Latin American Heritage month to be celebrated this weekend in Liverpool with spectacular live show

LIVERPOOL is all set to play host a spectacular showcase of international artists to celebrate Latin American Heritage Month this weekend.

Latinx is set to be an unforgettable evening of vibrant culture, powerful performances, and artistic brilliance from Liverpool-based Luma Creations.

The night at Unity Theatre in the City Centre will be filled with live music, captivating dance, moving poetry, and storytelling. Organisers have said that the showcase will be:- 'more than just a performance' and will offer the chance for audiences to connect with the local Latin American community and engage with renowned artists, academics, and cultural activists.

The evening will feature performances by:- Magaly Flores, Director of Colibri Mexican Dance; George Peguero, Cuban singer-songwriter; Grupo LUMA, presenting original, soul-stirring songs; Victor Rios, Director and Founder of Film Locos; Valentino, young Colombian/Costa Rican singer/songwriter and Valeria Cazas, Bolivian dancer, choreographer, and presenter, along with the talented LUMA Creations Dance Ensemble and many more incredible artists.

The show takes place on:- Saturday, 12 October 2014, a day recognised as the Day of Indigenous Resistance and Cultural Diversity across Latin America.

Francisco Carrasco from Luma Creations, said:- "Latinx will honor the rich heritage, resilience, and diversity that define this vibrant community. Don't miss this inspiring celebration—where art and culture unite to tell the stories of Latin America."

Booking is available through the Unity Theatre website.

Live At The Apollo star Ria Lina brings international flavour to Southport Comedy Festival

THE 2024 Southport Comedy Festival has a really international flavour this year, with top comedy names from all around the world.

In addition to top British comedians including Ben Elton, Jason Manford, Jo Caulfield, Mark Thomas and others, audiences can enjoy Jason Byrne and Jimeoin from Ireland, Rich Hall from USA, German comedy ambassador Henning Wehn, and Irish-Iranian comic Patrick Monahan.

But this year will be the first festival hosting a Filipina-German comedian who lived in Holland and studied at an American school.

Ria Lina, a star of BBC's Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You, The Now Show and Mock The Week, said:- "I am looking forward to performing at Southport Comedy Festival for the 1st time! I can't wait. I am not just the 1st Filipina German Dutch American comedian to perform in Southport, I think I might also be the only one in the world."

To add further spice to the evening, Ria is starring in a superb double bill with festival favourite and Chase presenter Paul Sinha, a British professional quizzer, comedian, doctor and broadcaster who was born to Bengali parents.

It's a superb curtain closer for the 17 night Southport Comedy Festival, as Big Comedy UK Presents: Best of the Fest featuring Paul Sinha & Ria Lina on:- Sunday, 13 October 2024.

Tickets are available via the Southport Comedy Festival: What's On - Southport Comedy Festival

Ria said:- "This will be my1st time performing at Southport Comedy Festival, and I'm looking forward to meeting everyone there as I make my debut. I'm reality excited to be there. It's in my contract that I have Southport potted shrimps when I do the gig. I won't go on stage without them. It's great to be on stage at such a unique, independent comedy festival, run by a great local couple who have so much passion for live comedy. I was so shocked and saddened to read about what happened in Southport over the summer. Southport looks like it needs alternative reasons to be in the news and it's good to see so many people coming into the town to see a huge event like this. There's a fantastic line-up of comedians."

There are some superb female comedians on the bill too, with Ria Lina joined by colleagues including Jo Caulfield and Katie Tracey.

There are more needed on the circuit. Ria has been a champion for female comedians, and the reception hasn't always been welcoming.

Ria said:- "I didn't always used to get a great welcome when I appeared on stage. I would walk out and they would say - ‘Oh… A woman… This is going to be s***... Audiences are much more used to female comedians now. It's time we were more involved. We have had male comedians dominating comedy for the past 70 years. Women buy 70% of comedy tickets in the country. There are generally more women in the audience than men at gigs. Comedy is fantastic for breaking down barriers. The best way to learn about what people are really like is to listen to their comedy. Not only am I a woman, I am mixed race. My mother comes from The Philippines and my father is German, so I want to take over the world! But just to give it a really good clean… If I tell jokes about Asians then we are all laughing together."

This gig might be the most intellectual line up of all time.

Ria earned a BSc in pathology from the University of St Andrews, an MSc in forensic science from London South Bank University and a PhD in virology from University College London. She won Episode 4 of the 21st series of Celebrity Mastermind, broadcast in January 2023. She was one of Alexander Armstrong's co-hosts on Pointless in 2023.

Paul Sinha meanwhile is 1 of the most successful quizzers in the UK, is a presenter on:- 'The Chase,' and worked as a doctor before becoming a comedian.

Ria tackles issues head on and she doesn't hold back with her comedy. She said:- "Don't come to my show if you are faint of heart! Paul and I are two similar people. He is a presenter on the Chase while I co-host Pointless and won Celebrity Mastermind. But in terms of our comedy, we are definitely not prim and proper. We don't pull any punches. If you're the sort of person who's tucked up in bed at 8 o'clock each night then this gig is maybe not for you. I love chatting with people. There will be some crowd interaction, although I won't pick on people. I will talk about a lot of things; about race, about feminism, about parenthood, about life. I'm really looking forward to performing in Southport."

Ria Lina is a touring Filipina comedian, actress and writer known for her appearances on BBC's:- 'Live at the Apollo,' 'Have I Got News For You,' 'The Now Show' and 'Mock The Week.'

She has recently been named as 1 of The Evening Standard's 'Hottest Comedians You Should Be Watching Now.'

Throughout her stand up career Ria has taken 5 shows to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Her career stretches from stage and screen, to radio and the occasional ukulele.

Paul Sinha - He is best known as:- 'The Sinnerman' on ITV's The Chase. Paul is a Rose d'Or Award winner for radio comedy, and Chortle Award winner and Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee for his stand up. Paul is a familiar voice on radio appearing on:- 'Just a Minute,' 'The News Quiz' and 'Fighting Talk.' On television, Paul has appeared on:- 'QI, Would I Lie to You?' 'Taskmaster' and 'Celebrity Gogglebox.'

Southport Comedy Festival in association with Halliwell Jones MINI runs until:- 13 October 2024 as stars of the comedy world descend on the lovely seaside Town of Southport for 17 fun filled days of laughter.

The entire festival will be staged for a 4th year in a giant luxury heated and fully seated marquee courtesy of Elite Marquees in Victoria Park, home of the world-renowned Southport Flower Show.

The star studded lineup includes:- undisputed godfather of modern stand Up Ben Elton, TV superstar Jason Manford, German Comedy Ambassador Henning Wehn, American Comedy Legend Rich Hall, Festival favourites Jason Byrne, Jimeoin, Godfather of Political Comedy Mark Thomas, Star of ITV'S The Chase Paul Sinha ‘The Sinnerman,' comedy stars of TV Jo Caulfield ,Hal Cruttenden, Ria Lina, Patrick Monahan, Comedy Circuit favourites The Raymond and Mr Timpkins Review, Rising local star Katie Tracey, host of smash hit podcast ‘Have a Word', Dan Nightingale and one of the UKs most treasured entertainers Mick Miller.

Five shows have already sold out and others are selling fast so make sure to grab your tickets for the shows you want to see while they are still available!

Visit:- SouthportComedyFestival.Com for full line up, information and direct links to book tickets.