Enjoy live lockdown comedy this weekend to raise money for Rotherham Civic

At a time of huge uncertainty and upheaval for everyone in the country, including the live entertainment industry, Rotherham Civic Theatre has joined forces with a group of small, independent venues across the north of England to create Your Place Comedy.

The project aims to provide audiences with some much-needed laughter during these difficult times.

TV panel show regular and one of the UK's most innovative performers, Mark Watson, joins BBC New Comedy award winner Lucy Beaumont for Your Place Comedy on Sunday at 8pm.

The event, compered by writer and star of Radio 4's The Gambler Tim FitzHigham, will be free to watch on YouTube and Facebook, with an option to donate if you have enjoyed the broadcast.

All money raised will be distributed equally among the ten supporting venues, including Rotherham Civic Theatre, each of whom are navigating their way through some challenging financial times.

Your Place Comedy aims to reestablish the traditional relationship between venue, performer and audience that has been temporarily lost during the Covid-19 crisis. The venues participating in the project have all pledged funds to both support the performers involved and to provide their audiences with entertainment from the kind of artists who, in normal times, would have been appearing in their local arts centre or theatre.

Rotherham Theatres operating manager Damien Gwatkin, said: "We are in unprecedented times but it's great to see innovative ways being thought up as to how we can make sure live performances are possible.

"It's important that we help performers who rely on us for their livelihoods, and who have had shows cancelled, to have a place to keep live entertainment going.

“We're delighted to support Your Place Comedy which wants to help support those who make live entertainment happen and bring a little bit of joy to the audiences we miss so much."

For full details visit www.yourplacecomedy.co.uk.