The Belfast comedy scene has been enjoying somewhat of a revival recently, evident in the sold out Tuesday 13th December Empire Laughs Back comedy night. With performances from Paddy McDonnell, Ciaran Bartlett, Rachel McPeake and Martin Mor the people of Belfast and guests from Finland, Austria and New York braved minus temperatures to pack the 30 year old comedy club to the rafters – and rightfully so.
Celebrating their 30 year anniversary back in October, the Empire Laughs Back has shared its stage with some of comedy’s best acts – including Michael McIntyre, Lee Mack, Kevin Bridges, Sarah Milligan and more. Whilst some may attribute the rapid rise in popularity of the N.I comedy circuit to Kevin Hart’s impromptu summer gigs, the sold out show indicates this was just the icing on the cake of three decades of baking up an unrivalled recipe for great local comedy.
With a free pint of Harp in tow, our four comedians treated us to over 2 hours of non-stop laughs, acoustic-accompanied one-liners and plenty of audience participation with minimal heckling making for an enjoyable evening. Visitors may initially struggle to understand some cultural references and dialect, but luckily our sense of humour not only works locally but also apparently, universally.
For £12 a ticket and with a free print of Harp on entry, you would be hard pressed to find better or equal quality entertainment mid-week. So whether you’re reliving your student days or are in dire need of a laugh to lighten up your week, you are sure to leave the evening wondering why you don’t do this every Tuesday.
The Empire may have relied on bigger names to fill seats in the past, but last night’s eager audience is a sure sign that Belfast is finally backing its own with a thirst for more – and it’s just not for the free pints.
Empire Laughs Back is on every Tuesday, tickets can be purchased online here: https://www.empirelaughsback.com/shows
Author: Anna Louise Crockard
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