Comedy & Spoken Word 2023
Comedy & Cabaret
In 2022 we introduced a late night comedy slot on the Frontier Stage on Saturday night. It was so good, it's back for 2023.
We have some great comic acts for you again: Jonny Awsum, one-man party and semi-finalist of Britain's Got Talent; David Eagle of the Young'uns; and the brilliant compere Spikey Mike. Before the stand-up show, there'll be a chance to catch an amazing cabaret slot organised by Dan the Hat with Nutty Noah and Keith Donnelly, who are also part of the kids' programme here.
Keith has written, parodied, pastiched, and more or less mangled, about three dozen shanties and songs of the sea, to bring you his hilarious, interactive (Somewhat Silly) Shantyskeptics Show. "By the time he reached the chorus of the very first song he had the whole audience singing along and in stitches!". Interspersed with Keith’s famously funny anecdotes and one liners, the Shantyskeptics Show is ‘The most amazing maritime event since the parting of the Red Sea! (About which he also has a shanty by the way)"!
Jonny Awsum
Performing his feel-good brand of musical comedy all over the world, Jonny Awsum is a much sought-after live act! Guaranteed to lift your spirits & have you laughing. A comedic whirlwind, Jonny has a hilarious brand of musical comedy. He is the gag slinging guitar hero - audience members don’t just leave entertained, they leave as fans.
“He’s a feel-good comic in every sense of the word, a really talented musician who’ll get the whole crowd laughing ”
Fitz of Laughter Comedy Club
David Eagle
Well known to GTSF as one of the folk group The Young'uns, David has a hugely successful side hustle as a stand-up comedian and podcaster. He's toured up and down the UK and won many awards: New Comedian Of The Year (Leicester Square Theatre 2019, Bath Comedy Festival 2019, Nottingham Comedy Festival 2018).
With David being blind his comedy often explores how his disability means the most ordinary, commonplace events are turned into surreal and convoluted dramas. Occasionally he dons his accordion (often as a spiteful repost to hecklers) and performs one of his comedy songs described by the Guardian as “a comic tour de force.“
“Brilliant, Nuts. Heartily recommend”
Rufus Hound.
“If not for the virus, David Eagle would be closing nights, constantly. A genuine stand up rookie phenomenon! Looking forward to hearing more”
Reginald D Hunter
“Just seen the future of stand up comedy and his name is David Eagle”
Boothby Graffoe
Spikey Mike
A Nottingham-based act, who's been on the circuit since 2002 and runs a string of Funhouse comedy nights across the East Midlands. He'll be adding to the fun and compering the evening.
DIY Poets Return
This year sees the return to GTSF of DIY Poets who are one of Nottingham’s longest standing poetry groups. DIY have performed at many festivals including Gloucester, Cheltenham Ledbury and the Edinburgh Fringe and at GTSF for many years.
DIY will be delivering a Showcase featuring their finest poets on the Saturday and there will be opportunities for anyone at the Festival to come along and read a poem or two by signing up for the open mic. DIY tell everyday stories of sadness, joy and hope and even manage to rhyme every now and again.
DIY will also host the GTSF All Comers Festival Poetry Slam on the Sunday which is open for anyone at the Festival so come along and have a go – previously unknown festival attendees have won the slam before.
Who knows, there might also be some late night campfire tales to be told as well!