Hilarity Bites is back with a Darlington Comedy Festival full of top quality performers

THE Darlington Comedy Festival returns for a fifth year with a diverse range of comedy acts between the Saturday, July 2 and Wednesday, July 27, from critically acclaimed TV comics through to the best in local up-and-coming talent.

Programmed and sponsored by Hilarity Bites, the headliners include TV's favourite surrealist Tony Law, the circuit's most popular character comic Tom Binns, Teesside's own Patrick Monahan and Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Seymour Mace.

The festival's exciting line-up features a headline show from one of the most lauded comedians of recent years, eight double-header shows featuring 15 of the county's best loved comedy performers, a Hilarity Bites club night, a couple of free shows, a comedy chat show, a kid's comedy club and a new act competition – once again providing something for all ages, budgets and comedy palettes.

This year's festival will also see shows taking place in an eclectic variety of popular venues across the town, including Darlington Library, Forum Music Centre, Seen and Inside Out, Red Lion, Old English Gentleman, The Keys and Hole In The Wall.

The month-long Darlington Comedy Festival kicks off on Saturday with Hilarity Bites Comedy Club, featuring performances from Scottish Comedian of the Year winner Mark Nelson, Vince Atta and host Freddy Quinne.

Monday (July 4) brings The Not So Late Show: The finest (and only) comedy chat show in Leeds, Ross Brierley and Joshua Sadler offer a unique comedy concept to Darlington's Seen and Inside Out, with special guests, sketches, music, video and a whole host of inspired nonsense.

The same venue will also play host to Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominee 2015, Newcastle's Seymour Mace, on Wednesday, July 6. Joining Seymour will be Irish stand-up Andrew Ryan, who, following a sell-out run at last year's fringe, returns to Darlington with his new show Ruined.

TV comedian Tony Law – a regular staple on the likes of TV's Have I Got News For You, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Celebrity Squares and The Alternative Comedy Experience – is next up at Seen and Inside Out on Wednesday, July 13. An Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee, Chortle Best Live Show Award winner, and Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival Best Show Award winner, Law's cheerfully absurd humour and jazzy, free-form charisma has endeared him to both live and TV audiences in the UK and abroad.

With value for money a top priority for the festival, organisers have aimed to keep this year’s ticket prices low and try to make shows accessible, with entry to many venues starting from £3. There are also two free shows featuring preview shows from four outstanding comics.

On Tuesday, July 12, Brennan Reece will perform his new show Everglow at the Old English Gentleman, alongside David Stanier. English Comedian of the Year Brennan has appeared on BBC, ITV, E4 and recently supported Joe Lycett on tour – while former Hilarity Bites New Act of the Year Stanier invites you to enjoy jokes, party games and all manner of untold silliness at his Silly Party.

Another of the festival's free shows features two members of multi-award-winning sketch group Gein's Family Giftshop.

Kiri Pritchard McLean and James Meehan will each preview their debut solo shows at The Red Lion on Tuesday, July 19.

As seen on Russell Howard's Stand Up Central, Leicester Mercury finalist Pritchard-McLean presents her ambitious show Hysterical Woman, in which the sharp-tongued comic looks at race, genetics and gender. Fosters and Chortle award-winning comedian James Meehan then tackles classism, standing up for yourself and the realities of being a working class man in a middle class industry in his show called Class Act.

Hilarity Bites Kids' Comedy Club takes place at Darlington Library on Saturday, July 23, at 2pm, when top comics Mike Milligan and Nicola Mantalios-Lovett and MC Lee Kyle perform a special show (without the swearing) suitable for children aged six and upwards.

Rounding off the festival, on Monday, July 25, at the Hole in the Wall, is the North-East's biggest and longest-running comedy contest, the Hilarity Bites New Act Competition. The final will feature the four heat winners and the best runners-up from June’s heats, with host Andy Fury joined by last year's winner Rob Mulholland, who will perform a headline set.

Three judges, with the help of the audience, will then decide who gets to add their name to the prestigious roll of honour.

The festival's final show takes place two days later with a must-see performance from character comic extraordinaire Tom Binns and his wickedly funny creation Ian D Montfort at Seen and Inside Out.

Festival organiser Neil Jollie says: "This is the fifth year we've run the festival and we've always gotten a great response from comedy fans across Teesside and County Durham; we're sure this year they're going to love what we've got lined up for them. We have a few returning comics on the bill this year; everyone who plays the festival is always keen to come back, as we've always had really warm, really enthusiastic audiences.

"From kids' shows and audience favourites like Patrick Monahan, to the more offbeat comics like Tony Law and Seymour Mace, there really is something for everyone at the festival this year. There are also some outstanding newer comics on the bill, so you may just find your new favourite comedian."

  • Tickets and full listings are available now from darlingtoncomedyfestival.co.uk

Tickets for shows at The Forum Music Centre, Darlington Library, Hole in the Wall, and The Keys are also available to buy from the respective venues.