JASON BYRNE, the man The Times calls "the outright king of live comedy" will headline the next Róisín Dubh online Comedy KARLnival as the show which has kept us laughing through the lockdown, takes a bold step into the future, becoming an online comedy club and a kind of TV show in one.
Hosted by the great Karl Spain, the KARLnival will take place via Zoom on Friday March 5, and be broadcast live from a Covid-compliant broadcast studio in a secret location. This will see the KARLnival emerging out of the bedrooms and home offices of the performers and into a professional studio, with the comedians performing to a virtual front row audience on huge LED screens.
"It’s not better than the real thing and it’s hopefully not the new normal," say the organisers, "but this is Galway Comedy Festival and the Róisín Dubh, using the very best technology available to bring you a high quality night of laughs."
Bringing the laughs are...
The biggest selling comedian at the Edinburgh Fringe, Jason Byrne’s brand of high-energy, intelligent, lunacy ensures there is no other comedian like him. He has appeared on Live at the Apollo, Dave’s One Night Stand, John Bishop’s Only Joking, Anonymous, and Ireland’s Got Talent.
He is a barely-in-control master of audience mockery and mayhem. He fires on all cylinders from the moment he bounds onto stage. No wonder delighted audiences coming back every year.
Irish Comedian of the Year 2017/18, Lisa Casey is one of the most exciting and fastest rising new comedians on the scene. She has played The Laughter Lounge, performed at The Stand's 'Best of the Irish’ Edinburgh, toured Australia, and supported Tommy Tiernan and Rich Hall. Chortle.co.uk describe her as "thoroughly engaging..amusingly wry punchlines... intriguing".
Tom O'Mahony was described by the late, great Rik Mayall as "psychotically funny" and by Entertainment.ie as "brilliantly badass". He is best known for his roles as Tarquin the toff on Damo & Ivor and as Paddy d'Pervert on Bridget & Eamon. He has toured with Tom Green, Nina Conti, Michael Winslow (Police Academy ), and Tommy Tiernan.
How to tune in
There are two ways audiences can watch the show. The VIP Front Row Ticket (€15/€12.50 ) allows you to be part of the action. With this ticket, audience members can have their mic and camera on, so they are visible to the comedians and occasionally to the livestream audience, and get access to an extra 30 minutes of banter pre-show from 8.30pm in the 'Green Room; with Karl Spain.
Observer tickets are €12/10 allowing holders to watch the show from 9pm via the live stream. All ticket holders will be sent the link to the show at 8pm. Tickets are available from www.roisindubh.net/listings