http://www.visitdublin.com/event/Lee_Evans_MonstersTickets from €39.50 including booking fee go on sale on Monday 20th May at 9.00am Wired and Wonderful was huge… XL was big… BIG was even bigger… Roadrunner was record breaking… and now the legendary Lee Evans embarks on his most ambitious tour to date. Monsters is Lee’s amazing new show with over 50 nights in the biggest arenas in Ireland and the UK. Lee will be playing to more fans than ever on this hotly anticipated tour. Lee’s manic energy, uncanny observations, hilarious delivery and side-splitting material have made his live performances a must-see for comedy fans worldwide. His tours and DVD releases year-on-year continue to smash sales and box office records. From 2002 to 2011 alone he has performed to over 1,605,000 people through his four live arena shows (‘Wired & Wonderful’ - 2002, ‘XL’ - 2005, ‘Big’ 2008, ‘Roadrunner’ 2011). In 2011 Lee embarked on a 67 arena date tour, which included a staggering six nights at both the O2 and Wembley Arenas, played to a sell-out 600,000 people across 16 arena stages throughout the UK and Ireland. First day sales saw an amazing 227,424 tickets sold and firmly established Roadrunner as the fastest and biggest day one selling UK comedy tour of all time. The release of Roadrunner in 2011 was groundbreaking as the first ever 3D stand-up comedy DVD. His previous DVD release in 2008 ‘Big – Live At the 02’ broke all previous stand-up DVD sales records when it sold a staggering 259,399 during its first week and became the biggest week one release for a non film DVD of all time – a record it still holds today! In September 2011 Lee’s autobiography The Life Of Lee was released becoming a number one bestseller and making the top 30 bestselling books of 2011. Lee Evans has won many accolades in the comedy world including ‘Special Contribution To Comedy’ Award at The British Comedy Awards 2011, the highly coveted ‘Perrier Award’ and the Time Out Award for Comedy. He has experienced huge success as an international film star in The Martins (2001), There’s Something About Mary (1998), The Fifth Element (1997), Mouse Hunt (1998) and Funny Bones (1995). In addition to his film work, Lee has also appeared on BBC ONE in his own sitcom series Lee Evans- So What Now? and he appeared in the 2009 Doctor Who Easter special (BBC ONE), where he played an evil Welsh scientist, again to much critical acclaim. During the past six years Lee has received rave reviews for his West-End theatre roles. These include; Samuel Beckett's Endgame alongside the legendary Michael Gambon, Mel Brooks’ musical The Producers with Nathan Lane plus the Harold Pinter play The Dumb Waiter, with Jason Isaacs, where he received the London Theatregoers’ Choice Award. In September of this year, Lee will return to treading the boards of the West End, starring alongside Sheila Hancock and Keeley Hawes in Clive Exton’s new play Barking In Essex at The Wyndham’s Theatre in London. "The must see comedy event of the autumn"  Daily Telegraph "Stand-up doesn't get much bigger" Evening Standard "A master of large-scale comedy" The Guardian "If comedy is the new rock 'n' roll, then behold the new Elvis Presley" The Sun Ticket Information: In person: From 100 Ticketmaster Outlets Nationwide By Telephone (24 Hour): ROI - 0818 719 300, Northern Ireland - 0844 277 44 55 Buy Online: www.ticketmaster.ie Show 8pm sharp – over 15’s. http://www.visitdublin.com/event/Russell_Howard_WonderboxTickets go on sale Friday 26th April Russell Howard, one of the funniest and most successful comedians, returns to his first love, live stand-up with his first tour for three years. Wonderbox follows his sell-out, thrice-extended, 2011 UK tour, which included three sold out dates at London’s O2. We are delighted to announce Russell Howard will be bringing his show to Dublin’s Vicar Street 7th March. In this new show, the star and creator of the award-winning hit TV show, Russell Howard’s Good News, promises us more of his trademark brand of upbeat and razor-sharp comedy. Don’t miss the chance to see this unique comedian on his biggest tour to date; back on stage, on-top of the world, doing what he does best. ‘Energetic, uncynical and, most importantly, very funny.’ The Times Ticket Information: Tickets go on sale Friday 26th April priced €32.00 (including booking fee) available from www.ticketmaster.ie & Ticketmaster outlets nationwide. By Phone+353818 719 300 - Republic of Ireland customers http://www.visitdublin.com/event/Tenacious_D_The_AcademyUS comedy rockers Tenacious D announce that Christmas 2013 will see them play a special intimate date at The Academy, Dublin on December 17th. This won’t be Tenacious as you know them, the December 2013 tour will see the band play their stripped down acoustic set as a duo. Still going strong since forming in 1994 and following on from 2012’s spectacular show at the O2 Dublin, 2013 will see the band back on the road and causing chaos in Ireland and the UK performing as the original duo! The band’s third and most recent release in over six years, Rize of the Fenix along with a plethora of older/classic material will be recreated as stripped back acoustic renditions. Released May 14th 2012 via Columbia Records, Tenacious D describes the making of the album as a“journey similar to that of Gandolph in The Lord of the Rings.” Produced by the brilliant John Kimbrough, Rize Of The Fenix was recorded in the garage behind his LA home and features Jack Black and Kyle Gass (Tenacious D’s core duo), performing with Dave Grohl (drums), John Spiker (bass, piano, organ) and John Konesky (electric guitar). The album was engineered and mixed by John Spiker who has been touring with the band for years. Don’t miss the masters of musical and sexual prowess when they land in the Ireland this Christmas. http://www.visitdublin.com/event/Jimmy_Carr_Gagging_OrderFriday 29th & Saturday 30th November 2013 are on sale now Tickets for December 1st  are on sale:Tuesday 26th March @  9:00am This is the last chance to see the Gagging Order Show delivered by the award-winning comedian at his near-the-knuckle best. 'A comedy hero for our times' - Guardian 'Jimmy Carr is a world-class comedian...I envy his brilliance with words' - Independent Following another stellar year for Jimmy Carr, which saw him host 10 O'Clock Live, the eleventh and twelfth series of 8 Out Of 10 Cats and release his seventh live stand-up DVD, Being Funny, Jimmy brings his Gagging Order tour to an end in Dublin. Having now played to over 1.2 million people on his live tours Jimmy knows a thing or two about making people laugh. Gagging Order saw Jimmy play over 200 dates around the UK and Ireland , with the tour running throughout 2012 & 2013. The show will be packed with one-liners, stories & jokes. Some clever, some rude & a few totally unacceptable. Everybody's welcome. Just leave your conscience, sense of common decency & moral compass at home & come on out for a laugh. Over the past 10 years, Jimmy has deservedly earned his place amongst the very best of British comics. His stand-up achievements to date include a British Comedy Award for Best Live Stand Up Tour, a Loaded LAFTA Award for Best Stand-Up & a Perrier Award nomination. Ticket Informaiton: Tickets for this unmissable show are priced from €33.00 and are on sale now via Ticketmaster. http://www.visitdublin.com/event/Micky_Flanagan_Back_In_The_Game_TourMicky Flanagan has added an extra Irish show due to phenomenal demand for tickets. He will bring his new tour ‘Back In The Game’to The O2 on Saturday 12th October 2013. Micky Flanagan – one of British comedy’s biggest stars – will travel the length and breadth of the UK & Ireland for what will be the most anticipated comedy tour of 2013. The ‘Back In The Game’ tour follows on from the huge critical and commercial success of last year’s ‘Out Out’ tour where over 200,000 tickets were sold and all 150 dates a sell out. The DVD - ‘Micky Flanagan Live: The Out Out Tour’ -- has been the number 1 selling stand up DVD in 2012 with his show stealing performances on the small screen earning him a prestigious British Comedy Award nomination and The Sun’s Comedian Of The Year Award. Micky has appeared on The Royal Variety Performance, Mock The Week, Have I Got News For You, 8 Out of 10 Cats – amongst others – and next year will cement his reputation as one of the superstars of British Stand Up. “Shakes the rafters with laughter ....” Evening Standard “Gut-wrenchingly hilarious”  – Daily Mirror “Excellent, funny and poignant” - The Observer “Side-splitting” The Sunday Times Ticket Information: Tickets from €33.50 including booking fee are on sale Friday now from www.ticketmaster.ie and all usual ticektmaster outlets nationwide. http://www.visitdublin.com/event/Roy_Chubby_Brown_at_The_Olympia_TheatreRoy Chubby Brown is back in Dublin for one night only at The Olympia Theatre! Get ready for a barn-storming night of jokes, banter and hilarious mickey-taking from Britain’s most outrageous comedian, bar none! Laugh till it hurts as Chubby rips into his live audiences with a non-stop battering ram of laugh-out-loud comedy guaranteed!  