Empire Comedy Night                                                               Click Here for Details

This is the first in a series of comedy shows being brought to Halstead

Headliner: Nick Revell
Support Acts: Marc Lucero and Holly Walsh
Compere: Mike Manera

   Nick Revell
 "A master craftsman back at work" (Time Out, 2003)
 "Scalpel-sharp satirist" (London Evening Standard, 2002)
 "Brilliantly funny" (Time Out, 1987)
 "Satirically brilliant...travel miles see him" (Guardian, 1989)
 "Easy delivery and a great stage presence" (The Times, 2003)

Nick Revell worked prominently on the comedy circuit from 1980-92, during which time he made numerous TV and Radio appearances in Britain, Canada and the United States, was a regular compere at the Comedy Store and was nominated for the "Perrier Award".

Nick says: "My reviews often seem to pick up favourably on the satirical element in my material. While I'm pleased they do, I wouldn't like people to think it's a one dimensional act. I've always liked to put in as many topical jokes as possible, but there's broader stuff, stories and surreal bits in there too. And I certainly don't come from a consistent political angle - I'm too cynical. After a ten year break, working as a comedy writer, I started doing stand-up again in the summer of 2002. I have no real idea why. I like to say it was so that I could bring down the Bush Administration. That's partly true, but I think it boils down to the fact that however rewarding it is making TV and radio programmes, there's nothing quite like a live gig. Hopefully that cuts both ways - for the audience as well as the performer."

TV and Radio:
Nick Revell's credits as writer and performer include six series of The Million Pound Radio Show (BBC R4), two series of The Nick Revell Show (BBC R4), four series of Drop the Dead Donkey (Channel 4), four series of Sunday Format (BBC R4), Nick Revell (BBC 1 TV), Friday Night Live, (Channel 4)
and two appearances at the Montreal Comedy Festival Just for Laughs. (Channel 4). He has written for many other comedians including Dave Allen, Rory Bremner, Jasper Carrot, Bob Monkhouse and Michael Moore.

AWARDS:
Awards for the TV and Radio shows include various British Comedy Awards,
Sony Awards, BAFTAs and an International Emmy.



Marc Lucero
Marc brings a different comic perspective to a stand-up landscape dominated by twenty and thirtysomethings. Lucero finds himself mellowed by fatherhood and late middle age, venturing tentatively into the unfamiliar and cosseted life of vegetarianism, house husbandry and touchy-feely support groups. His is a well-defined persona, fully rounded and convincing and it's perhaps only a lack of ambition or the demands of fatherhood that mean he's not a damn sight better known. Marc certainly has the comic instincts and high-quality material that would shame many a more
successful act.



 Holly Walsh
 Chortle Best Newcomer, 2008

 Finalist, Hackney Empire New Act of the Year, 2007
 Finalist, So You Think You're Funny 2006
 Finalist, Amused Moose Competition 2006
 Finalist, Funny Women, 2006

Holly has been performing stand-ip comedy full time since 2006, after being a finalist in several high profile comedy competitions, and in a relatively short time has already made the leap into television and radio, with a number of performing and writing credits. Holly appeared at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2007, 2008 and 2009 as part of several multi-act bills, including compering at the Pleasance, and alongside Channel 4's Jack Whitehall. Walsh has since written for several TV and radio shows, and has made several appearances on radio and television, including Edinburgh & Beyond on the Paramount Comedy Channel, The Late Edition on BBC Four and Out To Lunch on BBC Radio 2 in 2008. Into 2009 Walsh has written for and appeared on The Now Show on BBC Radio Four, appeared on Winging It on BBC Switch, and made videos for Current TV. Walsh is also an occasional contributor to comedy podcast Answer Me This!. In January 2009, Walsh created a comedy film night called 'Popcorn Comedy', and in the summer of 2009 Walsh has been a co-host and writer of Channel 4's TNT Show.
Since 2008 Holly has presented for CBBC on both the CBBC channel and BBC1, and has also appeared as guest panellist on 8 out of 10 cats, Never
Mind the uzzcocks, Mock The Week  and You Have Been Watching.

"She's warm and has an appealing style to her that's quirkily offbeat rather than out-and-out loony She's got some good gags, too: puns that are in turns clever and silly,sometimes both at once" - Chortle

 Mike Manera
"At over six foot five, and dressed like a renaissance gangster, you can't rally miss him" (London Metro). Mike Manera has been performing comedy in firetraps full of Guardian readers since 2001, and in that time he progressed from running and compering his own successful chain of comedy clubs (Upstairs Comedy), to becoming a regular compere at some of the largest clubs in the country, including extensive work for Jongleurs, Big Night Out, Laughing Horse, Mirth Control and many other countries the length and breadth of Britain, including solo shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Brighton Comedy Festival, the Brighton Festival Fringe and the St. Albans "Laugh a Minute" festival - not to mention numerous universities, corporate functions and, strangely, jazz clubs

Always impeccably attired, punctual and funny he boasts a very full head of hair, his own teeth and his own material. He is very funny, and requently rebooked by clubs he has played.

The press have said of Mike...
"A comedy force" - Time Out
"If most comedians jokes were as funny as Manera's real stories, then
the world would be a better place" - Kate Copstick, The Scotsman.
"Amazing stage presence" - Chortle
"As funny as he is clever. And he is very clever" - The Guardian
"Don't expect the usual comedy gumpf... Funny, original and thought
provoking" Three Weeks Edinburgh
"You will still be talking about this guy weeks after seeing him" NME

You may have seen him on TV in...
"The Joan Rivers Position" (2005 series - CH5)
"Take The Mic" (ITV1)
"Funny People" (CH4)
Various TV ads including "Birdseye Fish-Fingers" and "Heinz Baked Beans"
The Stone Roses "Sally Cinnamon" video