The Great Yorkshire Fringe Launch Gala at the Leicester Square Theatre

The team behind Leicester Square Theatre are celebrating the return of The Great Yorkshire Fringe, with a one-off London gala jam-packed with this year's top festival headliners. Offering a sneak peek for (soft) Southerners and £1 off tickets for thrifty Yorkshire folk, the evening offers a stellar line up of comics with headliner Paul Foot and performances from Mitch Benn, Tony Slattery, Robert Ross, Paul Sinha, Alice Fraser, Rahul Kohli, Ben Pope, John Pendal, Craig Campbell, Harry & Chris and Charlotte Brooke. Festival favourites the Thinking Drinkers will also be taking to the stage to toast God's own county with Northern tipples from York's first gin distillery, York Gin.

Taking over York city centre for the fourth year running from 19th - 29th July, The Great Yorkshire Fringe promises exciting theatre, comedy and music to entertain the whole family, plus world food and craft beer galore. Spread over eleven days, the 2018 festival will take place in the heart of York, transforming Parliament Street into a village green with the spectacular White Rose Rotunda and Turn Pot Spiegeltents, as well as hosting events at the stunning Grand Opera House and pop up venues throughout the city. For four-legged friends, the hugely popular York Fringe Dog Show will be returning with prizes up for grabs for the Waggiest Tail, Prettiest Female, Most Handsome Male and Best in Show.

Festival founder and York resident Martin Witts says "We are delighted to be hosting The Great Yorkshire Fringe Launch Gala at the Leicester Square Theatre. The Gala provides an opportunity for us to present a highlight of some of the fabulous acts we have booked for York 2018 so there is no excuse, book your train tickets and we look forward to welcoming you. A big thank you to all the team at The Great Yorkshire Fringe, Leicester Square Theatre and the Museum of Comedy for the biggest and best entertainment in York and London. Long will it continue!"

Full line up details for The Great Yorkshire Fringe can be found at www.greatyorkshirefringe.com