Mark Thomas

Mark Thomas is coming to Chorley Theatre on Thursday 19 November, with the show starting at 8:00 pm. It's a stand-up set from the award-winning political comedian, who's built his career on mixing comedy with a sharp, often confrontational look at the way things are run. If you've caught him before, you'll know he's never been one to just tell jokes; there's usually a bit of research and a fair amount of anger behind the punchlines.

The whole night is built around one number: forty. Thomas is celebrating forty years in stand-up, and the show is a reflection on those four decades of comedy and politics. It's a long stretch to look back on, and the set pulls from that whole span rather than just sticking to the latest material. He's spent those years working at the intersection of the two things that run through the show — the craft of stand-up and the politics he's spent his career picking apart — so the evening is as much about the time he's spent on stage as it is about the subjects he's been tackling.

There's a bit of a running joke to the whole thing, too. The show is billed on the premise that he's been 'standing up' for forty years, a claim the theatre's own listing notes drew an audience reaction of 'What?! Impossible!!'. It's a nod to the sheer length of time he's been at it, and the kind of self-aware, slightly wry tone that often runs through his work.

The night is presented by Phil McIntyre Live Ltd by arrangement with Tin Cat Entertainment. Tickets are £20, with a £14 concession available, and it kicks off at 8:00 pm on Thursday 19 November at Chorley Theatre.