Northern powerhouse comedians John Thomson and Justin Moorhouse have today announced an Easter Comedy Eggstravaganza for Ukraine at Manchester O2 Apollo on Easter Monday, 18th April 2022. This very special show aims to raise much needed funds for international charity the Legacy of War Foundation which provide support to civilians affected by conflict.
Justin and John quickly put the show together by asking their comedian pals to get involved and within an hour, flights had been changed and plans had dropped to be part of this incredible line-up.
Justin said, “I’m so chuffed that we’ve booked the likes of Jason Manford, Dave Spikey and Johnny Vegas. We’ve also got the brilliant Kiri Pritchard-McLean, who is making a big name for herself on Have I Got News For You and Live at the Apollo. We have also secured the legends that are Mick Miller, Ted Robbins and Les Dennis – that’s a boy band I’d like to see formed.”
John said, “the Northwest comedy scene is incredible. We’ve managed to pick from the very best we’ve got, from Britain’s Got Talent finalists Daliso Chaponda and Steve Royle to Liverpool’s Adam Rowe, whose Have A Word podcast is smashing all sorts of records. Finishing off the bill are Blackburn’s Tez Ilyas from BBC’s Man Like Mobeen, the hilarious Nina Gilligan and Tom Binns, the man behind Ivan Brackenbury – these are just some wonderful comedians who are giving us their time.”
John and Justin added: “Everyone has been shocked, saddened and powerless by what’s been happening in Ukraine over the past few weeks. We knew we had to help out one of our own, Ukrainian president and former comedian Volodymyr Zelenskyy and all those affected by conflict by putting on a very special show to raise money for the Legacy of War Foundation. It’s going to be an amazing night. Do your bit and buy some tickets! See you there.”
Alan Erasmus, the founder of Factory Records, was also instrumental in the curation of the event. Following a trip to Lviv, Ukraine to lead support to Ukrainian people, Alan returned to Manchester to collaborate with the Legacy of War Foundation to raise money for projects being set up to support refugees.
Alan says, “Seeing the queues of refugees looks normal at first glance. There are lines of Western European families, not the typical images of refugees familiar from the TV, in smart winter clothing as if they were queuing at the airport for a skiing holiday. When you get closer, you realise that it is no holiday that they are on – they have all the belongings they can carry, kids with pull along cases, cats and dogs on leads and bags and they are actually fleeing from the Russians. This is a huge displacement of people – they all need our help.”
Tickets will go on sale Friday 25th March at 10am via www.gigsandtours.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk with all profits in aid of Legacy of War Foundation.
Easter Comedy Eggstravaganza for Ukraine
Monday 18 April 2022
Manchester O2 Apollo
Featuring:
Tom Binns
Daliso Chaponda
Les Dennis
Nina Gilligan
Tez Ilyas
Jason Manford
Mick Miller
Justin Moorhouse
Kiri Pritchard-McLean
Ted Robbins
Adam Rowe
Steve Royle
Dave Spikey
John Thomson
Johnny Vegas
