Leicester Comedy Festival

Leicester Comedy Festival has been helping city residents ward off the winter cold with hearty doses of laughter since 1994.

Originally begun as a project by De Montfort University (DMU) arts management students, it is fitting that DMU has now formalised its links with the festival through a partnership agreement.

Various initiatives are planned as part of the partnership, with DMU’s arts and festivals management staff already having carried out research showing the local economy receives a £2 million boost as a result of the festival.

Speaking at the launch of the partnership in 2011, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard said: “Eighteen years ago, students from De Montfort University organised the first ever comedy festival in Leicester.

“Nearly two decades later, the university is proud to have seen Leicester Comedy Festival develop into one of the UK's very best and to formalise the links we already have with them through this new cultural partnership.”

In the years since its launch, LCF has grown from a fledgling event attended by 5,000, to one of Leicester’s most significant cultural festivals.

More than 40,000 tickets were sold for the 346 shows that took place during Leicester Comedy Festival 2011 and DMU looks forward to contributing to its continued growth and success.

News about the Leicester Comedy Festival partnership

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