Downpatrick To Be Reduced To Tears Of Laughter

The Reduced Shakespeare Company® promises to reduce audiences at Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick, to tears of laughter when they present their brilliant new comedy, The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) on Friday 17 April at 8pm.

Yes, that’s right; the bad boys of abridgement will finally tackle the subject they were born to reduce. From the high-brow to the low, The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) covers comedy through the ages, from Aristophanes and Shakespeare to Vaudeville and Charlie Chaplin.

The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) is far more affordable than tickets to an amusement park, but you’ll still come away with the same feeling of nausea and motion sickness. From cavemen telling “Rock Rock” jokes to Chris Rock and everything in-between, the Company leave no joke untold as they deconstruct the entire history of comedy in 90 rollicking minutes.

The Reduced Shakespeare Company is a three-man comedy troupe that takes long, serious subjects and reduces them to short, sharp comedies. Since 1981, ‘The Bad Boys of Abridgement’ have created nine stage shows, two television specials, several failed TV pilots and numerous radio pieces – all of which have been performed, seen, heard and translated into Klingon the world over.

The company’s first three shows, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), The Complete History of America (abridged) and The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) enjoyed a nine-year run at the Criterion Theatre in Piccadilly Circus. Not only were they London’s longest-running comedies, but at one point the Reduced Shakespeare Company had more shows running in the West End than Andrew Lloyd Webber. Some of them were funnier too. Don’t miss this fantastic comedy show in one of only two Northern Irish dates in the current tour. Recommended for age 12+.

To purchase tickets (£14 / £12) and for further information on any Down Arts Centre events, please contact the box office on 028 4461 0747 or visit the website: