- October 2009
It’s here! The Footlights National Tour Show is the biggest and most famous show of the year from the biggest and most famous student comedy society in the world.
Experience an all-new, full-length, home-grown show on home ground from some of the most talented and hard-working young comedians around. From monologue to many-logue, sketches to stories, get ready to laugh your heads and your socks off until your sides split.
A preview show of epic proportions, this will be your first chance to see the culmination of the Footlights year, before the show sets off on a three-month comic odyssey to the Edinburgh Festival, around the United Kingdom and back again.
Previous Tour Shows have kick-started the comedy careers of countless famous faces. And this year it’s going to be better than ever. So come join us. Because this is where it all begins.
- March 2009
Cambridge Footlights present the winner of this year's Harry Porter Prize for a one-hour comic play.
The prize was set up in 2003 in honour of the late Dr Harry Porter, who served as the Footlights' Senior Archivist until his death, and was the longest standing member of the Footlights Committee. It is open to all students from both Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin Universities.
Over the last five years the entries have been judged by prestigious figures such as Stephen Fry, Bill Oddie, Michael Frayn and Declan Donnellan, and the 2007 winning play, Coat by Rory Mullarkey, went on to receive high acclaim at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Join us to herald the realisation of the latest Porter-winning playwright's comic vision, by watching a play written, chosen, cast, and then performed: all within a matter of whirlwind weeks.
- March 2009
Exciting, charismatic, talented and sexy - Derek Fish is none of these things. But we’ve written a show about him anyway. Derek is the life of one man, told through sketches. Join us as we veer haphazardly from one moment in his life to another; some earth-shattering, some trivial, some intimate, some barely involving him at all. Get to know this normal loser and the vibrant characters who suffer his company. The show features jokes from Cambridge comedians James Moran, Keith Akushie and Lucien Young, as well as a cast of the finest performers around.
The Footlights Spring Revue is one of the biggest comedy events of the year. Filled with ideas, energy and laughter, this promises to be another smash-hit from the world-famous comedy club.
Ladies and gentlemen: it’s time to meet Derek.
- November 2008
The 2008 pantomime is here, and it’s going to be an absolute legend.
Join Theseus on his quest to the mystical kingdom of Crete to hunt the bull-man minotaur that romps and chomps beneath the island. Boo at the tyrannical King Minos as he stops his daughter going to Falaraki. Cheer as Daedalus and Icarus attempt flight. Laugh all night with Nanna the horse-dog. But whatever you do, don’t get lost in the labyrinth!
The ADC/ Footlights pantomime is the biggest show in the theatrical calendar. This year it boasts jokes by Tom Evans and tunes by Léon Charles. And with Cambridge’s funniest comic actors playing your pantomime favourites, including Manson the Snake Priestess and Little Nav, Theseus and the Minotaur promises to be a-maze-ing.
Pleasantly heart-warming, a little bit scary and very, very funny- this is one for all the family and then some. Book now to avoid disappointment.
- October 2008
On their 125th anniversary, the world famous Cambridge Footlights come charging back with their eagerly anticipated, brand new show, "Devils".
Throughout their long and grand history, Footlights continue to be an unparalleled force in British comedy. The club's luminaries range from Peter Cook and John Cleese to present day stars such as Mitchell and Webb, Sacha Baron Cohen, and last year's if.comedy Best Newcomer, Tom Basden. "Devils" is the culmination of a fantastically successful year for a club, as the finest few comedians have been plucked from one of the largest and hardest-working comedy institutions in the world, to present a stunning mosaic of sketches, monologues, songs and more.
- June 2008
On their 125th anniversary, the world famous Cambridge Footlights come charging back with their eagerly anticipated, brand new show, "Devils".
Throughout their long and grand history, Footlights continue to be an unparalleled force in British comedy. The club's luminaries range from Peter Cook and John Cleese to present day stars such as Mitchell and Webb, Sacha Baron Cohen, and last year's if.comedy Best Newcomer, Tom Basden. "Devils" is the culmination of a fantastically successful year for a club, as the finest few comedians have been plucked from one of the largest and hardest-working comedy institutions in the world, to present a stunning mosaic of sketches, monologues, songs and more.
Sharp, exciting and unfailingly hilarious, "Devils" promises to be a sparkling comic treasure, and a landmark event in Footlights's 125-year history.
