THE INBETWEENERS' Geg Davies Set for CYT's 2015 Hilarity Charity Line Up

Central Youth Theatre (CYT) unveils the latest big name to join its fundraising line up for the 2015 Hilarity Charity Gala on Monday 8 June at the Grand Theatre. Greg Davies star of The Inbetweeners, Cuckoo & Man Down has just been revealed as this year's headline comedian.

The event takes place at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre on Monday 8 June and is organised by former youth theatre member Tom Parry, one third of comedy sketch group Pappy's (BBC3 Badults), and is the follow on to last year's event which saw Josh Widdicombe and Jon Richardson help to pull in an audience of over 900 people to help raise funds for Central Youth Theatre in the wake of losing its council grant support.

Tom says: "We are really grateful to Greg Davies for joining our line up. He hasn't appeared on stage for 18 months, so we are sure there are plenty of comedy fans out there who will be overjoyed to get the opportunity to see him perform live".

He goes on to say: "Also new to this year's bill is one of the comedy circuit's biggest breakthrough acts of the last year - Canadian comedian Katherine Ryan who has starred on Live at the Apollo and Mock the Week".

"It's also exciting that another former member of the Youth Theatre, Celeste Dring, is joining the line up as one half of the comedy sketch group Lazy Susan. They were nominated for best newcomer award at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival and are rising stars on the comedy circuit having just got back from performing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. This will be the first time that Celeste will be bringing her act to Wolverhampton to perform in front of a home audience".

The Gala welcomes back last year's host - the legendary Perrier Winner Daniel Kitson alongside returning stars - Welsh Comedian Elis James (Star of Crims, 8 Out Of Ten Cats) and Pappys (Badults). Unbelievably there are also even more names still to be announced.

Youth Theatre Director Jane Ward MBE says: "This year's fundraising campaign has a new focus, as the Gala night will be the launch of a major Capital Fundraising campaign to help the youth theatre achieve a new permanent home. In the last twelve months an opportunity has arisen for us to relocate to premises directly opposite the Grand Theatre in the building that is the former Coop departmental store."

We have a very exciting vision for a purpose built home for the youth theatre - a space that will be a fantastic creative space for young people to grow their talents in every aspect of theatre work. We are enormously grateful to Tom and all the other comedians who are giving their time to help launch our campaign.

Tom Parry says: "During the ten years I spent with CYT I had many amazing opportunities to travel abroad and to perform in so many different types of productions. Although I currently live and work mainly in London, my heart still lies with the youth theatre and I really believe that it can go on changing young people's lives for many more years to come".

Tickets are £21/£16 concessions from the Grand Theatre box office on 01902 429212. Or book online at www.grandtheatre.co.uk.

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