John Bishop's Unity fundraiser

The first and only time MADEUP ever saw John Bishop live, he was playing to a handful of tables in a Merseyside arts centre maybe ten years ago; so the idea of him going back to give the Unity a go isn't quite as strange as you'd think. Well, least of all because he is a patron of the venue, and one thing patrons are happy to be held to in that capacity is the special 'audience with' fundraisers, which the arena-filling comic will be doing on October 10. Tickets go on sale this Thursday (August 1)  at midday, and are bound to sell out quickly. At £65, that's charging a lot more than you could usually expect from a Unity show, but with good reason. All proceeds will go to the theatre to support its work in the community, with young people and with new artists; and you know you could end up paying more than that to watch Bishop from the back row of the kind of aircraft hangar-style arena he packs out for weeks at a time these days. The October event includes readings from Bishop's new book How Did All This Happen plus a signed copy for each audience member, an open Q&A session, anecdotes,  and wine and nibbles. Sounds perfect to us. Graeme Phillips, Unity Theatre's artistic director said: "We're thrilled that John is giving us an evening as a Unity Theatre patron to help raise money to support Unity's community, youth and new artist work. We've been fans of John's since he brought his first show to us with Liverpool Comedy Festival and his continued success has been a source of pride for us and for Liverpool. It really should be an unmissable event." Get ready to keep hitting that refresh button; tickets will be available (to a maximum of four per person) by calling 0844 873 2888, dropping in to the theatre in person, or online at unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk.