Comedy gig in aid of the Mental Health Foundation, Wednesday 26 March

News Release: 13 February 2008

Some of the world’s funniest stand-up comedians will be treading the boards at the Bloomsbury Theatre next month to raise money for charity.  Montana resident Rich Hall will join Australian Brendan Burns and London’s Simon Amstell for the One Big Laugh gig, to be hosted by Glaswegian Hardeep Sing Kohli. Other special guests will also be on the bill.

All proceeds from the evening will go to the Mental Health Foundation. The gig takes place during the charity’s annual Mental Health Action Week. The last One Big Laugh sold out in days. To get your hands on this year’s tickets contact the Bloomsbury Theatre box office on 020 7388 8822 or book online at www.thebloomsbury.com – tickets priced £20 (£15 concessions).

Laughter … did you know?

• Laughing has been shown to help reduce the effects that negative emotions can have on the body, such as heart disease and high blood pressure (1)

• Humour is a powerful stress-reliever, helping to balance emotions such as anger and anxiety (1)

• Laughter helps us make and maintain social relationships – it’s thought some apes use laugh-like behaviour and that laughter may be the root of language (2)

• One researcher found that only 10-20 per cent of laughs are related to jokes, and that those telling an anecdote laugh 50 per cent more than those listening (3)

For more information about the Mental Health Foundation charity visit www.mentalhealth.org.uk

Ends

Contact the Mental Health Foundation’s press office team on 020 7803 1128 / 1126.

1. Helpguide website
2. Medscape website
3. The Science of Laughter from Psychology Today