Hartlepool Dockfest 2009 - Maritime monsters, myths, magic, music and mirth
Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th July
Hartlepool's biggest summer event!
Little Howard Comes to Dockfest
TV cartoon favourite brings his magic pencil to Hartlepool
Big Howard Little Howard
Falsetto Socks
Patrick Monahan
One of CBBC’s favourite cartoon characters is coming to Hartlepool for a special family show at Dockfest 09 – and it’s all free!
Big Howard, Little Howard, stars of BBC1 and CBBC’s ‘Little Howard’s Big Question,’ head a special afternoon comedy show for all the family in a near 700 capacity ‘Big Entertainment Tent’ on Sunday 5 July.
A mouth-watering line-up also features Edinburgh Festival favourites The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre, and Patrick Monahan from Channel 4’s Paul O’Grady Show.
Described by The Daily Mail as “a joy that rings true to that magical time of childhood, and also incredibly achingly funny,” Little Howard has proved a huge hit at major comedy festivals all over the world. Nominated for the hugely prestigious Perrier Award at Edinburgh in 2002, Little Howard also wowed the The Royal Variety Performance in 2007 (‘You stormed it there, lad’ – Jimmy Tarbuck). Go see www.littlehoward.co.uk.
Huge Edinburgh Festival favourites The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre bring socks to life like never before. The double act have been described by London culture bible Time Out as ‘Hilarious, the Abbott and Costello of the sock world.’
Hugely popular Comedy Store and Jongleurs livewire Patrick Monahan will host the afternoon show. Patrick also has a busy TV career, previously working with folks including Jonathan Ross and Lenny Henry, and is currently studio host and regular on-screen presence on Channel 4’s Paul O’Grady Show shown each weekday teatime.
As announced last week, the afternoon family show is followed by a special Big Mouth Comedy Club on the same evening, featuring top TV comic Sean Lock, Ivan Brackenbury, Jason Cook and Lee Nelson.
Stephen Cashman, Hartlepool Council’s Strategic Arts Manager, said: “The whole comedy line-up for the day looks amazing. The afternoon will be special for all the family, while the evening Big Mouth show just couldn’t look better.”
Graham Ramsay from promoters Ten Feet Tall, who have booked the comedy line-up on behalf of the Council, said: “We were determined to bring some of the best comics around to Hartlepool for Dockfest, and we’ve done that for both shows. We're pretty confident you won't find a better comedy gig anywhere in the country that day."
Hartlepool Dockfest 2009 is a two-day extravaganza of family entertainment around Hartlepool Marina on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th of July. Organised by Hartlepool Council, it is a prelude to the 7-10th August 2010, when the town will welcome up to 100 tall ships and up to a million visitors to celebrate the finale of The Tall Ships’ Races.
The Lightning Seeds will headline the music day on Sat 4th July, with Sean Lock headlining the comedy day on Sun 5th July.
Although free, tickets for the near 700 capacity giant marquee will be strictly allocated. Ticket details and availability will be announced in the coming weeks.
