As live events increasingly move online, the entertainment industry is locked in a battle for our attention. Let’s take a look at how this battle between in-person and live-streamed entertainment is also exerting an influence on live events in Sheffield.
Better late than never
Sheffield has a vibrant live comedy scene with a host of household names that act as a big draw. The advantages are obvious, you have the chance to see your favourite comic in the flesh and take part in a shared experience with other fans. Highlights in Sheffield this year include Peter Kay, who is performing in the city on two dates over the coming months as the comic returns to stand-up after an absence of 12 years. His show, entitled Better Late Than Never, will be held at the Utilita Arena Sheffield on the 11th of August.
Live comedy also gives fans the chance to see comedians they may only know from popular TV shows. Sheffield City Hall, for example, will host two former Mock the Week stalwarts in the form of presenter Dara O’Briain and panellist Russell Howard this year. O’Briain will perform in Sheffield as part of his latest tour ‘So…Where Were We?’ on the 16th of March, and Howard will be performing between the 14th and 16th of April.
A live comedy first
But live comedy faces a challenge. Netflix has been a game-changer in the consumption of TV shows and films, but the streaming service’s latest innovation could also have a lasting effect on the comedy scene. The latest Chris Rock stand-up special, Selective Outrage, will be the first comedy show to be streamed live on Netflix. It will be Rock’s second Netflix stand-up special, following Tamborine in 2018. The special will be streamed live in the upcoming months. Here the advantages of live-streamed comedy include convenience, access and reduced cost. Residents of Sheffield can experience the US comic in real-time from the comfort of their own homes.
If Rock’s event is successful, and there is every chance it will be, comedy live-streams could be the next big thing in entertainment. It could result in a seismic change in the same way live dealer casinos have brought popular table games such as blackjack, roulette and baccarat into the homes of players, alongside games they may be unfamiliar with like Sic Bo.
Sheffield has a range of brick-and-mortar casinos including Grosvenor Casino and Genting Casino, but online live dealer casinos, as reviewed by Managing Director of BonusFinder, Fintan Costello, not only have an edge over traditional casinos in terms of the convenience they offer, players can also benefit from promotions in the form of deposit bonuses and free spin offers. Thanks to live streaming, players no longer need to get dressed to the nines and take a trip to a casino! Could the same thing happen with comedy shows?
Comedy favourites
Live comedy remains a big draw, exemplified by the tour of poet, comedian and actor Tim Key practically sold out, including his two March dates at The Leadmill. So if you want to see Key, who admittedly received mixed reviews including this one from Sean O’Grady of the Independent for his performance in The Witchfinder, perform his unique poetry, you will have to beg, steal or borrow a ticket!
Comedians such as Frankie Boyle, who will appear at the Sheffield City Hall on the 8th of March, is known for his popular, and controversial, live shows on the comedy circuit and his Edinburgh Festival show received an excellent review by comedy critic Brian Logan of the Guardian.
Chris Rock’s live special has the potential to change the face of live comedy, but until that happens, the best way to enjoy comedy is still in the flesh in Sheffield this year!
