GLUSBURN Institute and Arts Centre will stage a night of comedy next Saturday, April 2.

And headlining at the event will be Gareth Richards, whose stand-up, silly jokes and low-key comedy songs made him an instant favourite on the comedy circuit.

In 2010, he was nominated as best newcomer in Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards and, since then, has appeared on Russell Howard’s Good News, Live at the Electric (BBC3) and live on Radio 1. He also co-hosted Frank Skinner’s Sony award-winning Absolute Radio show for two years.

Also taking to the stage will be Mark Smith, who is rapidly established himself as one of the most interesting and exciting new comics on the circuit. Since reaching the final of So You Think You’re Funny in 2009, Mark has gigged all over the UK, supported Russell Kane on his national tour and become a regular MC.

He has also broken into television, appearing on Russell Howard's Good News, presenting for MTV2 and most recently writing and performing on Nick Helm’s Heavy Entertainment.

Completing the line-up will be Tommy Rowson, who started performing stand up late in 2010. Six months later he was a finalist in the 2011 Laughing Horse New Act competition and won So You Think You're Funny later that year. In 2012 he performed as part of the AAA late night show at the Edinburgh Fringe and was a finalist in BBC Radio 2's New Comedy Award.

Tommy wrote, directed and acted in the award-winning short film Arrowman Sam, for which he was Cinemagic's Young Filmmaker of the Year and was shortlisted for Broadcast Young Talent's Young Writer of the Year award.

The evening starts at 8pm and tickets costing £10 are available from 01535 630223.