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Ivo Graham, William Dalrymple, Jay Rayner, Aled Jones, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Ned Boulting and John Barrowman are just some of the big names appearing at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds this autumn




Entertainers, comedians, historians, criminologists, doctors, journalists, authors and eaters - this autumn sees a wealth of stand-up comedy, spoken word and ‘an evening with’ shows at The Apex.

Kicking off the comedy on Wednesday, October 2 is Ivo Graham. Having been the youngest winner of So You Think You’re Funny aged 18 in 2009, he’s now established himself as the UK’s most apologetically posh comedian. With a bumbling charm to snare audiences of all ages, Ivo is here to prove he’s not just Taskmaster’s yardstick for failure.

"Expect sequins, social commentary and massive laughs from the renaissance woman of UK comedy" (Rolling Stone) Kiri Pritchard-McLean on Sunday, November 3. Seen on television in Live at the Apollo, Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, Have I Got News For You and QI, Kiri brings a joyous and uplifting show about her life away from comedy as a foster carer.

Ivo Graham
Ivo Graham
Kiri Pritchard-McLean
Kiri Pritchard-McLean

One of the few stand-ups to still wave the political flag of alternative comedy, Mark Thomas (Wednesday, December 11) is essentially an observational comic – however, his observations are usually part of the anti-greed, anti-corporate crusades he undertakes. He is best known for his campaigning Channel 4 series, in which he employed Michael Moore-style televisual stunts to get his message across. As thorough in his research as any investigative journalist, he’s also very, very funny!

If you prefer ‘sit-down’ comedy, you might enjoy An Afternoon with Laurel & Hardy on Sunday, November 10 at 2pm. Neil Brand will tell the touching story of the world’s greatest comedy team, illustrated with stills, clips (both silent and sound) and live piano accompaniment, culminating in two of the boys’ best silent short films, Big Business and Liberty.

The monthly Fat Cat Comedy Club returns in autumn, with (as yet unnamed) comedians from the national circuit on Sunday, September 8 and Sunday, October 13.

William Dalrymple
William Dalrymple

There’s even Comedy For Kids! On Sunday, October 6, children’s comedian and author James Campbell will inspire children to do something about the climate crisis in Don’t Panic! We Can Save The Planet - a new live comedy show for children aged six-11 who want to swap being an Eco Worrier for being an Eco Warrior.

Best-selling historian William Dalrymple shares the rarely told story of India’s role as an ancient cultural and scientific superpower on Tuesday, September 10. Dalrymple is known for his ability to bring the extraordinary history of the Indian subcontinent to life, whether through his award-winning books or his hit podcast, Empire. He’ll tell the story of how, from 250BC to 1200AD, India exported religion, art, science and medicine to create a vast empire of ideas, that stretched from the Red Sea to the Pacific.

Killer Books, on Monday, September 30, sees novelist and presenter Marcel Theroux and one of the country’s leading criminologists, Professor David Wilson, combine their professional backgrounds to discuss books that have motivated murder. Why do some novels inspire people to commit murder? Which fictional characters and plots arouse lethal violence in the real world? How does crime fiction become crime fact?

Jay Rayner
Jay Rayner
Aled Jones
Aled Jones

Professional eater Jay Rayner celebrates 25 years as The Observer’s award-winning restaurant critic with Nights Out At Home - a memoir-in-recipes. Join the ever-tasteful, often hilarious, writer and broadcaster on Thursday, October 3, as he shares those brilliant recipes and his memories of the restaurants that served them.

Leading medical expert, Dr Louise Newson presents Hormones and Menopause – The Great Debate on Monday, November 4. In this educational and entertaining evening, Dr Louise’s knowledge will challenge misconceptions about menopause and allow women to make informed decisions about their health. She’ll be joined by comedian Anne Gildea, whose humour and unique perspective make for an evening of laughter and learning for everyone, men included!

Sports journalist, Ned Boulting has been an integral part of ITV’s Tour de France coverage since 2003. On Monday, November 18, Ned will delve into the discovery of a mysterious roll of film from the 1923 Tour de France. Part detective story, part costume drama, part French farce, Ned weaves his own typically ridiculous story into the astonishing discoveries he makes about the hidden world of the 1923 Tour de France, its characters and tragedies, and ties it all together with the wild upheavals of Europe in-between the wars.

Ned Boulting
Ned Boulting
John Barrowman
John Barrowman

Two big names from the entertainment industry will combine their storytelling with music. Aled Jones, on Monday, September 9, has spent an incredible 40 years in the business. The boy who captivated the world with his angelic voice on Walking in the Air from The Snowman is now a television and radio presenter who is equally at home on the classical stage or starring in West End musical theatre productions. This new one-man show includes never-before-heard music and tales from the decades as Aled tells his life story for the first time.

Renowned actor, singer and all-round entertainer John Barrowman brings his new solo show to The Apex on Wednesday, November 6. Filled with John’s infectious energy, Laid Bare features songs from Broadway classics to contemporary hits, as well as John’s own personal stories.

Comedy and spoken word are two of the most popular genres at The Apex and often sell out. There are very few tickets left for Jeff Stelling (October 9), Simon Reeve (November 26), Jack Dee (November 28) and Lucy Beaumont (December 4), however, it’s often worth ringing the box office and asking to go on the waiting list in case more tickets are released closer to show date.

For more information, or to book tickets, see www.theapex.co.uk or call 01284 758000