FOLLOWING a sell-out show staged at Sands by the Sea restaurant, Southend, in December, After Dark Live – the organisers of the Comedy at the Sands stand-up spectaculars at the seafront restaurant – are finally able to announce a follow-up performance. . . on Saturday, May 22, 2021.
And it’s promised that the evening will be “absolutely magic” – Essex-based magician/comedian Graeme Mathews, who shot to fame after making it to the semi-finals of television’s Britain’s Got Talent, will headline the performance.
As the country strides towards May 7 and the third stage of the Government’s Roadmap to Recovery, restaurant owners are preparing for the reopening of their businesses.
“We are pleased that all of the Government’s targets appear to being met in England’s battle back to normality,” says Gary Mac of After Dark.
“The roll out of the vaccine and the country’s incredible efforts appear to be reversing the spread of disease.
“And what better way of celebrating than a night of quality comedy in the safety-conscious surroundings of Sands-by-the-Sea restaurant.
“The venue, the artistes and customers have been brilliant,” he says. “Everyone’s been extremely flexible, working together to make the show happen.”
The evening will be compered by Radio Essex weekend breakfast show host Ross ‘Little Smash’ McGrane. Star of the show Graeme Mathews was described by BGT judge David Walliams as “so naturally funny and, also, you’re so loveable as well”. The promoters advise customers not to allow Graeme anywhere near their shoes (see his semi-final TV appearance).
The night also features a favourite of the London comedy circuit, Don Biswas – armed with “exhaustive statistics, a wild imagination and a uniquely hilarious take on current events and systemic conspiracies”. He has featured on BBC Asian Network and described by BroadwayBaby.com as “clever, funny and insane”.
Completing the line-up is comedian, writer and broadcaster Will Hitt.
Compere Ross McGrane was the official tour support for Russell Kane’s Fast and the Curious Tour and is famed for hugely successful comedy nights in south east Essex. Over the years he has paid host to the likes of Omid Djalili, James Acaster, Ricky Grover, Nathan Caton, Luisa Omeilan, and Darren Harriott.
Full show details can be found at afterdarklive.co.uk. Tickets for the evening of comedy at Sands by the Sea restaurant on Western Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea, are available from ticketsource.co.uk costing £12 plus booking fee. Phone bookings can be made by calling Ticketsource 0333 666 3366 (Ticketsource phone bookings incur an additional £1.75 booking fee, calls charged at local rate).
Full show details can be found at afterdarklive.co.uk.
Should the event need to be postponed for any reason, ticket purchasers are able to apply for a full refund or to transfer their booking to the revised date. It would appear that the previous requirements to purchase a substantial meal in order to order alcohol will no longer be in place. However, Sands’ light bites and main meals starting at £4.25 – which proved highly popular in December – will be available on the evening.