Roy “Chubby” Brown is a modern day phenomenon. He has become a huge superstar without appearing on television, some may say his success is because he does not appear on our T.V screens. His videos and DVD’s sell in millions and his live appearance are ‘sell outs’ months in advance. His outrageous material is considered by many to be offensive, however he has always warned his audience “If easily offended please stay away” .This warning has worked in his favour, forbidden fruit! His comic appearance multi-coloured funny suit and flying helmet is not far removed from the traditional circus clown. His delivery, style, comic songs, funny walk/dance is all contained in a genuinely funny man. He is a lovely man off-stage and it is a joy to be in his company, he laughs at himself, (well he is 19 stones) his wife, other people, and life itself. His material is never static, he reviews the newspapers every day and will constantly find comedy within. His philosophy, find one funny piece every day, over a year that is a lot of material. He has had 18 DVD’s released, 5 box sets and a huge cinema movie UFO. He has toured the UK selling out theatres for the past 25 years. He has toured Australia, New Zealand, and played concerts in the Far East and the USA. The popular cult television show ‘The League of Gentlemen’ named a village after him ‘Royston Vasey’ and asked him to play the Mayor. Tickets from €30 including booking fee are on sale from www.ticketmaster.ie and all usual outlets nationwide http://www.visitdublin.com/event/Ardal_O_Hanlon_Vicar_Street_2013Tickets on sale Thursday 17th January Father Ted star, Ardal O'Hanlon is delighted to present his latest stand-up show for 2013. The style is observational, the subject matter is Life itself, and the default expression is one of utter disbelief!Lurking beneath Ardal’s mild-mannered demeanor resides a sharp and probing (and fairly mild-mannered) comic brain. Sometimes thoughtful, sometimes silly, but always punchy, he has tickled audiences all over the world. In a comprehensive set, he talks about not just the things that matter but also about the things that don’t matter at all. Which covers pretty much everything. However it is as a stand-up comedian where Ardal’s true vocation lies. He sees his role in life as ‘highlighting the ridiculous.’ Avoiding the overly crass and the obvious, his only interest is the truth…if there is such a thing. “Charm, intelligence and fabulous phrase-making” - The Guardian “He flutters through a variety of topics with a poet’s eye for Inconsequential detail” – The Telegraph “Particularly inspired…you could listen to O’Hanlon’s infectious self-effacement for hours…highly entertaining and frequently brilliant” - Irish Independent Ticket Information: Tickets on sale Thursday 17th January priced €28.00 (including booking fee) from www.ticketmaster.ie & Ticketmaster outlets nationwide. http://www.visitdublin.com/event/Dublin_Fringe_Festival_2013Various venues in Co. Dublin Dublin Fringe Festival is Ireland's largest multi-disciplinary arts festival running city-wide every September, showcasing the newest and best Irish and international arts. 2013 sees the 19th year of the festival and will involve up to 1000 participants with companies presenting over 600 events spanning theatre, dance, music, circus, opera, live and visual arts in over 30 venues across Dublin. This event annually seeks to transform the city and celebrate it in an exposé of great creative talent from around the globe. This skilfully curated festival programme offers the opportunity to springboard all the human senses and entertain every kind of thrill seeker through work that is provoking, thoughtful, challenging