Something funny going on at Pulteney Weir
There was something weird at the weir today in Bath.
Organisers of the Bath Comedy Festival, which starts today, placed a mock Russian submarine at Pulteney Weir for April Fool’s Day.
-
The submarine in Pulteney Weir. Picture: Ed Green
The stunt caused much mirth to passers-by and festival director Nick Steel said he was pleased with the buzz it had created.
The festival, which runs until April 10, really kicks off tonight with the April Fools’ Stand-up Showcase featuring star of BBC 3’s Ideal Seymour Mace, stand-up Toby Longworth who is originally from Bath plus Scottish stars, Alan Francis and Neil MacFarlane. Tickets are available for £10, doors open at Widcombe Social Club at 7.30pm.
Students who are part of Bath Spa University’s Comedy Academy are also spending the day staging impromptu performances in the city centre.
Other highlights of the festival include award-winning comic Arthur Smith taking his audience around Bath in a vintage London bus for sell-out shows on Sunday as well as appearances by Jo Caulfield, Miles Jupp and Doug Stanhope.
More details are at www.bathcomedy.com.
27 Comments
View all
by Paul Wiltshire, Deputy editor
Monday, April 04 2011, 6:32AM
“Dear Gnome: I quote from a press release from the festival:
"Comrades of Bath hail the start of Bath Comedy Festival with Russian U-Boat¿s arrival in Pulteney Weir, Bath
Commuters and shoppers in Bath thought they were seeing things today when they noticed an unusual site in Pulteney Weir under the famous bridge in the City Centre - a Russian submarine!
Rush hour reports abounded and Twitter was alive with conspiracy theories after the craft appeared.
Festival Director, Nick Steel said: ¿Now it is 12pm I can reveal that it is not actually a Russian invasion, but an April Fool, a Trojan effort by anonymous comrades of the Festival, which coincides with the launch of the Bath Comedy Festival ¿ running from today, Friday 1st April to Sunday 10th April. It has certainly created a buzz in the City.¿
The Festival really kicks off tonight with the April Fools¿ Stand-up Showcase featuring star of BBC Three¿s ¿Ideal¿ Seymour Mace, TV and Film star turned stand-up Toby Longworth who is originally from Bath plus two of Scotland¿s stars, Alan Francis and Neil MacFarlane. Tickets are still available for £10, doors open at 7.30pm.
Other highlights of the Festival include award winning comic Arthur Smith taking his audience around Bath in a Vintage London Bus for his shows on Sunday (Sold out) as well as some Balkan stand-ups who are visiting the UK for the first time. Jo Caulfield, Miles Jupp and Doug Stanhope ¿ some of the best comic talent around at the moment are also appearing at the Festival. For ticket information and booking details, please visit www.bathcomedy.com."”
by The Gnome, Central Bath
Saturday, April 02 2011, 4:50PM
“Plus, that photo is the worst I've seen. You using children again chronic?
Tsk, tsk, tsk!”
by The Gnome, Central Bath
Saturday, April 02 2011, 4:46PM
“Re: "Organisers of the Bath Comedy Festival, which starts today, placed a mock Russian submarine at Pulteney Weir for April Fool¿s Day."
It had NOTHING to do with The Organisers or the festival director Nick Steel.
When will the chronic get its fact right?”
by Dave, Larkhall
Saturday, April 02 2011, 4:36PM
“Love the 'in keeping' yellow sign. Classy! Perhaps it's a yellow submarine?”
by Bill, Timsbury, Bath
Saturday, April 02 2011, 4:09PM
“Aha, original stone features preserved for posterity perhaps .. people still pay good money for "distressed" reproductions you know. .. perhaps these are they?
P.S. When is the water driven electric turbine going to be installed here .. or is this the first part of it?”
by Dave, Larkhall
Saturday, April 02 2011, 9:27AM
“Just look at the distressed state of the Colonnades in the background. World heritage city!”
by Janette, Bath
Saturday, April 02 2011, 7:29AM
“Have they eventually cleaned uo that area for this photo? For a long time now I have seen a load of dead trees etc lying across this part,and it looks disgusting if you go down the steps from Pultney Bridge. All the tousists that go down there taking photos of what could be a beautiful spot.”
by Dave, Larkhall
Friday, April 01 2011, 10:23PM
“Trust you JC. If I've got a black cat, you've gotta have a mountain bloody panther.”
by JC, Bath
Friday, April 01 2011, 10:10PM
“The Bunker Brigade have been conned. They have spent the £20 mill on a Big Russian Thing.”
by Dave, Larkhall
Friday, April 01 2011, 9:15PM
“God that was a hell of a voyage from Bristol. Told the cox'n to steer the BTP course. Stupid s0d thought I meant Below The Pulteney. Still, enjoyed ringing a Bell or three in Walcott Street.”