Portico’s Comedy Arts Festival is set to return to Portaferry this September following its highly successful debut last year.
Neil Delamere, one of Ireland’s most successful comedians and regular on BBCNI’s The Blame Game panel is set to kick off proceedings on Friday September 16, following his hit Liminal tour last year.
Comedian Owen O’Neill will take to the stage on Saturday September 17 with an evening of “unbelievable true life stories” and a “hilarious emotional washing of the underwear”.
O’Neill’s work has seen him win two Fringe Firsts at the Edinburgh Festival, The Edinburgh Critics Award for Best Play and the LWT writers award for Best Comedy.
On Sunday September 18, the first weekend will be capped off by an All Classical Music Explained show, where Rainier Hersh will take the audience on a whistle-stop tour of classical concert music.
If you’ve ever wanted to know how “why were you made to learn the recorder? What Mozart stole from ABBA? What are they actually singing at the opera?” Hersh’s show is unlikely to disappoint as he describes everything in hilarious detail.
Hersh’s daringly original comedy routines have earned him in excess of 60 million views on YouTube, along with a career on Classic FM and BBC Radio 4.
Friday September 23 has a double-bill of stand-up comedy with musical comedian Teresa Livingstone, known for The Blame Game and Soft Border Patrol, followed by Diona Doherty of What Happens in Ulster and as Grainne in BBC’s Give My Head Peace. .
Sunday September 25 sees the festival draw to a close with Donald MacKenzie, the organist for the famed Odeon Leicester Square playing a thrilling improvised score to Buster Keaton’s 1926 silent romantic comedy classic The General.
For more information and to book tickets visit porticoards.com