Edinburgh Festival Sell-Out Show 2007
"A must-have ticket" - The Times
"**** impeccable, excellent, fautless" - Edinburgh Festivals Magazine
"Fast, well-observed, hilarious - lives up to the hype" - Fest Magazine
"I was charmed and delighted - really good" - Simon Amstell
- May 2008
Footlights' famous evening comedy shows hit Queen's this easter term in association with BATS.
- March 2008
Rob's being moved from Intensive Care tonight. Shel wants to see him but Alex doesn't. She'd prefer to stay in and make Louis cry. They have to go but the phone rings. It's Janet. She likes leopard print garments and dead Shitzues. Betty is having a turn. She has a grater. And a colander. So they're coming over. With juice. Locked in a house together guerilla warfare ensues, people forget and (fake) leopard print flies. Step into the Cooper family living room for a story about lunacy, happy dinosaurs and loss. A very unoriginal family comedy then. But that's kind of the point.
The Harry Porter Prize was established five years ago to celebrate the contribution to Footlights of the Club’s Senior Archivist, Harry Porter. In past years the award has been judged by Stephen Fry, Bill Oddie, Michael Frayn and Declan Donnellan, and we are pleased to announce that the prize this year will be judged by Mike Newell, the multi-award-winning director of television and screen productions such as 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'.
- March 2008
A lot of stuff has happened before now. The dinosaurs were around before you were even born, for example. This show of occasionally true snippets lays siege to the history books, doctors the documents, annuls the annals, crucifies the chronicles, blitzkriegs the bulletins and pillages the village. They offer answers to all those questions you ask yourself about history, and some you don’t: “What happens if you try to fit the names of all 267 popes into songs by the Beach Boys?”
The Footlights Spring Revue is one of the biggest and funniest shows of the year. On the 125th anniversary of the word-famous comedy club, Snippets promises to be another innovative addition to the Cambridge Footlights’ illustrious history.
- November 2007
Once Upon a Time… there was an ADC/Footlights Pantomime.
You want traditional? This is traditional. The panto is back, and back to basics.
In a land where bulbous beanstalks grow, dark forests lurk, and the monarchy teeters on the edge of survival, get ready to see your favourite characters as you’ve never seen them before. From the three little pigs to the Fairy Godmother, and a big, bad pantomime wolf. Prepare to boo and hiss as you encounter the wicked Stepmother and cheer as Prince Charming tries to save the day.
The biggest and boldest show of the theatrical calendar, this year's pantomime features a script by Footlights regular Alex Clatworthy and Footlights Harry Porter Prize winner Rory Mullarkey, a catchy-as-hell original score by Harry Winstanley and performances from Cambridge's top comic actors. Once Upon A Time… is guaranteed to be fantastic fairy-tale fun for all the family. Oh, yes it is!
- August 2007
The Cambridge Footlights are the world-famous comedy troupe who first aired the talents of some of the foremost British comedians and actors of this century. Footlights is the only student comedy society to have a national tour show, and also the only one to have an Edinburgh Fringe show composed of entirely new material.
The Tour Show, the most prestigious show in the Footlights year, is one of the most eagerly anticipated productions in the Cambridge theatrical calendar as well as at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The Tour Show attracts the best of Cambridge's infamous comedy and considerable technical talent.
Reviews for last year's Tour Show 'Niceties':
"A proper funny sketch show with great performances" - David Mitchell, 'Peep Show'.
"A breakneck round of fast-paced sketches, each one funnier than the last…ingeniously hilarious…the country’s most famous student comedy troupe is back on top form" – Cambridge Evening News
- March 2007
So there's this man in Russia and he's not happy with his coat. So he gets a new one. And he loves it. And there's this man and woman in England and they're not happy with each other but they probably don't want new ones because they already quite love each other. Or maybe just like each other a lot. Partly based on the humour and tales of Nikolai Gogol, Coat flicks between nineteenth century St Petersburg and the here and now. It's sort of a romantic comedy but it's also about other things for instance eg. apple and blackcurrant squash for example. So if you like love and you love like, this is the play for you.
The Harry Porter Prize was established four years ago to celebrate the contribution to Footlights of the Club’s Senior Archivist, Harry Porter. In past years the award has been judged by Stephen Fry, Bill Oddie and Michael Frayn, and we are pleased to announce that the prize this year will be judged by Declan Donnellan, the multi-award-winning director and playwright, co-founder of Cheek by Jowl, and author of 'The Actor and the Target.'
