we hope you’ll agree that this is a fantastic opportunity to bring more comedy and laughter to the area.” Once the support and funding was con rmed with Culture in Common, more and more venues got involved. Here’s what they have to say about the upcoming festival: “Forest Forge Theatre is delighted to be a partner in programming the very first New Forest Comedy Festival and bring access to so many talented performers to our local community.” Sharon Lawless, CEO/Creative Producer. “As part of local charity Minstead Trust, every week Hanger Farm offer crucial training and work experience to people with learning disabilities. So every ticket you buy, event you book or drink you purchase helps improve the lives of the people we support. We are so excited to be partnering with the New Forest Comedy Festival to bring laughter to the forest.” Hanger Farm. Leicester Square eatre are happy to run a competition at this brand new festival, David Hardcastle added: “We’re very excited to be a part of the first New Forest Comedy Festival and look forward to seeing what budding comedians in the area have to offer. Over the years the Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian Competition has helped to showcase some fantastic new acts including many who have gone on to have hugely successful careers. The audience gets to help pick the winners too so if you think you have an eye for spotting the stars of the future I’d recommend coming along to a heat or two.” e New Forest is ready to laugh more and e New Forest Comedy Festival is pulling out all the stops to bring more comedy to the woods, giving locals more reasons to laugh, straight from the horse’s mouth. Learn more and book your tickets for the comedy nights, workshops, events at newforestcomedyfestival.com or follow them on Instagram and Facebook @newforestcomedyfestival. and venues around the Forest, there was a theme that all wanted to be part of something bigger and let our local community know we are here and what we can provide. He added: “The Attic venue was primarily music, but as a huge fan of comedy nights myself, I really wanted to bring more laughter to the area. It started slow, but as we managed to book more prolific comedians, our little comedy club has grown to be regularly sold out. We also book local talent alongside headliners, which really boosts their confidence and audiences too. There is definitely a need for more comedy in the area, and the idea of a festival for the New Forest was to really make an impact. My venue is only so big! Together, as a group of local venues, we can really make an impact and get the New Forest community laughing!” Research conducted for Culture in Common by audience development agency Flying Geese showed varying levels of attendance at comedy events across the New Forest, with New Milton in particular far below national average. In street surveys in New Milton, Totton and the Waterside, only 1% of respondents had been to a comedy show in the last 3 months, but 27.5% of young adults and Brewery, Hardley and Fawley Royal British Legion. e idea of New Forest Comedy Festival was born from one man’s mission to bring comedy to Totton, Owner of e Attic at River Studios, Chris Grayston. After consulting with local residents Richard Herring
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