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It's laughter time!
Calderdale is flexing its chuckle muscles for a month of comedy capers.
The Victoria Theatre, Halifax, played host to high-flying stand-up comic Michael McIntyre on Wednesday as part of a warm-up event to his autumn stadium tour of the UK.
Next weekend evergreen entertainer Ken Dodd arrives at the theatre with his Happiness Show.
And later this month various venues in the town will host the first Halifax Comedy Festival, with acts including Robin Ince of BBC TV's Mock the Week fame, Jo Caulfield, who has appeared on Mock the Week and Have I Got News for You? and a Scouse Spectacular.
Courier features writer Virginia Mason was in the audience at the Victoria Theatre to see Michael McIntyre. She says: "He could be forgiven for leaving Halifax with the impression that far from being grim 'up north', times are mightily funny.
"'I've decided you don't need me. You are a lot funnier,' he quipped at one point when members of the packed audience interjected with their own humour.
"The 'north-south divide' provided him plenty of opportunities to road-test his new material, including an hilarious debate on whether us northern folk ate lunch or dinner in the middle of the day.
"McIntyre received rapturous applause the second he stepped on stage - an indication of a genuine affection and admiration that continued until he was finally able to leave - his Calderdale fans managed to squeeze an encore out of him.
"His skill is that he can turn an ordinary occurrence - a trip to the park with his kids, shopping with his wife - into sharply observed humour that has audiences guffawing with laughter.
"Those who bought tickets for his show at the Victoria Theatre will be hoping he'll be making a reappearance sometime soon."
l See the Courier next week for an interview with another stand-up comic taking part in the festival - Calderdale's own Martin Bigpig Mor, who supported Frankie Boyle on his latest UK tour.
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Weather for Halifax
Saturday 11 February 2012
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