An in-demand Liverpool comedy night heading to the iconic Plaza Cinema in June will be headlined by a BBC Live at the Apollo star.
Laugh Hard Comedy Club, hosted by Liverpool comedian Andy Roach at Rocksalt in Crosby, faced instant demand for tickets after launching at the start of the year.
After a waiting list formed after several sold-out shows, Martin Fol, manager of the Plaza, agreed to take Laugh Hard to the historic cinema with Scott Bennett to headline on June 4 after appearing on Live at the Apollo in November.
Anna Thomas, a BBC New Comedy winner, and Mike Newall, a Britain's Got Talent favourite, will also perform alongside Roach and other supporting acts.
Roach told the ECHO: "It feels like there is an opportunity here to really grow and do a good thing, an exciting thing, in the community, bringing comedians from television and the local circuit to a local audience.
"Comedy, at its best, is live and in person, to have the shared experience with the audience and the comedians. I always think a live audience is the pinnacle, and I'm confident it's going to be a great experience for everyone who comes along."
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Fol has taken the decision to welcome comedy back to the Plaza for the first time in over 50 years after the challenges of surviving the coronavirus pandemic.
The Plaza is staffed almost entirely by community volunteers and the manager is excited by the prospect of the acts arriving at his cinema.
He added: "You have to have alternative content. You cannot just survive on film, especially after the effects of the pandemic.
"Andy came to see me, and I'd seen the article about the sold-out show in the local paper, and I thought, why not have a night here at this amazing venue?
"Events like this will bring people in, make money for The Plaza, and give Andy and his comedy night recognition, especially in Crosby, Bootle, Seaforth and Litherland.
"I just really want the night to be a success for Andy. I can't wait to see how funny it'll be and then hopefully we can do another one later in the year."
The Plaza opened on September 5th 1939 and was the only cinema in the world forced to close on the same day after the outbreak of WWII.
The cinema is showing a British first in May as it screens Grease Sing-a-Long-A - a sing-a-long version of the 60s classic - with the director and members of the original cast arriving in Waterloo for an exclusive Q&A after the film.
You can buy tickets for Laugh Hard Comedy Club directly from The Plaza or online HERE.
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