Throw off those sorrowful thoughts and prepare to laugh! The long-awaited Evening Mail Birmingham Comedy Festival is back - and with a local comedy legend heading the show.
 From Friday October 1 to Sunday October 10 the West Midlands' only dedicated comedy festival is back with more than 30 events designed to get the mirth rolling - with one or two extra shows before and after the festival to further tickle the funnybones. This year the festival is headlined by none other than local boy made good, Lenny Henry.
 The award-winning Dudley comedian and actor, whose career spans 25 years, stars at the Alexandra Theatre from September 30 to October 2. Lenny, who has been voted one of the top comedians in a national poll, will be presenting his latest show, So Much Things To Say - a selection of sharp comedy routines and hysterical brand new characters. Continuing the local theme, the festival presents the return of sketch show troupes, The Sideshow Society (Sept 28, mac) and Bread & Circuses (Oct 9, mac), whose ranks include stand-up comedian turned local radio breakfast show presenter James Cook. James will also be leading the 2nd Annual Charity Crawl (Oct 2) along the "golden mile" of charity shops in Kings Heath High Street. Other top local names returning to the festival include Barbara Nice, aka Janice Connolly, whose rapidly rising star has seen her appearing in Phoenix Nights and Crossroads. She'll be appearing at Hilarious! (Oct 4, James Brindley) and the mac (Oct 5) where she'll be presenting her hit Edinburgh show Barbara The Vampire Slayer. Also look out for appearances from Karen Bayley, John Smitt, Andy White and Ryan Gough, as well as the new act competition (Comedy Uncovered, Oct 8, Glee), our annual 'open mic' night designed to highlight some of the up-and-coming new talent from the region. Birmingham-born writer Nirjay Mahnidru creates a thrilling, witty and colourful flight of fantasy to India with Mandragora, King Of India (Oct 7-9, The Door, The Rep), while the Hoipolloi theatre company looks to the work of writer Edward Lear for inspiration in the absurd yet delightful comic journey, My Uncle Arly (Oct 8, mac). Sody Singh Kahlon takes time out from The Funjabis for a comic character-filled extravaganza, Sikhs In The City (Oct8-9, The Patrick Centre), a show which has already played to sell-out houses across the UK. * The Evening Mail Birmingham Comedy Festival 2004 runs from Friday 1 to Sunday 10 October, with previews beginning on September 28, and Festival Footnotes keeping the laughs rolling until October 13. | 
Comedy Festival 
