WINTER WONDERLAND 2019

A review by Chloe Spacey

I love Winter Wonderland. I try to act like the ‘cool girl’ who is so indifferent to it and only goes because it’s *air quotes* tradition but once I’m inside, there’s something I love about the bright lights, the food stalls and the all-round Christmas-carnival feel to it.

For the second year in a row, the Winter Wonderland team have organised a Comedy Club adding to their already extensive list of additional events aside from the markets/food/games/bars. Running every weekend between now and Christmas (Thur-Sat) a new comedian will take to the stage in the Megadome each week.

Already a well-established Winter Wonderland venue, Zippos Megadome tent adds the comedy club to it’s 9pm slot, meaning it follows the 11am Mr Men and Little Miss Show, the 1pm, 2:30pm and 4pm Zippos Christmas Circus and the 6pm, 7pm and 8pm Cirque Beserk Free Fall shows proving that there really is something for everyone.

Whilst comedy and big top might not be the first association you would make, it’s a nice-enough venue. Although hosting such an intimate show in a vastly larger setting did present some sound issues it was adequate enough. With so many shows leading up to it do be prepared to potentially wait outside longer than the suggested start time (though hopefully this will speed up as the weeks go on).

If you do have to wait you can be assured that food and drink can be brought into the heated venue from outside, and there are concession stands in the foyer serving snacks, hot and cold drinks and even alcoholic beverages. The foyer itself is also considerably warmer so not a bad place to escape the cold whilst queuing for entry.

With such a short run the show itself certainly felt like a “work in progress” show but with a couple of warm up acts you can be sure to be thoroughly laughing away by time the main acts start. All listings are available on the Winter Wonderland website including warm up acts and compere for the evening. Make sure you get your overall Winter Wonderland fix out of the way beforehand though as you will be ushered out of the Megadome and straight to the exit as soon as the show ends.

I would always recommend anyone visiting Winter Wonderland to pre-book any activities as it ensures a queue jump, a blessing on a Saturday evening I can guarantee. The Comedy Club is in my opinion a perfect end to an evening spent browsing markets, indulging in food and even trying your hand at a few of the stalls for that elusive cuddly toy. Coconut shy anyone?