Comedy lovers will have the chance to enjoy clowning, games, ventriloquism, live music, delicious seasonal food, and CBD cocktails by attending the Comedy Cabaret at Hackney Canal side next Tuesday (November 9) in aid of a local homeless shelter.
Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Hackney Night Shelter , the local organisations: Grow Hackney along with Intune Drinks and Big Wowie! Comedy will be hosting the event for the community.
They have been fundraising over three months for Hackney Doorways, a local charity, raising funds which provide local homeless people with necessities such as beds, hot meals, and professional support, help rebuild their lives and move towards more a sustainable lifestyle.
Homeless Link reports Hackney in the 6th place for Largest Increases in Rough Sleepers, having 29 per cent increase in rough sleepers in the borough from 2019-2020.
Nathan Lang, the founder of Big Wowie! and former host of experimental comedy night Lost Cabaret said: “My philosophy with Big Wowie! has always been to celebrate inventive comedy whilst connecting the local community and promoting wellbeing.
“Homelessness is a passionate cause for me, and I believe it is a community issue. As a Hackney boy, I wanted to produce a comedy fundraiser for my local homeless shelter.
“The first cabaret event we hosted in 2018 was a big success, and we did it again at Christmas 2019, at that stage Hackney Night Shelter only operated throughout winter. We then planned to launch a monthly cabaret in 2020, which was thwarted by the pandemic.
“So, when we were finally able to perform in-person again this year, I had established a policy that our performers must always be paid, Grow are dedicated to keeping ticket prices as low as possible always £5, and we wanted to strengthen our relationship with the shelter as they are now operating year-round.
“We also get local Hackney businesses involved with prize donations for our Christmas raffle.”
The program for the evening will be hosted by Madame Chandelier, an opera comedian – nominated for Best Comedy Show. The cabaret will feature quite a few comedians such as: Lucy Hopkins, winner of Best Theatre and Best Theatre Performer Adelaide Fringe, she will be performing as acclaimed clown goddess; Viggo Venn, winner of Best Comedy Brighton Fringe, Adelaide Fringe performing as acclaimed clown and physical comedian; Dave Bibby who is also a winner of New Online Comedian of the Year 2020 and will be a physical comedian.
Kat Bond, a character comedian and a winner of Funny Women Comedy Writing Award 2021 along with Katie Pritchard, a musical comedian and a winner of Musical Comedy Awards will also participate at the cabaret.
Lachlan Werner, ventriloquist will be “Demonstrating the magic of ventriloquism” and The Flop clown band will be performing – Dan Lees “Silliness as an art form” -The Scotsman & Tom Curzon “Tear-inducingly funny”.
The Christmas cabaret will be taking place on Tuesday December 14. It will be hosted by Santa and features more amazing comedians and a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses.
Lang has also organised a fundraiser trying to reach £2000 by Christmas. You can support it by donating at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bigwowiecomedy2021
