Big Difference Productions to Bring Unique Laughs to 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, July 31-Aug 24

Big Difference Productions, creators of innovative comedy events and concepts and organisers of the annual Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival, today announced its programme of events for this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe. From seasoned stand-ups showing that life experience breeds laughs, expert analysis on comedy and contemporary culture, and unbridled laughter with the lights off, the shows provide a unique flavour of comedy.

Comedy in the Dark

31st July -24th August

Your favourite stand-ups, one hour, no lights! Comedy in the Dark returns to the Fringe after previous sell-out runs in Edinburgh as well as in London and Leicester. A unique experience where comedians perform in total darkness. Past acts have included Greg Davies, Sarah Millican, Ed Byrne and Arthur Smith.

Old Folks Telling Jokes

31st July - 24th August

Following sell-out runs at Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival and featured at The Pleasance, London, Old Folks Telling Jokes hits the Fringe for the first time. With a line up of acts exclusively over the age of 55, this show proves the old ones can often be the best. Featuring Lynn Ruth Miller, 'a poster girl for growing old disgracefully' (The Scotsman), Charmian Hughes, 'like Josie Long's mum' (Chortle) and Lewis Schaffer, 'Controversial. Unpredictable. Recommended' (Time Out) with further acts to be announced.

Beyond A Joke? Comedy, Culture and the Public

13th - 17th August

A lecture and discussion series by prominent academics exploring comedy's response to contemporary cultural issues. Supported by the Centre for Comedy Studies Research, Brunel University. Confirmed speakers include John Roberts (Laughing about Free Speech: How Humour Helps Free Speech Thrive in Public Spaces), Sam Friedman (Working For Your Laughter: The Rise of the British Comedy Snob), Sharon Lockyer (Finding the Funny in Disability: Comedy and Disability on the British Comedy Circuit), Peter Wilkin (Kicking Against the Pricks: The Satirical Wisdom of Tory Anarchism) and Leon Hunt (The Dark Comedy of Pemberton and Shearsmith).

DETAILS:

Comedy in the Dark

Dates: 31st July - 24th August (not 12th)

Time: 6.00 pm

Venue : The Old Foundry Room

Just the Tonic at The Community Project

Venue: 86 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh EH1 2QA

Tickets: £5.00

Box office: 0131 226 0000

www.justhetonic.com

Old Folks Telling Jokes

Dates: 31st July - 24th August (not 12th)

Time: 4.15pm

Venue: The Little Kirk

Just the Tonic at The Community Project

Venue: 86 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh EH1 2QA

Tickets: £7.00 (£6.00)

Box office: 0131 226 0000 (Ed Fringe box office)

www.justthetonic.com

Beyond a Joke? Comedy, Culture and the Public

Dates: 13th - 17th August

Time : 11.10 am

Venue : The Old Foundry Room

Just the Tonic at The Community Project

Venue: 86 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh EH1 2QA

Tickets: £5.00

Box office: 0131 226 0000

www.justthetonic.com

Big Difference Productions has a long & respected history of producing unique comedy shows and projects, including the annual Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival - the longest running comedy festival in Europe. In addition to producing Comedy in the Dark, Old Folks Telling Jokes and the Beyond A Joke lecture series, the organisation also produces The Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year competition, Hotel D'Comedie, The UK Pun Championships and shows in partnership with Zulu Comedy Festival (Copenhagen).

Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival is the longest running comedy festival in Europe, having taken place each February since 1994. The 2014 festival had over 640 shows across 17 days and attracted an audience of 94,922 people. Around 1,000 performers took to stages across the city & county and headline acts included Alexei Sayle, Jason Manford, Jasper Carrott, Russell Kane, David O'Doherty, Rich Hall, Paul Chowdry & Tim Vine.

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