Brighton Dome to host new annual comedy festival

The Corn Exchange is one of three sites for the Brighton Dome Comedy Festival

A new comedy festival will be coming to Sussex in the autumn.

The annual Brighton Dome Comedy Festival will take place on 24-27 October.

Big names including Maisie Adam and Nish Kumar will perform during the inaugural event.

Show producer Rosie Crane said: "It is very exciting to finally get this going - it has been rattling round in my brain for a while now."

The diverse line-up will feature traditional stand-up performances as well as improv, storytelling and art installations.

Other shows aimed at children will be held to make comedy appeal to a younger audience.

The Comedy Festival will take place across the venue's three historic spaces - the Concert Hall, the Studio Theatre and the recently refurbished Corn Exchange.

Ms Crane told BBC Radio Sussex: "The flagship show will be on the Saturday night, in the Corn Exchange. We will use every bit of the new building following the refurbishment.

"We are going to launch a new show for people over the age of 11 to appeal to the younger generation, who might not be able to go to other shows due to age restrictions on them."

She said the event will give the chance for new talent to showcase their worth while "more big names will be added to the line up closer to the time".

Maisie Adam said Brighton has a "great reputation on the comedy circuit"

Maisie Adam, who lives in Brighton, said: "I'm looking forward to the event - I can even take a leisurely stroll back from there to my house, which is my favourite type of event!

"I'm performing on the first night, which is fantastic and I am really, really excited to take part. The stars aligned with this event as it is during my tour I'm doing."

She moved to Brighton in 2018 after visiting her brother, who was at university in the city and said "she was really jealous of him and wanted a slice of the pie".

"Brighton has a great reputation on the comedy circuit as a place to gig, as a city they a great laugh and a good audience," she said.