Hilarity Bites Comedy Club feat. Paul Tonkinson, Raul Kohli, Ant Dewson, and host Danny Deegan

Show details:

Paul Tonkinson

A sensational live performer, Yorkshire man, marathon runner and former (double award-winning) Time Out Comedian of the Year, Paul Tonkinson has long upheld his esteemed reputation as one of the finest stand-ups the UK has to offer. With a unique and distinctive style, Tonkinson is noted for his effervescent physicality and skillful impressions, which bring alive exuberant, tender comic reflections on love, family and the day-to-day idiosyncrasies of 21st century living. A plethora of first class material, combined with tremendous charm and irrepressible, infectious energy make for quite a formidable talent.

After many years of storming the circuit, and much badgering from fellow professionals, he took to the road in 2012 with his eagerly anticipated debut tour: Paul Tonkinson; Fancy Man. The tour took in 50 dates across the UK, and gave audiences the opportunity to experience the full Tonkinson phenomena in all it’s glory.

Following his solo tour, he was given the opportunity to play to a wider audience, joining the mighty Michael McIntyre as a special guest on live shows around the UK. In 2013 he had the honour of joining Michael as a special guest on his global arena tour; playing to millions across the globe, as far and wide as Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong. Paul joined Michael again in 2015 as special guest on the Happy & Glorious Tour; playing to sold-out crowds in arenas across the UK.

“Excellent... extremely talented... brilliant” - Time Out

“Hilarious, nobody makes me laugh like Paul Tonkinson…go see him!" - Michael McIntyre

“Watching Tonkinson storm is one of the best sights in comedy. It’s like watching somebody fly" - Sean Walsh

 

Raul Kohli

Raul Kohli has fast become one of the most captivating Asian acts on the UK comedy circuit. As one of the few Asian comedians to have grown up in the North East of England, he’s blessed with a worldview that upends ethnicity, culture and class. Kohli combines ‘Superb political comedy’ (The Scotsman) with surreal storytelling.

In just a few short years, his debut solo show: Newcastle Brown Male gained critical acclaim at the 2016 Edinburgh Fringe Festival earning him a top pick of both BBC Radio 4 and the Huffington Post. It also gained him radio credits for BBC Radio 4's State of the Nation and BBC Asia Network's Big Asian Comedy Night.

As well as several radio & TV appearances, Raul released his own comedy podcast about Hinduism on BBC Sounds' and Spotify (Comic Sanskrit). Raul also has a short yet ceremonious career in writing & acting, having wrote & starred in numerous RTS Award Nominated short films, he's also appeared in the sitcom : The VAR room (2021), wrote & starred in his own BBC Laugh Lesson: How We Ruined the Internet, wrote & performed on Mike Reiss (Writer/Producer – The Simpsons) podcast, & is presently acting as the lead in a short feature film: White Privilege (Cabin Productions, scheduled for release in 2023).

In January 2017, Rahul became an award-winning comedian, winning the prestigious NATYS, formerly the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year Award, following in the footsteps of Stewart Lee, Lee Mack and Ardal O’Hanlon.

“Dripping with erudite genius” - Fest Magazine

“A powerful, passionate, open-minded, intelligent voice. It is superb political comedy and commentary” - The Scotsman

“Kohli is not just performing for laughs; he is attempting to create some real art” - Broadway Baby

 

Ant Dewson

Ant Dewson performs at some of the top comedy clubs in the country, from The Stand in Edinburgh to Up The Creek and Angel in London, He’s shared the stage with some great comedians including Mickey Flanagan, Lee Mack and Noel Fielding. He’s also shared the stage with some right shockers, all of whom he is too polite to name here.

Ant is a regular on BBC Radio London and was the co-host of Carpet Martin’s Comedy Market on Riverside Radio. He also writes comedy for shows on BBC Radio 4 and Sky One.

After a recent Hilarity Bites show in Ripon, a member of the audience messaged him to say, “you even made my teenage daughter laugh which she hasn’t done since she hit puberty.”

“Genuinely funny... very clever... filthy” - Three Weeks

“Highlight of the night” - Tom Robinson, BBC 6Music

“A musical comedy feast” - ★★★★ - The Skinny

 

Danny Deegan

Danny Deegan is a comedian, writer and actor who began performing in 2003 and has since risen steadily through the ranks of some of the most prestigious comedy clubs in the UK. His tales of mischief and the characters he creates have kept audiences all over the country enthralled as he weaves in and out of the people he has met travelling. His talent and likability coupled with a confident swagger see him as one of the most popular acts in the North.

Fresh from a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe, where he received rave reviews, Danny also recently performed a headline set at the Green Man festival in South Wales getting a great reception from the 400 people in the marquee and being asked to wrap up for Manchester band Doves after their headline set in front of 12,000 people.

Outside of live work Danny has made several TV and radio appearances. From being a guest on Radio GMR to having his own show "Afternoons with Danny Deegan" on CAT FM in Crewe. His TV credits include appearances on "Made in the North" and "The Adam and Shelley Show" to name but two.

“His seamless interactions with the crowd demonstrate that he’s a natural-born comedian... appealing to both the young and old, female and male” - Three Weeks

“Charming, witty and most importantly funny” - Metro

“Deegan has a mature confidence in his abilities” - Chortle

 

Note: Line-ups are subject to change in extreme, and unavoidable, circumstances.

Show may contain strong language and adult themes.

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Timings

Doors open: 7:30pm
Show starts: 8pm

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Buy tickets:

Tickets for this show can be bought online at www.bishopaucklandtownhall.org.uk, in person from Bishop Auckland Town Hall, or telephone 03000 269 524.