Hilarious Highlights: Show me the Funny Comedy Triumph

An uproar of continuous laughter was heard coming from the Courtyard Theatre in N1 last Saturday night.

Comedians performed to a Sell out audience all in aid of the Fiorentini Foundation, the charitable arm of the award-winning Anna Fiorentini Theatre & Film School.

Nicole Harris, the first woman to win Jewish comedian of the year, was the MC and introduced all the amazing acts that followed including the headline act Athena Kugblenu, winner of the BBC Felix Dexter Bursary for “BAME” up-and coming comedy writer 2020, (she is also currently writing for the Lenny Henry Show and Horrible Histories and is a lead writer for multicultural Radio 4 sketch-show Sketchtopia).

The other comedians were Currer Ball, the 2018 Piccadilly New Act of the Year Finalist, Adam Riley, recognized as a rising star in the comedy scene having earned the esteemed title of “Chortle Comedian to Watch” in 2017 and Jon Long, whose cheery and affable stage presence and host of acerbic comedy songs have seen him become a favourite on the London live circuit, performing and hosting at the capital’s most established clubs including The Comedy Store.

Fiorentini Foundation ambassador, Andy Lopata, one of Europe’s leading business networking strategists, introduced the charity videos just before the interval and this encouraged the frenzy for raffle tickets. Thanks to the ticket sales and the raffle, first prize being an overnight stay at the famous Champneys health resort, the Fiorentini Foundation managed to raise £2200.

The audience was on such a high after the show that there was plenty of dancing in the bar just before last orders were called. An amazing way to end the night.

However, according to Anna Fiorentini, the founder of the charity, “the most important thing for the night to accomplish was to get more overall support for the charity which does not necessarily have to be financial. Audience members were handed Pledge Cards with the hope of encouraging more word of mouth over the next few months. Some of the returned pledge cards promised to take part in the Hackney Half Marathon, amongst other sponsored events, some enquired about becoming a trustee for the foundation and others promised to ask their companies if they could potentially match fund future donations”

A big thank you to the event sponsors, 19 Sound – Music Composition & Sound Design (www.19sound.com) for their invaluable contribution and support. For information on their Audio Post services, contact Oscar Kugblenu on oscar@19sound.com

And to the Courtyard Theatre itself which donated the venue and theatre staff.

The Fiorentini Foundation transforms the lives of disadvantaged children empowering them in developing their confidence, self-esteem and transferable life skills. Many of the beneficiaries have learning / physical disabilities including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, cerebral palsy and fibromyalgia to name but a few. Some have chaotic home lives, have been badly bullied, are currently going through bereavements, are suicidal or have chronic health conditions. More information about the foundation can be found at www.fiorentinifoundation.org