and fun! Dublin Fringe Festival, unlike others, is a wholly curated festival seeking innovative and daring work that impacts, moves and invigorates its audience. The festival is a platform for new companies as well as giving a platform for experimentation and risk for more established artists and a showcase for the best contemporary theatre, dance and spectacle shows touring internationally. For the creators, the Fringe facilitates an opportunity to innovate, to cross disciplines and boundaries and to find new ways and places to make work, for audiences it is a chance to get up close with an array of talent for the best two weeks of performance of the year. The 2013 programme will be launched on August 14th with highlights announced in June. See more details on www.fringefest.com http://www.visitdublin.com/event/ABSOLUT_Fringe_Festival ABSOLUT Fringe Ireland’s largest multi-disciplinary arts festival, runs city-wide throughout Dublin this September 7th - 22nd showcasing the newest and best theatre, circus, comedy, dance, performance, art and live gigs featuring Irish and international productions. Now in its 19th year, the festival hosts performances from over 90 artists with companies presenting 624 events spanning theatre, dance, music, live and visual arts in over 30 venues across Dublin. Around 150,000 people have at least one Fringe experience during the festival which runs for 16 days transforming Dublin into a ‘dream factory’, an exposé of great creative talent from around the globe This skillfully curated festival programme will springboard all the human senses and occupy everyone’s imagination. ABSOLUT Fringe, unlike many Fringe Festivals internationally, is a wholly curated festival seeking innovative and daring work that impacts, moves and invigorates its audience. The festival is a platform for the best new, emerging Irish arts companies and a showcase for the best contemporary theatre, dance and spectacle shows touring internationally. For artists, the Fringe facilitates an opportunity to innovate, to cross disciplines and boundaries and to find new ways and places to create work. 2013 marks a very special 19th birthday celebration for the festival as it matures into a sublime adulthood – and what a celebration its going to be. http://www.visitdublin.com/event/The_Vodafone_Comedy_Festival TBC The Vodafone Comedy Festival 2013 will feature an impressive line-up of international and Irish comedians who will feature at the four day event in the unique and stunning surroundings of Iveagh Gardens, in the heart of Dublin, from July 25th - 28th July. The festival is the largest and most successful open air comedy event of its type in Ireland.   http://www.visitdublin.com/event/The_Liberties_FestivalThe Liberties Festival is one of Ireland’s oldest festivals. From modest beginnings in 1970 it has grown to become a highlight of the summer in Dublin with a series of family-friendly, sporting and community events, and an exciting multi-cultural and arts programme encompassing visual art, film, dance, comedy, literature and music. The area known as The Liberties is the south-west part of Dublin’s inner city approximately west of Aungier Street and south of the River Liffey, predominately in Dublin 8. Steeped in history, its name originated with the arrival in the 12th century of the Anglo-Normans who titled jurisdictions united to the city but outside the boundaries of its walls as ‘Liberties’. Two of the most important were the Liberty of St. Sepulchre (under the Archbishop of Dublin) and the Liberty of Thomas Court and Donore (under the Abbey of St. Thomas, later the Earl of Meath’s Liberty). For supporting the ruler, these Liberties received privileges such as freedom from various taxes. Today’s Liberties area is made up of these two ancient Liberties. The Liberties Festival makes great use of the pleasant terraced streets, bustling shopping districts, open spaces, and the historical and contemporary buildings of the area. And – in keeping with tradition – most of these events are free! We’re busy finalising the Liberties Festival 2013 programme and will announce full details shortly. The Liberties Festival is a SICCDA project and receives generous support from sponsors and partners who include Diageo Ireland and DCC, and the local community.   