Komedia
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 Komedia Bath on its opening night |
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| Location |
England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | Coordinates: 51°22′53.13″N 2°21′43.80″W / 51.381425°N 2.362167°W |
| Type | Performing arts center |
| Genre(s) | Comedy, music, cabaret, theatre |
| Opened | 1994 |
| Capacity | 650 |
| Website | Venue website |
Komedia is an arts and entertainment company which operates venues in the United Kingdom at Brighton and Bath,[1] in addition to sometimes operating temporary venues in Edinburgh during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It presents a diverse programme of comedy, music, cabaret, theatre and shows for children, featuring local, national and international performers. Komedia’s resident shows include the Kronenbourg Krater Comedy Club, The Kroon Kat Lounge and Bent Double.
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[edit] History
Komedia was formed in 1994 by Colin Granger, Marina Kobler and David Lavender, beginning as a theatre and cabaret bar in a converted Grade II-listed former billiard hall in Brighton's Kemptown area. The distinctive logo was designed by Nick Williams of the Matt Black design partnership, who still remembers Colin and David agonising for literally hours over whether to have a comma or a semicolon between the bus numbers on the information section of their first programme.
At that time, Komedia promoted many young performers including Graham Norton, Mel & Sue, Johnny Vegas, The Right Size, Al Murray, Jenny Eclair, Peepolykus, Alistair McGowan, Omid Djalili, Rhona Cameron and The League of Gentlemen. Within a few years, the tiny venue had proved so popular that the company was able to expand, and in 1998, Komedia moved into a former Tesco supermarket on Gardner Street in the North Laine area of Brighton.
In addition, Komedia has strong roots in physical theatre, and was a co-founder of the Aurora Nova programme at St Stephens, which runs during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Since its relocation, the Brighton Komedia has grown to include three very different spaces, each with its own bar: Komedia Upstairs, Komedia Downstairs and the intimate Studio Bar, as well as a street-front café and Box Office on Gardner Street, in the heart of Brighton’s bustling North Laine.
In June 2008 Komedia was awarded the lease of the Beau Nash Picture House in Bath, a Grade II-listed art deco cinema previously operated by Odeon. Following extensive refurbishment, the cinema was transformed into an auditorium and live arts venue designed by architects Stubbs Rich,[2] who have since been awarded The National Constructing Excellence Award for the Heritage Project of the Year for the scheme.[3] The venue opened to the public on 13 November.
Komedia has a presence in the Brighton Festival Fringe every year, and in 2007 won Best Venue at the Latest Festival Awards in the Brighton Festival and Fringe. It has also on occasion operated up to three distinct venues (simultaneously) at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe; loosely split into a comedy venue, a drama venue, and one for theatre companies from around the world that Komedia had helped come to the festival.
[edit] Programme
As well as its resident shows, like the Krater Comedy Club every weekend — hosted and run by Stephen Grant - Komedia has a local, national and international programme, which includes work for children. It spans a huge range of entertainment: from theatre and music through to the far corners of cabaret, comedy and live literature.
[edit] Komedia Entertainment
Komedia has a management and production division representing emerging and established acts who work in character, physical and musical sketch comedy as well as music artistes. Komedia Entertainment has produced many five-star and Perrier Comedy Award recognized Edinburgh Festival Fringe shows together with national and international tours. The company also produces comedy and music CD & DVD releases, several BBC Radio 4 series for Count Arthur Strong and is currently piloting several projects for television.
[edit] References
- ^ "About Komedia". Komedia/Komedia Group. http://www.komedia.co.uk/about-komedia/. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
- ^ "Komedia Launch". Constructing Excellence. http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/Singer-launches-new-Komedia-venue/story-11337696-detail/story.html. Retrieved 2011-06-29.
- ^ "Winners at National Constructing Excellence Awards". www.ThisisBath.co.uk. http://www.constructingexcellence.org.uk/news/article.jsp?id=11550. Retrieved 2011-06-29.
- Brightonlife.com
- "Theatre is going back to its roots" The Argus newspaper, October 2006
- Stars bid farewell The Argus newspaper, October 2006
