Chortle Combines Comedy And Books For A New Festival

Rachel Holdsworth
By Rachel Holdsworth Last edited 124 months ago
Chortle Combines Comedy And Books For A New Festival

comedybookfest

Here's a new twist on the literary festival – one where all the authors featured are comedians.

It's perhaps not surprising that a lot of comedians write books. They are, after all, in the business of making words tell stories and unless you're in the big arena business, comedy isn't terribly lucrative. (Neither is writing books, but at least two struggling paychecks may equal a living.) Comedy website Chortle has put together a week of events with funny men and women talking about the books they've written, and also the odd performance.

Authors/comedians appearing include Al Murray talking about war films and growing up, Viv Groskop on how she did 100 stand up gigs in 100 days, Marcel Lucont in character dissing the British, and Johnny Vegas, Mark Watson, Rob Newman and Jack Whitehall and his dad Michael. There's even something for the kids, with Catie Wilkins talking about My Brilliant Life and Other Disasters and Bob Slayer's comedy storytelling.

There's more traditional laughter on offer too, as the fabulous Austentatious group improvise an Austen novel before your eyes, Bobby Finn reveals the letters he wrote to Dan Brown asking for inspiration, and Robin Ince revives his Book Club in a filthier incarnation.

The Chortle Comedy Book Festival runs 22-29 November in various venues in Ealing. Tickets £6-£16. For more information and to book see the festival website.

Last Updated 14 November 2013