Acclaimed comedian Sara Pascoe and star and creator of the BBC’s Man Like Mobeen, Guz Khan have been revealed as the two starring acts of The Glee Club’s 25th anniversary celebrations next month.

The two comics, who regularly make appearances on shows across the BBC and Channel 4, will perform a special set to mark a quarter century of comedy at the Arcadian venue.

Supporting acts on the night include Shooting Stars’ Angelos Epithemiou, Canadian Mike Wilmot and regular compere Andy Robinson from Oldbury, who has been performing at the club for more than 20 years.

The Glee Club, opened its doors in 1994 during the height of the alternative comedy scene, becoming the UK’s first dedicated comedy club outside of London.

Since then it has hosted acts including Jack Whitehall, Jack Dee, Jimmy Carr, Katherine Ryan and Sarah Millican.

The success of the Birmingham club lead to the creation of four further Glee Club venues in Nottingham, Cardiff, Oxford and most-recently Glasgow which opened its doors in February this year.

Coventry comedian Guz Khan performing at The Glee Club Glee Club
Coventry comedian Guz Khan performing at The Glee Club

The Birmingham venue has also played an invaluable role in supporting midlands comics such as Joe Lycett, Guz Khan, Jo Enright who hosts the regular Rough Works night for emerging Midlands comics and internet sensation Gary Powndland who recently played a series of sell out shows.

Guz said: “Just two years ago, Joe Lycett and the gang at The Glee Club in Birmingham invited me in to perform at a comedy club for the first time. I have now learned that I was lucky enough to start at the very best comedy club in the land. All other comedy clubs can suck their mums as far as I’m concerned. Glee club Brum Town for life mate.”

Speaking about the anniversary, Glee Club founder Mark Tughan said: “We’ve had an incredible 25 years here in Birmingham and are pleased to say that we remain one of the most top-rated venues for both comics and audiences, having amassed over 14 awards. We’re committed to creating an unmatched environment for comedy and intimate gigs, attracting the best comic talent into Birmingham.

Sara Pascoe will be in Birmingham to celebrate The Glee Club's 25th Anniversary The Glee Club
Sara Pascoe will be in Birmingham to celebrate The Glee Club’s 25th Anniversary

“It’s great to see comics that we’ve hosted like Romesh Ranganathan, Russell Howard, Peter Kay, Sara and Guz going on to have hugely successful careers and it’s a real pleasure to be welcoming back Sara and Guz for our 25th anniversary celebrations.

“Our quarter of a century shows are sure to be nights to remember and I can’t wait to see how the next 25 years of Glee unfold.”


Glee Club: A Brief History

Mark Tughan, founder of The Glee Club The Glee Club
Mark Tughan, founder of The Glee Club

1994 | 26-year-old Mark Tughan opens The Glee Club in Birmingham as the first dedicated comedy club outside London

Prior to this he had been an investment banker in the city and would regularly visit venues like the Comedy Store and travel to the Edinburgh Fringe. The initial plan was to give himself five years to see if he could make it as an entrepreneur

2001 | The Glee Club open its second venue in Cardiff

2002 | A £1 million investment sees Birmingham add a second 150-seater theatre room and increase the capacity of the main room to 400

2002 | Music promoter Markus Sargeant joins the Glee and goes onto secure intimate gigs with the likes of Adele, Mumford & Sons and Richard Hawley

2010 | The Glee Club Nottingham and Glee Club Oxford open

2019 | The Glee Club opens its fifth venue in Glasgow and now employs over 100 people, 50 of whom are in Birmingham

25th Anniversary Glee Club Birmingham The Glee Club

The Glee Club’s 25th anniversary shows take place on Friday 6 September and Saturday 7 September. For tickets, ring 0871 472 0400 or go to www.glee.co.uk/birmingham.

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