- February–March 2007
This world is a big place. This show is a big show. As the planet spins on its axis the sun shines on every inch of the globe. THIS IS SCIENCE. Like the sun, ‘Interconti-mental’ burns as a gigantic LUMP of comedy gases - illuminating people, places and stuff from every nook of our wonderful world.
There are 6 BILLION people in the world There are 6 PEOPLE in this amazing show That means they are representing 1 BILLION people EACH! But don’t worry, they’re no bigger than the average person, it is just their comedy talent that is of colossal proportions
See the world like you’ve never seen it before… Visit places you’ve only ever dreamed of… And meet people so different from you, they might even be different people!
You’re a world dweller, we all are. So come with us, let’s all join hands and experience the joys that can be squeezed from going INTERCONTIMENTAL!
Come see it, it will rock YOUR little world.
- February 2007
Consistently "fast and hilariously enrelenting" (TCS), the world-famous Cambridge Footlights presents a jam-packed hour of stand-up, sketches, songs and more. Sometimes quirky, sometimes edgy, some trad, some silly, some sad - the one thing a Smoker never fails to be is "uproariously funny" (Varsity). Over the past fifty years, Footlights has been producing some of the UK's most exciting and innovative comic writer-performers. The Smokers are where it's all learned and all honed, all tried and all tested. Come watch the finest in Cambridge comedy talent perform brand new material in a massive range of styles, from the absurdto the natural, with everything between and beyond. They've sold out for four years running, so book early to avoid disappointment. These really are not to be missed.
- December 2006
Dodgy deals with devils and dames.
The big fat Footlights pantomime is back: and this year it's going to be Hot as Hell.
What are your deepest desires? What are your wildest dreams? What are they worth? Three Wham bars? ALL your pogs? How about your EVERLASTING SOUL?
Come join us on the Faust-track to the Underworld and barter with temptress Mrs Topheles, fall in love with history's hottest tottie Helen of Troy, and quake before Satan himself.
It's big (it's massive) and it's clever (it's pretty clever), but above all FAUST will be full of thigh-slapping hell-arity for all the family.
Book now before it sells out. Come on, everyone: Go to Hell.
EXTRA PERFORMANCE ADDED THURSDAY 2.30pm !!
www.faustthepanto.com
- June 2006
The Cambridge Footlights are the world-famous comedy troupe who first aired the talents of some of the foremost British comedians and actors of this century. The Tour Show is one of the most eagerly anticipated productions in the Cambridge theatrical calendar as well as at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The Tour Show attracts the best of Cambridge's infamous comedy and considerable technical talent.
- March 2006
COMEDY. FRIENDSHIP. LOVE. BETRAYAL. WRITING. OPERA.
A park bench. Hugh tells Henry his life story. Henry joins in.
Our Rossini-obsessed hero has rather too strong an imagination, and as he takes his new friend through his emotional past, things begin to get out of control... There's an over-eager waitress, a Wild West shoot-out, a villainous Mr Darcy, a wedding and an aria. The Harry Porter prize is the annual Footlights award for best new comic writing. Come and be a part of this exciting production that promises laughs, love and a few surprise twists...
"fresh and lively and entertaining" (Michael Frayn, judge)
- February–March 2006
The Circus is in town. For one week only, hear the freaks speak, see the magician saw people, smell the lions and watch the clowns drown in a bucket of whitewash or something. Hurry. Before it's too late, before it's all closed down for health and safety reasons.
The Footlights Spring Revue is one of the most inventive and consistently hilarious comedy shows of the Cambridge year. And this one is going to top the lot. In the Big Top.
Watch the trailer at www.seethecircus.com
- December 2005
The Footlights/ADC Pantomime is back, and this time it’s Epic! Set amongst the great pyramids of Egypt, the towering columns of Rome, the succulent olives of Greece, join Spartacus on his journey from zero to hero, from slavery to bravery, as he gladiates his way to freedom.
Featuring a smouldering Cleopatra, a well-meaning but insane Emperor and a loveable Pantomime Horse, this is a show for all ages.
Complete with original songs, this fantastic new production comes from the most exciting comedy writers in Cambridge, and features some of its leading performers.
www.spartacusthepanto.com
- October 2005
The world famous Footlights present their immensely popular Smokers – an hour of stand-up and sketches from the very best of Cambridge comedy talent.
