Geoff Rowe quits Leicester Comedy Festival

After 30 years as the event’s director, he quits.

Geoff Rowe, who started the Leicester Comedy Festival in 1994, is stepping down.

After the 30th anniversary celebration next year, he will step down as director. And said:

‘Thirty years is a long time to sustain and develop an independent festival – there aren’t many like us in the UK.

‘I hope I get a chance to thank everyone who has played their part before I take my final bow.  I’m very much looking forward to new adventures in the future.’

Rowe organised the annual event with fellow De Montfort University arts management students. It has welcomed thousands of comedians over the years, including 800 this year, and is a prominent event in Leicester’s cultural calendar. National Pun Day, for example, has made national headlines, and a sibling event, the UK Kids’ Comedy Festival, was founded four years ago to coincide with it.

Rowe received a British Empire Medal in 2013 for his contributions to comedy.

He said: ‘I have had the most amazing time over the years, and the incredible privilege of working with some fantastic comedians, and people from the UK live comedy sector.

‘I’m really proud of the community we have developed, of people who love British comedy and work so hard each February to deliver our festivals.The last few years have been enormously difficult since the pandemic hit, and I’ve been blown away with the support we have received.

‘However, after 30 years of Leicester Comedy Festival, and five years of The UK Kids’ Comedy Festival, I think it’s time for me to leave the stage, and hand the microphone over to the team and trustees of Big Difference, [the charity which runs he festivals].’

The festival’s 30th anniversary will take place from February 8 to 26, he added: ‘I do have specific ideas for events to help mark the birthday, but we need a bit more time before we can announce these.’

Martyn Allison, chair of the Big Difference trustees added: ‘Both the city and the wider UK comedy community can be justifiably proud of what Geoff has achieved over the last 30 years and the legacy he has created but we always knew that at some stage Geoff would want to step down and move on and we have been planning for a sustainable and exciting future.

‘We are pleased Geoff will be around to help us celebrate 30 years in style, and we wish him luck in whatever he chooses to do next.’

The Big Difference, the charity’s year-round facility at what was originally known as The Cookie, opened recently.

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