Last laugh at Devizes comedy club (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Last laugh at Devizes comedy club

10:00am Saturday 26th May 2012 in News By Lewis Cowen

Devizes' Moonrakers Comedy Club may have to look for a new venue after the Bell by the Green licensees leave in July.

The club has been staging monthly gigs, featuring up-and-coming comics from all over the country, since Bromham businessman and part-time stand-up comedian Martin Brown set it up two years ago.

But when landlord Paul McDonald and his wife Lesley announced last week their intentions to leave in the summer, the future of the club was thrown into uncertainty.

Mr Brown, pictured, said that its future at the pub in Estcourt Street would depend on the new licensee, who is to be appointed by pub owners Wadworth.

He said: “The fact that Paul is leaving the Bell means we may be looking for a new home.

“I am really grateful to him as he was the only one in town who offered me the chance and the support when I suggested staging a comedy club night in Devizes.”

The club’s last gig of the season will be a Queen’s Jubilee show on Friday, June 1, when Urchfont solicitor turned comedian Andrew Watts and Russ Powell – who was a hit of last year’s Devizes International Comedy and Ukulele Festival – are both on the bill.

Mr Watts said: “I am a true Moonraker.

“I grew up in Sarum Drive, before my parents moved to Urchfont, so it’s great to come back to the Moonrakers Comedy Club in Devizes.

“At the moment I’m busy preparing my show for the Edinburgh Fringe in August.

“It’s called Born to be Mild and it’s basically a collection of all the jokes I’ve written in the last year.

“Some of them I haven’t performed on stage yet, so I’m very excited about it.

“I’ve gigged three or four times so far and I love it in Devizes.

“It’s a small enough town that you still get the cosy community atmosphere, but it’s also big enough that people understand their comedy and are up for a laugh.

“I always enjoy gigging for Martin, too, as he knows how to put on a show and he’s one of the promoters who believed in me early on in my comedy career.”

Mr Brown warns local patrons that June 1 might be Mr Powell’s last appearance in Devizes.

He said: “Russ is now represented by Ricky Gervaise’s ‘super agent’ Matthew Harvey.

“So this could be the last time people will be able to come and see him in Devizes before he makes it big.”

See www.moonrakerscomedy.com for more information.