http://www.visitdublin.com/event/10_Days_In_Dublin_Festival_201310 Days in Dublin is a unique event that has grown hugely year on year. It is Ireland's largest open-format, multidisciplinary festival with strands in music, comedy, visual art, theatre, spoken word and film. It accepts acts from all backgrounds and experience profiles and allows them to showcase their talent regardless of their work's theme, political agenda or who they know on the arts scene. It endeavours to create an open and inclusive festival that transforms the capital into an urban celebration. Now in its third year, the festival has more than doubled in size since its 2012 outing and is currently run by a group of talented, young individuals who volunteer their time to create something different and exciting. If you're looking for something different with a broad range of artistic talents and ideas then this festival will have something you'll love For more info: including calls for submissions, line-ups and programming information check out our website www.10daysindublin.com The line-up for 10 Days in Dublin 2013 is yet to be announced. http://www.visitdublin.com/event/Calendar_Girls ‘Charming, Feel good.’ Star Tribune 'The calendar girls’ will make your day..' Herald Calendar Girls is a heart-warming tale of six extraordinary women who decide to raise funds for their local hospital and the Leukaemia Research Fund by modelling nude for a calendar. A bittersweet story about friends rallying around when one of their husbands dies from cancer, the film and play are based on an uplifting and very inspiring true story that is quirky, poignant, and hilarious. Directed by Anne Mekitarian and featuring a brilliantly talented all-star Dundrum cast and the Mill creative team, this is a guaranteed great night out.. Come along and see Mill Theatre regulars emulating the daring women who puzzled their husbands, mortified their children and sparked a global phenomenon by stripping off. A heady mix of comedy and pathos, this challenging play is guaranteed to make you laugh and maybe shed a tear. Ticket Information: Calendar Girls will preview on Wednesday 26th June and tickets are only €12. It will then run to Saturday 29th June and again from Thursday 4th – Saturday 7th July. Tickets are €16 and €14. Groups of 10 or more €12 http://www.visitdublin.com/event/The_Hairy_BowsiesThe Hairy Bowsies are a comedy ballad group featuring Ding Dong Denny O'Reilly & Scribbler O'Donohue (Joe Rooney). This is a full show featuring songs like: The Craic We Had The Day We Died For Ireland & The Potatoes Aren't Looking The Best. This is a high energy night with hilarious comedy ballad songs, funny monologues and a dancing tree. http://www.visitdublin.com/event/Karl_Spain_plus_guestsKarl Spain: "The future of Irish comedy is in safe hands" - Hot Press Mark Donehy: One of the fastest rising acts on the Irish circuit, winner of the Craic Attack comedy competition. Steve Cummins: Hecklers have finally met their match! Dont sit in the front row - you've been warned! Plus Special Guest http://www.visitdublin.com/event/abigails_partyFollowing a triumphant West End season, Mike Leigh’s classic comedy comes to The Gaiety Theatre from 10th June 2013 to 15th June 2013.   Hannah Waterman, Martin Marquez, Samuel James, Katie Lightfoot and Emily Raymond star in Abigail’s Party, one of the most popular plays ever written.   Donna Summer is playing on the stereo. Dishes of cheese and pineapple are on the coffee table…the social get-together from hell is about to begin.   Beverly, and estate agent husband Laurence, have invited round new neighbours Tony and Ange and nervous divorcee Sue, twitchy about the party her fifteen-year-old daughter, Abigail, is throwing over the road. As Beverly plies the guests with alcohol, cigarettes, Demis Roussos and nibbles, this horribly compelling evening descends into drunkenness and debauchery. Comedy, drama and tragedy combine into an iconic piece of theatre.   This ruthlessly accurate and painfully funny observation of the pretensions of suburbia comedy became an instant classic when it first appeared as a BBC Play For Today in 1977, the year of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.   