Funny Things

Landmark Project | 2017 + 2019

Funny Things returned to Wolverhampton during October 2019 for a week-long celebration of rib-tickling stand-up, theatre, workshops, street performance, film and family events.

The festival took place during the October half term with free all-ages fun that included a world of storytelling and glitter from the drag queens and kings of Fantabulosa at Wulfrun Shopping Centre; two poetic Pigeon Pals who roamed the streets offering up food and gossip; the Orchestra of Chaos who be brought their unique musical mayhem to the city centre; and the world-famous Dancing Grannies who boogied on down.

The Mander Centre hosted Spinsonic circus workshops where people of all-ages learned to juggle, spin plates and hula hoop, and slapstick shenanigans came courtesy of Wolverhampton’s very own Laurel and Hardy duo.

“Black Country humour is unique, people love a good laugh and a joke and Funny Things celebrates this.” Comments the festival’s Creative Producer, Jenny Smith.

“Creative Black Country are bringing together a range of partners and artists, to produce a festival that creates opportunities for local people to get involved, see great acts, new talent, and experience a whole load of funny things.

Alongside well-know acts like Frank Skinner, Lost Voice Guy and Gary Delaney we’ve got up-and-coming talent and plenty of circuit favourites.

This year we’re proud to include a number of accessible events that are accompanied with British Sign Language including the Calamity Jane signalong singalong at Light House.

Following the success of the 2017 event we’re back to offer a diverse festival that has a bit of something for everyone. Whatever tickles you.”

There were plenty of opportunities for families to have a giggle together during the half-term with a special kid-friendly programme: workshops included creating your own alter ego mask, a lil’ jams improv workshop with Jumprov, and a lesson in how make stop-motion animation.

Funny Things invited Britain’s Got Talent star Barbara Nice, (Funny Things 2017’s Creative Director Janice Connolly), for The Laughing Sole Comedy Club for Kids with some of the best acts of the circuit sharing kid-friendly material.

New parents were invited to the Bring Your Own Baby event at Newhampton Arts Centre. An adult comedy event where soft flooring, buggy parking, baby changing and feeding were welcome.

Brand new commissions included The Anthinaerium by sculptor Luke Perry - a mechanical automata masterpiece, displayed at the Mander Centre, celebrating the weird and wonderful of Wolverhampton and the Black Country. Chatty birds the Pigeon Pals hopped on and off local transport sharing delicious local foodie delights and icons of the silver screen. Laurel and Hardy, greeted shoppers with their slapstick routines. And actors Adam Halcro and Jacob Harvey put on a play by Tom McGrath, at Newhampton Arts Centre telling the story of the unlikely paring.

Local trio Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists travelled the region unearthing and listening to stories of comedy for National Lottery Heritage Funded project ‘Finding Our Funny Roots’ to find out what it is that makes Black Country humour so unique. Their findings were put together for a brand new show ‘Finding Your Funny Roots’ at Arena Theatre.

Six local businesses supported the festival with sponsorship. Casino 36, Zuri Coffee, Destination Wolverhampton and the Black Country, Wolverhampton BID, Mander Centre and West Midlands Metro all contributed to give more people the opportunity to attend the event.

You can read the full Funny Things evaluation by downloading it here.

Images by Dee Patel

FUNNY THINGS 2019 press coverage

Express & Star - 9th November 2018
Comedians needed to share rib tickling jokes ahead of Wolverhampton’s Funny Things Festival

Express & Star - 22nd January 2019
Laughing off the January blues at Wolverhampton comedy fest

Express & Star - 16th March, 2019
Wolverhampton festival organisers call for April Fool's Day challenge

Express & Star
Funny Business at Festival Expo - featuring our newly commissioned artists.

Express & Star - 4th September, 2019
Wolverhampton show celebrates the older generation

Express & star - 19th September, 2019
Frank Skinner, Barbara Nice, Lost Voice Guy and more: Funny Things Festival returns to Wolverhampton

Express & Star - 23rd October
Wolverhampton artwork unveiled to launch comedy festival

Express & Star - 25th October, 2019
Black Country humour is unique

Express & Star - 29th October, 2019
University of Wolverhampton digging into roots of Black Country humour

BBC Radio WM - Sunny & Shay Show
Interview with Sajeela Kershi

FUNNY THINGS 2017 Press Coverage

Express & Star – 12th June 2017
That’s funny! Wolverhampton all set to laugh during comedy festival

Express & Star (online & print) – 26th July 2017
Joke Exchange Comes to Wolverhampton

Radio WM – 28th July 2017
Breakfast Show with Alex Lester – Interview with Jenny Smith Funny Things Producer

Express & Star – 25th August 2017
Wolverhampton to have lastlaugh with comedy festival

What’s On 2017
Funny Things

Express & Star – 7th October 2017
Lost Hancock scripts brought back to life

BBC – 7th October 2017
Lost Tony Hancock scripts to be performed

Express & Star – 12th October 2017
Flatpack Cinema bringing funny films to Wolverhampton comedy festival

BBC WM Breakfast Show – 17th October 2017
Live interview for Vacant Lots

Express & Star – 18th October 2017
Barbara Nice, Henning Wehn, Tom Stade and more: Brand new comedy festival Funny Things coming to Wolverhampton

Express & Star – 20th October 2017
Funny Things: 12 things not to miss at Wolverhampton’s new comedy festival

Express & Star – 23rd October 2017
Comedian Francesca Martinez will bring ‘funny stuff’ to Wolverhampton show tonight

Express & Star - 2017
Funny Things: Find out what’s on at a venue near you as new Wolverhampton comedy festival begins

Made TV – 25th October 2017
Broadcast interview with Redhawke Logistica re Joke Exchange and Sajida Carr for Funny Things

Express & Star – 25th October 2017
Wolverhampton’s Funny Things gets underway

BBC Radio regions – 29th October 2017
Interviews with Dawinder Bansal for Jambo Cinema Commission at Wolverhampton Art Gallery

Express & Star – 30th October 2017
Miserable? Wolverhampton? You must be joking

Made TV – 1st November 2017
Interview with The Orchestra of Chaos

BBC Radio WM – 1st November 2017
Interview with The Orchestra of Chaos – Sunny & Shay show

ITV Central News – 1st November 2017
Dawinder Bansal and Jambo Cinema