Four budding comedy sketch writers are about to get the chance to have their work performed by a leading North East comedy group with the funniest being shown in a very special show in February in front of around 10,000 people.
For the third year running, Sunday for Sammy and the Laffalang Gang are proud to present the final of A Sketch for Sammy, a competition for new comedy writers.
Organiser, Ed Waugh, one of the Sunday for Sammy comedy writers and writer of Dirty Dusting, Hadaway Harry and Mr Corvan’s Music Hall, will host the comedy finals at The Stand Comedy Club on Sunday 1st October at 1pm.
The four short-listed writers, Mike Nicholson, Stephen Blakeney, Thomas McDonald and last year’s winner Kevin Wilkinson have all benefited from mentoring sessions with Ed Waugh to help them polish the scripts. The final will see their sketches performed by a professional cast to an enthusiastic and supportive audience.
A panel of celebrity judges will choose the winning sketch and the successful writer will then be presented with the 2017 Phil Richardson Comedy Award by Phil’s mother Pat. Tickets for the final are free and can be obtained by contacting julieclay@blueyonder.co.uk
The winning sketch will be considered for inclusion in the forthcoming Sunday for Sammy show at Newcastle Metro Radio Arena on 18th Feb 2018.
As well as the four finalists work, an abundance of comedy talent will be evident with the Laffalang Gang, classic entertainment from Maxie and Mitch and Peter Peverley will perform his famous Bobby Thompson routine. Compere for the afternoon will be Steffen Peddie.
Sunday for Sammy Trustee Jason Cook said, “One of the most difficult challenges for a novice comedy writer is getting your work performed. A Sketch for Sammy gives the opportunity for new writers to see their work brought to life by an experienced cast in front of an enthusiastic audience. This can be truly inspirational and also a right laugh.”
Sunday for Sammy Show producer Ray Laidlaw said, ‘A Sketch for Sammy is another innovative creative project supported by the Sunday for Sammy Trust. This is only made possible by the fantastic support of the people of the North East who pack out our shows and buy our DVD’s.’
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NOTES TO EDITORS.
The Phil Richardson Award
The first Sketch for Sammy in 2015 was funded by a donation to the Sunday for Sammy Trust by Pat Richardson in memory of her son Phil, a musician and comedy fan from Whitley Bay. The organisers decided to name the award presented to the winning sketch writer in honour of Phil.
Pat commented “ It is a continued honour for the award to be given in Phil’s name. He had a great sense of humour and would have thoroughly enjoyed being part of such a fantastic competition …a great opportunity for new comedy writers. Good luck to all entrants!“
Sunday for Sammy 2018
Projects like A Sketch for Sammy are funded by the Sunday for Sammy Trust using money raised from the sales of tickets to the shows and DVD’s of previous shows
Tickets are on-sale now for the next Sunday for Sammy on 18 February 2018 costing £35 plus 55p facility fee and bookings fee. They’re available online at www.metroradioarena.co.uk from the booking hotline number 0844 493 6666 or in person from the Metro Radio Arena Box Office.
Tickets are also available from Newcastle Theatre Royal.
Online www.theatreroyal.co.uk or call the Box Office on 08448 11 21 21. (All calls are charged at 7p a minute plus your phone company’s access charge, calls from mobiles may vary, please contact your operator for details.) For Groups of 10+, please call Group Bookings on 08448 11 21 22.
Photo Caption.
Kevin Wilkinson, winner of Sketch for Sammy 2015 for his sketch “Clink” being presented with the Phil Richardson Comedy Award on-stage at Sunday for Sammy 2016.
L to R, Ian Payne, Kevin Wilkinson, Laura Norton, Pam Royle, Tim Healy, Jeff Brown, Sharon Barbour.
www.sundayforsammy.org www.mawson-wareham.co.uk
For further info contact Ray Laidlaw on 07710 596 749 – ray@lindisfarne.co.uk
PR by Highlights PR Contact Keith Newman 07814 397951