Hannah Waterman is best known for her role as Laura Beale in EastEnders. Following her departure from the show she has performed extensively in theatre productions both on tour and in the West End, including Carrie’s War, Rattle of a Simple Man and The Vagina Monologues (on tour) and Calendarn Girls (on tour and West End). Joining her are Martin Marquez, most recently seen in the West End in Billy Elliot and soon to be seen in the upcoming film version of Les Misérables, Samuel James, Katie Lightfoot and Emily Raymond.   Mike Leigh is one of Britain’s most influential theatre and film directors. His numerous awards have included Best Comedy award for the stage play Goose Pimples, a BAFTA for Outstanding Contribution to Cinema, National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film for Life is Sweet, Best Director Award at Cannes Film Festival for Naked, the Palme d’Or at Cannes for Secrets and Lies and an Oscar for Topsy Turvy.   Lindsay Posner recently directed the all-star revival of Noises Off at the Old Vic and Butley, A View from the Bridge and Fiddler on the Roof in the West End and Relatively Speaking on tour and soon to open in the West End.   Theatre Royal Bath Productions are one of the most highly regarded producers of touring and West End productions. Recent productions include: Relatively Speaking starring Felicity Kendall and Kara Tointon, which sold out at theatres across the UK and The Judas Kiss starring Rupert Everett. Upcoming productions include West End transfers of Relatively Speaking and The Judas Kiss, a West End premier of Quartermaine’s Terms starring Rowan Atkinson and a national tour of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning Fences, starring Lenny Henry. Matinee performances  Wednesday 12th June 2013 - 2.30pm Saturday 15th June 2013 – 2.30pm Evening performances Mon - Sat 7:30 pm No performance Sunday Ticket Information: Tickets priced €28.20, €33.20, €38.70 including booking fee  are on sale from Gaiety Box Office.  No service charge for transactions in person at the Gaiety Box Office. Service charges apply to online and telephone bookings. Tickets are also on sale from online at www.ticketmaster.ie and all usual ticketmaster outlets nationwide. http://www.visitdublin.com/event/Payback_Mill_TheatreFour star performances from Maria McDermottroe and Marion O'Dwyer in this lunchtime show. Developed as part of Show in a Bag, an artist development initiative of Dublin Fringe Festival, Fishamble, The New Play Company and the Irish Theatre Institute. http://www.visitdublin.com/event/Eddie_Izzard_Force_Majeure_World_Tour_2013Eddie Izzard returns to Ireland with new show, Force Majeure (French, "superior force", "chance occurrence, unavoidable accident") In 2011 Eddie Izzard, the man who turned talking ‘Bollocks’ into an art form performed and sold–out Madison Square Garden in New York. He spent a three-month residency at the Théâtre de Dix Heures in Paris performing Stripped: ‘Tout en Francais’ (in French!) and then become the first stand-up to play a solo show at Los Angeles’ legendary Hollywood Bowl. It was an extraordinary year from an extraordinary man. Never one to rest on his laurels Izzard now plans to take on the world with a brand-new comedy tour, Force Majeure. Force Majeure will be the most extensive comedy tour ever. It begins its mammoth journey around the globe during spring 2013. From Cardiff to Kathmandu, Moscow to Mumbai, Eddie will visit 25 countries throughout Europe, USA, Africa, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, India, Nepal and The Far East. “’ KING OF THE UNIVERSE’ ...Comic genius...Entertainment incarnate!’- The Telegraph “The Funniest stand-up I’ve ever seen...people are falling from their seats” - The Sun Ticket Informatin: Tickets are available from Ticketmaster Outlets Nationwide By phone ROI - +353818719300, Northern Ireland - +35384427744 55 or online: www.ticketmaster.ie http://www.visitdublin.com/event/Wicked_Wolf_Comedy_NightsLocation: Wicked Wolf Bar, Main Street, Blackrock, Co Dublin The Event takes place every Tuesday Fortnight Wicked Wolf Comedy Nights. Six of the best rising stars of the stand-up comedy circuit. Upstairs at Wicked Wolf pub, Main Street, Blackrock. Overlooking sea. Opposite Dart. €5.00 Every Tuesday fortnight. Doors 8.30pm, show 9.00pm