Pre-Show - JAMMIE SAMMY

Sammy is back on stage this month to entertain you lucky folks before the main show begins. We thoroughly enjoyed her performance back in November 2009 and if you didn’t catch her then, I highly recommend you get down early this month for more brilliant (if perhaps slightly strange) comedy songs! At the age of 15, her first ever published work nearly got her exiled from her village in Scotland when a limerick about her home town was read out on national TV. From that point on, others in the village felt the need to cross the street when they saw her walking their way! Shunned by her peers she thought, 'what the hell' and continued to write, becoming increasingly more offensive as the years piled on. Give it ten minutes and you’ll love her as much as we do!

Headline Act - MITCH BENN

Regular guest on "The One Show" (BBC1), "The Now Show" (BBC Radio 4) and "It's Been a Bad Week" (BBC Radio 2) our headline act MITCH BENN is not only one of the most sought-after acts on the comedy circuit but is widely acknowledged as one of the best writer/performers of comic songs in the country. He began his comedy career in Edinburgh in 1994 and moved to London in 1996, quickly establishing himself as a comedy club headliner. Mitch has toured extensively around the world, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Montreal, Holland and South Africa. In 1995 Mitch won the Best New Comic award at the Glastonbury Festival and has played there every year since, including an extended hour-long set in 1999 which drew a standing ovation from an audience of 1,500. In 2003 Mitch formed the band Mitch Benn & The Distractions and completed a successful national UK tour in autumn 2004, to coincide with the release of their album "Too Late To Cancel". Although he may be more used to playing the bigger comedy clubs in the country, it is a real pleasure to have Mitch coming along to Chesham this month, don’t miss out!

Opening Act - SAM AVERY

SAM AVERY wanted to be a rock star. It nearly happened. Despite being signed up by BMG Records at the age of 17 (he had to resign from his beloved paper round), and subsequent tours with Motorhead and Ice T, the story soon took a familiar turn. Contracts were annulled, money was stolen and before he knew it he was back at the paper shop asking for his fluorescent bag back. He had crap hair anyway. Subsequent jobs (including a brief stint as a stockbroker) failed to excite him the way the smell of sweat and snakebite had and it wasn't long before he turned to stand-up. Friendly and enthusiastic, his observational style instantly puts audiences at ease allowing him to regale them with his tales of everyday life. Sam has gained a reputation for being able to spark the dullest of rooms into life with his warm, infectious humour and quick wit, he is a highly talented performer. “One of the brightest up and coming comics in the North West' - BBC Radio Merseyside

Middle Act - LUKE BENSON

LUKE BENSON is a promising new stand-up whose confidence and delivery has improved vastly over his short career. He has some interesting material about being a ‘genuine giant’ and displays flickers of genius in the inventive writing of his quirky and original material.

“He looks the part, he’s got the talent, and it’s easy to imagine him on the telly..” Sunday Times

Compère - SCOTT DENYER

Returning to the Chess Suite for the third time in our four year history, it’s a pleasure to welcome SCOTT DENYER back once again. There's nothing surreal about Scott's act. He tells gags. And stories. With gags. Subjects range from how to get off-stage when you shouldn't be there, incorporating Shakespeare into your love-life, and the difficulties of coping with an American girlfriend and her family. Shortly after embarking on his comedy career, Scott won the Bracknell Comedy Festival New Act Competition, was runner-up in the Aardvark Act Of The Year Show, a finalist in the Paramount Gift Of The Gag, and has also won the Comedy Café New Act Night. Scott gigs all around the country, and has also performed warm-up for Mr. World. As an actor, Scott has appeared in handful of feature films and also has a solid grounding in television, including, for some reason several appearances on "Crimewatch"! Ricky Gervais said, "He's bloody good, isn't he?"