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'Sarah Millican did our very first comedy night'

Lee BottomleyBBC Radio Stoke
News imageBBC A man with a shaved head, and short beard, wearing a dark blue jumper over a shirt. He is smiling at the cameraBBC
Jon Mitchell (pictured) and his friend Mike Ramm have been putting on comedy gigs as a hobby for 20 years

A man who has been organising comedy gigs with his friend for twenty years said he thinks their success is down to building a warm and friendly audience.

Jon Mitchell and Mike Ramm run Civic Comedy alongside their day jobs, and stage monthly shows at Nantwich Civic Hall in Cheshire.

It all began in 2006 in Crewe, when a friend who had organised comedy nights at a venue in the town was leaving the area and they thought "we could probably do this," said Mitchell.

"On our very first night we had Sarah Millican, she was doing an open spot, where they are trying to build up a set, she was at the very start of her career then."

News imageStuart Steele/Civic Comedy A clean shaven man with dark hair, wearing a white shirt is looking to the right. He is against a red backgroundStuart Steele/Civic Comedy
Jason Manford is one of many well-known comics who were booked by the friends

Other famous faces who performed at their early gigs at the Limelight Club in Crewe included Jason Manford and John Bishop.

The comedy nights started to grow, and in 2010 they made the move to Nantwich, where they have been ever since.

Mitchell said it was a joy to see a comedian for the first time, and realise they were going to be successful.

"You can watch them for five minutes, and you go 'they've just got it'", he said, adding: "The sad thing is you are watching, thinking I'm never going to be able to book this person again!"

And as they tend to book acts a year ahead, he said finding acts still happy to play for them in twelve months' time, while also being well-known enough to sell tickets was a challenge.

News imageStuart Steele/Civic Comedy A man with dark hair in an open necked shirt under a striped suit jacket is in front of a microphone. He is laughingStuart Steele/Civic Comedy
John Bishop was another of the friends' early bookings in Crewe

But the duo never expect their audience to love all four comedians on a bill, which they like to keep varied.

"If you come away and have seen two acts that you really, really like, we feel like we've done a pretty decent job... If we get the holy grail of four, then amazing."

He said a lot of people tell them that they punch above their weight in terms of the names they attract to a relatively small gig in Nantwich.

"A lot of it comes down to the fact that the audience is so warm and friendly, and comedians enjoy playing the show."

News imageStuart Steele/Civic Comedy A man in a short sleeved shirt holds a microphone upright in one hand. He is looking forwards, while a second man, sat lower than him, is looking at a piece of paper and smilingStuart Steele/Civic Comedy
Greg Davies was another booking in the early days, and the promoters say they remain passionate about bringing comedy to their corner of Cheshire

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