A second stand-up comedy night will be held in Paphos next month and will feature the winner of an open mike competition held in April that aimed at discovering new local talent.
The first LOL Comedy Paphos event was a sell out and organiser Andi Hobbs said he unearthed some fantastic local talent.
The winner of the open mic amateur spot, Paphos resident Kev Mc, has now secured a place as a warm up act for headliner Allan J Parks, a well-known Scottish comedian, at the event due to be held at Decades nightclub in Coral Bay on August 20.
“Kev smashed it and was great, as was another amateur Darren Hayes,” Hobbs told the Cyprus Mail.
The winning funny man will be paid for the upcoming gig, said Hobbs, which was part of the open mic prize.
Hobbs is well known in Cyprus and has made a name for himself as half of the tribute act the Blues Brothers, along with AJ Vickers. He was also a member of boy band Right Now alongside actor Will Mellor.
The singer came up with the idea of a stand-up circuit after numerous audience members approached him after his Blues Brothers performances saying how much they enjoyed his act, and wished there was more stand-up and comedy offered on the island.
The August gig will feature all paid acts while another discovery of Hobbs’, Pissouri resident Ian Darlington will open the night. He said that another event is already in the pipeline for the winter, which will feature another open mic night.
Hobbs says he is determined to start a comedy circuit in Paphos, something he believes is lacking in the town’s entertainment programmes.
“The response to the first comedy night was fantastic, which made me determined to go ahead with trying to bring something new to Paphos,” he said.
Hobbs said that the last event’s headliner, well known comedian Gary Faulds from Glasgow, is teaming up with him next year and spending time in Cyprus and helping to promote and establish LOL Comedy Paphos.
“It’s small steps this year to try and get this idea up and running and Gary and I will join forces to make this venture spectacular,” he said.
Faulds was also able to put Hobbs in touch with this summer’s headline act.
“Finding the right venue for the summer was also a challenge,” he added.
He said he had found the perfect one at Decades nightclub which will be able to sit around 100 or so audience members.
Alan J Park
Live comedy performance, plus stand-up by Paphos resident Kev Mc. August 20. LOL Comedy, Paphos. 9pm. €10. Tel: 99-894143
