By Dan Thompson
Comedian Mark Steel has written a new stand up show, all about Margate.
Every year for Mark Steel’s In Town on BBC Radio 4, the comedian, columnist and author visits six different towns across the UK. He delves into the history, people and idiosyncrasies to try to work out what ingredients combine to make the places distinctive. He then creates a bespoke stand-up show about the town, which he performs in front of a local audience.
He visited Margate in November and December 2023, and was shown around the town by The Isle of Thanet News writer Dan Thompson, who regularly leads history walks. They visited local shops, cafes, studios, and galleries, including Margate Bookshop, GB Pizza, Dalby Cafe, Turner Contemporary, and the Shell Grotto. They also visited a flat in Arlington House, had a private view of the Crab Museum, and took a walk down the Harbour Arm.
Mark Steel’s In Town is a celebration of the sort of places in Britain that have their own fascinating stories to tell and local people who are passionate about what their town has to offer. “Essentially,” Mark says, “it’s a best man speech, but about a place.”
The show is now in it’s 13th series. Previously, Mark has recorded shows in well over 50 interesting and unusual places from Penzance in Cornwall to Kirkwall in Orkney.
His Margate show will be recorded at the Lido on 25th April. Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7.30pm recording.
To book tickets, visit https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/mark-steel-margate-25april24
