Mainly for laughs! . . .

AUDIENCES at the 17th Hebden Bridge Arts Festival will be laughing all the way to the box office this year with a line up of top comic talent. 

Grouchy, deadpan American funny man Rich Hall is leading the humour onslaught and his show at Hebden Bridge Picture House on Thursday, July 8 has already sold out. But there are plenty of other shows that are certain to tickle Festival funny bones including up-and-coming Yorkshire comedian Tom Wrigglesworth, an Edinburgh comedy award nominee last year, who will be at the Picture House on Sunday, June 27.

Barbara Nice - the comic creation of 'Phoenix Nights' Janice Connolly - will bring her show 'Hiya and Higher' to Mytholmroyd Working Men's Club on Thursday, July 1 and writer John Morrison will present an evening of humourous reading from his books about Milltown at aj's Restaurant, Hebden Bridge, on Monday, June 28.

Rose Lugosi will offer a unique blend of humour, poetry and song at Nelson's Bar, Hebden Bridge, on Sunday, July 4 and Mundo Jazz will combine satire, comedy, musical improvisation and catchy songs at Hebden Bridge Trades Club on Saturday, July 10. 

Humour is certain to feature in 'Hebden Shorts', an entertaining mix of comedy, drama and new writing. Six successful writers based in Hebden Bridge have written six short new plays which will be performed on three nights  - July 8, 9 and 10 - at the Little Theatre. The full professional cast will include 'Emmerdale' actor Dominic Brunt and Hebden Bridge actress Eileen O'Brien.

Festival Co-ordinator Rebecca Yorke said: "Comedy has always played an important part in Hebden Bridge Arts Festival and we are thrilled to welcome comedians of the calibre of Rich Hall and Tom Wrigglesworth to the town this year." 

Award-winning actress Carole Boyd (Lynda Snell in ‘The Archers’) will perform with Infinite Riches at Heptonstall Church on Sunday 27 June and writers Louis de Bernieres and Mavis Cheek will present an evening of contemporary fiction at St Michael's Hall, Mytholmroyd, on Wednesday, June 30.

As well as having an exhibition in the Festival box office in Albert Street, photographer Martin Parr will talk about the time he spent in Hebden Bridge at the Picture House on Tuesday, June 29.

Complementing the Festival will be a full programme of art exhibitions, open gardens, the Open Studios trail, street entertainment and an unusual performance venue in the form of a converted Routemaster bus.

Contact hbfestival@gmail.com for more information.

The Festival runs from June 26 to July 11 and is supported by Arts Council England, Yorkshire, Hebden Royd Town Council, Sweet & Maxwell and Kala Gallery.  The box office in Albert Street is now open and postal and online booking are also available. Visit www.hbaf.co.uk for the latest information. 

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