Comedy shows cancelled after festival hits crisis

Ms Caller said the comedy festival had been "her dream"

A comedy festival has had to cancel more than half of its shows after hitting a financial crisis.

The Somerset Comedy Festival organiser, Trish Caller, said some smaller shows will still go ahead in July.

More than 20 of the 40 planned events in Taunton, Weston-super-Mare and Bridgwater have now been called off. People who bought tickets will get their money back.

Ms Caller said: “The Somerset Comedy Festival has been a dream of mine for so long. But the reality is these are tough times for people and tickets for some of our bigger events just haven’t sold. I have no option but to cancel them.

“I don’t think the timing of the general election has helped. People are just feeling nervous about everything right now. But I have no intention of giving up and I’m already planning for next year.”

Lessons learned

Comedy stars like Sean Walsh, Phil Hammond, Simon Brodkin and Emmanuel Sonubi were due to headline the Somerset Festival throughout July.

All their shows are now cancelled.

Ms Caller is hopeful that the shows which are still going ahead in the same month – including the shows at Tacchi Morris Arts Centre, Taunton Minster, The Castle Hotel and the CICCIC venue in Taunton – will attract good audiences.

“I will be working hard to get sponsors on board for next year, not just financial support but people who can, for instance, help us with marketing and promotion," she said.

“I know we can make a success of this – I know the people of Somerset love comedy.  

"There were many things that conspired against us this year.  Next year will be different.”