SIC Fest Gala 2024

We return for our seventh year with an outstanding line up of both established and emerging comedians. Taking place over four days, the festival culminates with the Live At The Apollo-style Gala Show on the final night at Theatre Severn. Comedy fans can expect an evening of top-notch entertainment from six fantastic acts.

PAUL SMITH

Resident compere at Liverpool’s Hot Water Comedy Club and fresh from selling out venues such as Liverpool’s M&S and London’s Wembley Arena. His latest show, Pablo, has been described as Smith’s biggest and funniest show yet, featuring a mix of his trademark audience interaction and hilarious true stories from everyday life. Audiences will experience jaw-aching, laugh out loud comedy that only he can deliver.

THANYIA MOORE

The MC at this year’s gala, award-winning comedian, actor, writer and presenter Thanyia was a winner at the national Funny Women Awards 2018. Her debut comedy show Just Being Funny achieved sell out runs and critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe 2022. Festival director Beth Mcgowan described her as having a ‘fiercely commanding stage persona, big personality and razor-sharp wit.’

JACK GLEADOW

Described by BBC Humberside as having ‘echoes of Norman Wisdom’ and as ‘a latter-day Lee Evans’ by Beyond The Joke, award-winning comedian Jack brings high-energy performances and a cheeky persona to his stand-up routine. He was the winner of the 2018 Leicester Mercury Comedian of The Year and nominated for Chortle’s 2019 Best Newcomer.

JANINE HAROUNI

UK based Lebanese American comedian Janine Harouni, was Selected as one of The Guardian’s ‘Ten Comedians to Watch in 2021’, and her critically acclaimed debut show was nominated for the Best Newcomer award at the Edinburgh Fringe. Her second was nominated for Best Show. Janine stars in the ITV2 sitcom Buffering and she was a writer/performer for ITV2’s sketch series The Emily Atack Show.

SCOTT BENNETT

Scott is a stand-up comedian and writer who is ‘without doubt live comedy’s best kept secret’ according to The Evening Standard. He made his debut on Live at the Apollo in 2021 and has also appeared as a regular guest on BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, The Now Show, and The Likely Dads. In 2022 he was nominated as Best Club Comedian in the Chortle awards.

JOSH PUGH

As seen on Hypothetical (Dave), BBC New Comedy Awards (BBC), Mock The Week (BBC), The Last Leg (Channel 4), As Yet Untitled (Dave), Edinburgh Award nominated Josh will be appearing at the festival following an extensive tour of the UK and Ireland. The Sunday Post described him as having ‘a gentle surrealness and a big dollop of hilarity.’

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