Leicester Comedy Festival is back, and this year it turns 30 years old.
With hundreds and hundreds of shows to enjoy during February, there really is something for everyone. But aside from a 30th birthday, this year also marks another special occasion, as it’s the last festival that will see Geoff Rowe, the man who first created the festival, at the helm.
After 30 years of living and breathing the comedy scene in Leicester, Geoff has decided to take a step back from what he regularly describes as his university project that got a little out of hand. As the 30th birthday celebrations begin, we caught up with Geoff to find out what’s in store this year and what’s next.
When you started Leicester Comedy Festival did you ever think you could reach 30 years?
No never! The first festival was a student project and there was never any thought it would ever continue, let alone last 30 years.
What have been your top 3 highlights of the last 30 years?
That is a really difficult question to answer; am I only allowed 3? I think they might be (1) watching Johnny Vegas win Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year Competition in 1997, (2) our first Gala Preview Show in 2002 which was hosted by Lee Mack, (3) the first “proper” UK Pun Championships at De Montfort Hall in a boxing ring with the audience sat in the round. It’s a classic case of an idea thought up in a pub, and then we end up doing it.
What would you say to someone in Leicester who’s never been to a show during Leicester Comedy Festival?
Just come! We work really hard to try and make sure there is something for everyone in the festival so no matter what age you are, what your background is, what makes you smile, you should find something in the festival programme.
How important is the festival for Leicester’s independent venues?
We’re told that it’s really important, and some venues describe the festival as their “second Christmas” in terms of how many people attend shows and buy drinks and eat food. The overall economic impact of the festival is around £3million per year so that’s a lot of drinks sold, food eaten and hotel rooms booked.
Outside of Leicester Comedy Festival, what’s the best comedy show you’ve ever seen?
Without a shadow of a doubt it would be when I saw Hannah Gadsby perform her award winning show “Nanette” at Edinburgh Fringe in 2017.
What are your top show picks for this year?
I’m going to be selfish and say the live Q&As I’m going to do with Seann Walsh and Nish Kumar. Both are happening at Curve and will be me chatting to the comedians about their careers and comedy influences. I’ve had the utter pleasure of interviewing plenty of comedians in the past (including Tom Allen, Jo Brand, Romesh Ranganathan) and I consider myself to be so fortunate that I can do this as part of the festival.
How strange do you think it will feel in 2024 watching the festival post-Geoff Rowe?
Ha ha! I imagine it’ll be very odd. I’m trying not to think about it to be honest but at some point I was always going to leave, so I guess I’ll just have to watch and enjoy the fact that the festival continues to grow and develop once I’ve gone.
What’s next for you after the festival?
At the moment I genuinely have no plans at all. I wish there was something I had always been longing to do, like become a gardener or piano tuner. But there is nothing. Since I was 13 I always wanted to be a promoter/producer and I’ve been so lucky to have done this for so long. I think I need to have some time to figure out what I might do next.
Leicester Comedy Festival runs at multiple venues across Leicester until 26 February. You can find the full listings over at comedy-festival.co.uk.