- June 2005
An adventure into the hearts and minds of the misfits of our world and the next, taking in fantastic catburglars, garrulous angels and daydreaming aquarium attendants, all bound up in a quest for the forgotten, the mislaid and the yearned-for missing piece of their particular puzzle. Join the Cambridge Footlights as they weave their mysterious way through the afterlife, the lowlife and the good life, in search of the things we often want, but rarely get...
The tour will begin and end with a Cambridge run, taking in the Edinburgh Fringe and a National Tour. Visit the website at www.underthebluebluemoon.co.uk
- May 2005
The world famous Footlights present their immensely popular Smokers - an hour of stand-up and sketches from the very best of Cambridge comedy talent.
Described by Varsity as 'un-hyped excellence' and by TCS as 'fast and hilariously unrelenting' these are some of the most exciting performances around. The material is always brand new and has proven consistently to be the strongest source of new writing in Cambridge. Displaying a massive range in styles - from the highly absurd to super naturalism - Smokers provide experimental comedy at a very high standard.
Book early to avoid disappointment - these really are not to be missed.
- March 2005
The world-famous Cambridge Footlights are proud to present the winner of the Harry Porter Prize, awarded annually to a new comic play. Established three years ago to celebrate the contribtion to Footlights of the Club’s Senior Archivist, the Harry Porter Prize gives Cambridge’s stickiest comic spiders a chance to spin their web on the ADC stage.
This year's winner is 'Evelyn Budden; Auctioneer', a comic tale about an auctioneer who accidentally kills the people he loves. Told in flashback with auctioneering interludes and a musical finale, it will prove to be a real one-off.
- February 2005
From Footlights regulars Joe Thomas and Raph Shirley comes this hilarious comment on modern insecurities and inadequacies. Featuring a sensitive mix of realist and surrealist writing, this new take on the sketch show promises to be the most innovative and laugh packed production of the year.
Building on the success of their past shows – Raph starred in this year’s tour show, Beyond A Joke, and Joe co-wrote this year’s hilarious pantomime Great Expectations – and the illustrious history of the Cambridge Footlights, this show promises to showcase the very best comic talent in the University.
- February 2005
Footlights present their immensely popular Smokers – each one a laugh-packed hour of the finest new comedy. A novel appendix to the pub, Smokers provide a completely original mix of sketches, characters and stand-up. Footlights continue to produce experimental and unpredictable material designed to have you in stitches, whatever your sense of humour. A regular sell-out, be sure to come early. Non-smokers welcome.
- December 2004
This year's Footlights/ADC Pantomime brings a classic Dickensian masterpiece to the stage. Deep in Victorian London, this panoply of music, dance and humour tracks the funny and poignant story of a young boy's quest for happiness. As our comic hero treds the pathway from poverty to riches, he is accompanied by a sparkling cast of lovers, villains, dames, ugly sisters and the all-important Pantomime Cow.
This bizarre mix of the idiosyncratic and grotesque combines romance and redemption with gothic comedy to form a hilarious Christmas treat for adults and children alike.
- June 2004
Across Britain snow falls. In this altered landscape, banal situations
escalate to horrific and hilarious extremes. 'Beyond A Joke' promises to
showcase the cream of Cambridge's current comedy talent, in a show that
will be performed at the Edinburgh Fringe in August and tour the country in
September.
- March 2004
- February 2004
- December 2003
Ten years have passed and the inhabitants of Wonderland have called Alice back through the looking glass one last time to save their world from destruction. Join Alice, the Mad Hatter, the much maligned Jabberwock and the little known Furious Bandersnatch for a lively evening of song, dance, comedy and extremely cross dressing.
- October 2003
The 2003 Footlights tour show returns to the place where it all began, at the end of a nationwide tour visiting centres of culture from the Isle of Wight to Glasgow.
After sell-outs at the ADC and a month at the Edinburgh Festival, this really is your last chance to see the understated, dark and maliciously funny story of a lover cuckolded by his next-door neighbour, a girl who's celebrating losing her virginity to a farmhand, a man nearing the end of his days with a Pot Noodle and a kid bullied into conducting lightning for an experiment - and a lot more besides.
Directed by award-winning stand-up Mark Watson and BBC4 writer Tim Key and featuring the final Cambridge appearances of five of its most celebrated comedians, this is something you shouldn't miss.
