NEXT Saturday, Darwen Library Theatre hosts the first of its regular monthly comedy nights – and the man behind the event can’t wait.

“The Library Theatre is the perfect venue for a comedy club.” said Rob Riley.

“Theatres are great for comedy as laughs are infectious.”

“When you’re sat close to people who are chuckling away it rubs off on the rest of the audience and you soon have a great room to play to.”

Rob, an award-winning stand-up in his own right, has turned promoter for the monthly Darwen event.

“I’ve got five million flyers piled up here to give away,” he joked. “Delivering flyers is great in the summer, but you don’t get many volunteers in January for some reason.”

If the success of other comedy nights in East Lancashire is anything to go by, Rob shouldn’t be worrying.

“I think the one at King George’s Hall in Blackburn has been a sell out in advance every time for the last two years,” said Rob, “and now it’s Darwen’s turn to get some terrific comedians.”

The opening show features musical comedian Mitch Benn, a regular on BBC4’s The Now Show, Preston’s Dan Nightingale who recently appeared on John Bishop’s Only Joking TV show and BBC New Comedy Award winner Steve Bugeja.

The host and compere for the evening is former circus acrobat and long time funny man Martin Mor.

“The key to programming a comedy night is plenty of diversity,” said Rob. “You don’t want a series of comedians all in the same style.

“We’ve got some fantastic talent lined up and we’ve got a fair number of Simoffs as they are known in the trade.

“They’re the comics who, when the audience sees them, go ‘oh, that’s im off the telly!’”

Rob said he hoped the comedy club would appeal to both experienced comedy club goers and newcomers.

“You get some comedy clubs which pander to the stag and hen crowd,” he said, “but that’s not what we’re after.

“We’re putting on an evening of comedy which people can listen to and enjoy. I’m sure there will be some audience participation at times but you don’t want to spend all night hearing people on the next table to you chatting all the way through.”

Through his contacts on the comedy circuit, Rob will be able to bring some very well established names to Darwen – future evenings will see Justin Moorhouse as compere and comedians such as Jim Tavare, Ivan Brackienbury, Rob Rouse and Gary Delaney doing slots.

“It’s not an open mic night, we won’t be having complete newcomers on stage,” he said. “I don’t think a beginner could really handle an audience of over 200 anyway but it’s not that kind of show.

“When you look at the comedians who are now playing the arena circuit, they all performed regularly at comedy clubs like the one we’re starting in Darwen.”

“We will be featuring some up-and-coming talent who may be new to people but who have a great reputation on the circuit.”

Although the opening comedy club will be next Saturday, it will then become a regular fixture at the theatre on the first Saturday of the month from March 7.

“We wanted a regular night so that people can put it in their diaries and know that the first Saturday there’ll be some good comedians at the Library Theatre.”

“We wanted a regular night so that people can put it in their diaries and know that the first Saturday there’ll be some good comedians at the Library Theatre.”

  • Comedy at Darwen Library Theatre, Saturday, January 31. Show starts at 8pm. Tickets are £10 in advance (£12 on the door if available) from the box office by calling on 01254 706006 or the King George’s Hall box office on 0844 847 1664.