Page 37 - Real Rochdale Issue 17 Spring 2023

10 years of comedy

with ACE LIPS

It’s often said that laughter is the best medicine, that laughter is good for the soul.
It’s a message that Rick Attwood, of ACE LIPS events, can get behind, having made
thousands of people laugh with his regular comedy shows around the borough.

Photos: J Holt Photography
ACE LIPS – Attwood Comedy Events, actually met my wife at a 2015 comedy
Laughter In Public Spaces – has been night at Littleborough Conservative Club. national good causes and
running regular comedy nights across charities like Home-Start
Rochdale, Littleborough and Oldham for 10 “I want people to know that there is Rochdale and Bury, The Maximus Upcoming shows at the Old Court Room
years, and now has a permanent comedy something to do, something different in Foundation, Springhill Hospice –
club space at The Old Court Room above Rochdale town centre, especially as money to name a few. 31 March Aaron Wood, Hannah Silvester,
the Flying Horse Hotel. might be tight now. We all need an occasion Charlie Lewis, Justina Seselskaite,
to laugh and lift our moods.” One event after the 2015 Boxing Nina Gilligan
“It’s always good to laugh and enjoy that bit Day floods – aptly named Floods
of social interaction,” Rick says. “It’s a good Each ACE LIPS event is different, with a of Laughter – helped raise £1,600 28 April Liam Pickford, Percy Savage, Mike
way for friends to get together or for unique opportunity to see some of the best for people affected by severe Carter, Alex Camp, Karen Bayley
employees to enjoy a work’s night out. I up-and-comers in the country, with many water damage, whilst the first
going on to perform at the likes of the event after Covid-related 26 May Rob Coleman, Griff Sbi-iiwii,
Edinburgh Fringe Festival or Live At the lockdowns saw 18 comedians Joanne Sarginson, Kay Nicholson,
Apollo. entertain hundreds of people. Patrick Monahan

Past acts include Nina Gilligan, who has In recent months, Rick has also 30 June Graeme Rayner, Russell Arathoon,
won numerous awards and accolades, and is started off-setting the carbon Jonny Brook, Ignacio Lopez
known for her sharp wit and hilarious footprint associated with
anecdotes; Scott Bennett, Live at the bringing comedians into the
Apollo; Archie Kelly from Phoenix Nights, borough, donating a tree for every
plus Britain’s Got Talent finalist Steve Royle, show hosted. A plot of land in
who helped raise money for three Balderstone has been earmarked
defibrillators in Rochdale town centre; for a number of these trees, which
social media sensation Tiny Tim, and Anna Rick finds fitting as it’s very close
Thomas, winner of the BBC’s New Comedy to the former home of one of his
Awards 2021 – and many, many more.
favourite comedians.

ACE LIPS has also hosted work in progress He said: “It’s round the corner
shows for Clayton Jones and Hayley from the old Dog and Partridge
Ellis at the Leicester and Edinburgh comedy pub; I found out my favourite
festivals, as well as for a number of leading comedian, Lee Mack, used to live
comedians often seen on stage around the there for a while about 30 years
world.
ago, and now there’s going to be
trees there, all because of
And the events ‘do good’ for the community comedy.”
too, having raised money for local and

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