Those craving a taste of comedy and looking to help feed the Cowichan Valley with continued community support will want to laugh all the way down to the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre on Oct. 10 for 7:30 p.m., as Alex Mackenzie's annual Hungry for Laughs Comedy Tour returns to Duncan for its sixth year.
"It is very exciting to be able to come back year after year and see the continued support from the community," said HFL founder and comedian Alex Mackenzie. "It's really special when you see some of the same faces coming back from our very first shows."
Hungry for Laughs has been taking centre stage for comedy and community since 2019, when Mackenzie and his mother had the idea to blend a sense of humour and a sense of helping together. Comedy connoisseurs can say hi to his mom who will be selling t-shirts at the show.
"We thought it would be really cool if we were able to not only bring comedy to these towns across Canada but also find a way to give back to the community and have a direct impact," said Mackenzie.
This is what makes the national Hungry for Laughs Comedy Tours one of Canada’s most heartfelt entertainment experiences as it proves laughter can make both a meaningful difference, and lasting impact. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the non-profit organization Cowichan Women Against Violence which the tour has been giving back to since its initial show in Duncan. Last year's event donated $1,000 to CWAV.
"Our first year we asked the community to vote on a few non profits to be the beneficiary and they were the winners," said Mackenze. "We have absolutely loved working with them year after year."
Produced by Canadian-owned ECL Productions the tour always features top-tier comedians. This year's lineup of yuksters include: Alex Mackenzie (Amazon Prime, Melbourne Comedy Festival), Chris Griffin (Just for Laughs, voted Vancouver's Funniest Comedian), Brittany Lyseng (CBC Debaters, Just for Laughs, Roast Battle Canada), and Sunee Dhaliwal, who in addition to opening for comedic sensation Bill Burr, has also appeared on Comedy Network, and Just for Laughs.
Tickets are $59.95 and are available by visiting the Cowichan Ticket Centre in person which is located in the lobby of the Cowichan Community Centre on James Street in Duncan. They can also be purchased over the phone by calling 250-746-2722, or online by visiting cowichanpac.ca or hungryforlaughs.com.
"We hope to bring people together through the power of laughter," said Mackenzie. "We want to show how people of all different world views, and beliefs can be in a room together sharing love and joy over laughs. We hope that this creates a connection with your neighbours long after the curtain closes."
