The final countdown to That's Fife Comedy Festival is on

This year’s ‘That’s Fife Comedy Festival’ runs throughout April and organisers are hoping that everyone will come along and get involved in the comedy spirit.

Now in its third year, the festival is bigger and better than ever with a whole host of names coming to the Kingdom to entertain audiences at venues from Dunfermline to St Andrews.

The queen of Scottish comedy theatre, Dorothy Paul, will help to open the festival in style at Rothes Halls on Friday evening as she joins forces with Scottish acting magnate Dave Anderson to discuss the highs and lows of her life in the footlights.

And this first event will be followed by a wide ranging programme, which runs throughout April.

Household names including the likes of Fred MacAulay, Ed Byrne, Chris Ramsey and Nina Conti are on the bill.

And there’s something different on offer from the likes of anarchic cook George Egg, comedy magician Kevin McMahon and a stage homage to Morecambe and Wise in Eric and Ern.

While there’s something for the whole family during the festival, with magic and laughter from Morgan & West, superheroes with Funbox and the chance for budding young comedians to get involved with a competition.

But ‘That’s Fife Comedy Festival’ is not all about comedy theatre, this year there’s also a cinema club element for the festival, which will see films including ‘The Lavender Hill Mob’, ‘Dad’s Army’, ‘Whisky Galore’ and ‘Hail, Caesar!’ screened at the Adam Smith Theatre.

Exhibitions of portraits by Steve Ullathorne and Pål Hansen, featuring comedians, celebrities and prominent individuals, will also be on display throughout April.

Ullathorne’s work will be at Adam Smith Theatre, while Hansen’s will be at Rothes Halls.

Evan Henderson, ‘That’s Fife Comedy Festival’ producer, said: “April 1 is a great date to kick off a month of mirth-making in Fife and it’s not all about top selling stand up shows either as we have a rich pick ’n’ mix of comedy delights.

“I’m particularly looking forward to the Coen Brother’s film Hail Caeser at the Adam Smith Theatre, Kevin McMahon conjuring up an absorbing brand of magic in Dunfermline’s Carnegie Hall but the highlight for me has got be Eric and Ern recreating the halcyon days of the classic comedy duo Morecambe and Wise at Rothes Halls–definitely one for comedy afficianados of all ages.

“Even with shows selling out there’s still time to pick up some tickets for some great gigs happening across Fife .

“We’re delighted that Go Glenrothes has supported the festival this year and look forward to their continued support in securing the major events of the programme such as That’s Fife Comedy Gala with Fed MacAulay and some of the biggest stars on the comedy circuit including Ed Byrne and Nina Conti in future years.”

Karen Koren, artistic director of the Gilded Balloon, added: “With a fantastic programme of stand up comedy, anarchic cookery, physics based magic, master ventriloquism, comedy theatre, film classics, photo exhibitions and kids’ shows we are really excited to be bringing ‘That’s Fife Comedy Festival’ to the Kingdom, together with Fife Cultural Trust.

“This year’s festival is proving extremely popular with tickets selling fast across all the venues but there are still plenty of tickets to be snapped up with a wide range of shows to suit all ages.”

The full programme of events can be found online at www.onfife.com.