Britain’s funniest business people are being invited to make fools of themselves in a charity “Stand-Up Challenge”.
Organisers of the annual Leicester Comedy Festival want whimsical business leaders to join them for the charity fundraiser in aid the festival and affiliated community projects.
The team is also on the look out for more sponsors for the February festival and people to join the judging panel.
The 19 day festival will feature more than 1,600 performers when it returns on February 5, performing more than 800 shows on more than 90 stages across Leicester and Leicestershire.
Headline acts will include Jo Brand, Stewart Lee, Milton Jones, Shappi Khorsandi, Fascinating Aida, Josie Long, Jason Byrne, Griff Rhys Jones and John Shuttleworth – to name a few.
The Stand Up Challenge is a spin-off event which has been running for five years.
It gives seven or eight business people from the region the opportunity to get out of their comfort zone and take to the stage to perform a comedy routine in front of a live theatre audience.
The good-natured candidates get classes in being funny and are all encouraged to help raise funds for registered charity Big Difference Company, the Leicester-based producer of the comedy festival.
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Candidates are welcome from outside of Leicester and Leicestershire, but need to be able to join rehearsal sessions with a professional stand-up in the city to help them write and perform their first ever five minute set.
Festival organiser Geoff Rowe said four people had already signed up and more were needed for the event which culminates with a live show on April 4.
He said: “It’s a good way for people to develop their presentation and communication skills and promote their company in a different kind of way.
“Most of the people taking part tend to be from the professional services within the region.
“In the past it has ranged from soul traders to people from big businesses – anybody who wants to be involved in something which, I think, is unique in the 海角视频.”
The festival organisers have announced several new partnerships with local and national companies and organisations for the main 2020 festival.
The main supporters will be Leicester City Council, Union JACK Radio and De Montfort University.
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De Montfort University have returned as a main partner of the festival and Union JACK Radio have increased their backing, enabling the festival to increase its support of new and emerging talent, as well as broadcasts of some of the shows and events.
Around 30 per cent of the income required to run the festival comes from partnerships, and Mr Rowe said the level of support continued to grow.
Other sponsors include car dealer Sturgess, Everards brewery, Red Monkey play equipment, Visit Harborough District, Freeths law firm, East Midlands Railway and Highcross shopping centre.
City hotels supporting the festival with special rates include The Belmont, Ramada Encore, Mercure and St Martins Lodge, while membership of the Leicester Comedy Festival Business Partners Club has grown from 28 members in 2019 to 36.
New members include Beanser, Esquires Coffee, PPL PRS and Octopus Energy. Members are aligned to the annual event, with invitations to exclusive shows and networking events.
Mr Rowe said: “We are delighted to announce our corporate partners for Leicester Comedy Festival 2020. It’s important to say that without this support we wouldn’t be able to continue the festival.
“As an independent charitable organisation we need continued investment to make the thing work.
“We have more business support than ever before, and we are thrilled to announce the businesses who are working with us today.
“The fact that business people acknowledge the impact the festival has on the local economy is really important to us and the fact that support is growing is fantastic.”
Anyone who wants to join the Stand-Up Challenge, become a festival partner or join the judges panel should e-mail: info@bigdifferencecompany.co.uk