UK Enterprise Awards 2021

166 | UK Enterprise Awards 2021 Apr21647 Best Global Comedy Festival 2021 An alpine experience like no other, Altitude Comedy Festival aims to buck the trend of the current après ski format and introduce something a little bit different to a winter break. We speak to one half of the event’s founding couple. Created in 2007 by comedians Andrew Maxwell and Marcus Brigstocke, Altitude Comedy Festival is the world’s number one alpine comedy festival, offering a truly unique comedy event, which fuses the adrenaline rush of a ski holiday with the madcap thrills of a top-notch comedy festival. “The format of a usual skiing holiday is to ski all day, get drunk and then go to bed!” laughs Andrew. “We are trying to offer some art and culture instead of just alcohol!” Altitude takes place in the chocolate box surroundings of Mayrhofen, Austria, one of Europe’s most beautiful (and fun!) ski resorts and it welcomes comedy fans and people interested in winter sports to join in the shenanigans and continue to create an amazing event year after year. “As the world’s only full-week Alpine Comedy Festival, we lead the field in what we can offer,” Andrew continues. “We have always had a plan to develop the festival into a full week comedy festival and comedy conference, and to bring in numerous multi-lingual events and standalone artistic events for winter sports fans from all walks of life.” The dynamic duo had to cancel two festivals in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lost considerable amounts of cashflow, but with the demand at its highest for people to get back on the slopes this winter, it is hoped that the 2022 Altitude event will be the biggest festival to date. “With 10 months still to prepare and get ready for the festival we should be well on the way to cover what we have lost due to Covid-19,” Andrew says. “We would love to find some partners or sponsors to help us achieve our dream of becoming a multi-cultural event where numerous performers from across the planet can come and perform and have fun!” The pair are also hopeful to develop a much- needed conference where promoters, agents, and managers in comedy can come once a year to unwind and plan and share their experiences in order to help push the sector forward. “We have encountered numerous setbacks with partners getting this festival to that position, but we continually press on to make the event the most entertaining and hope to grow over the next few years. “It’s taken a long time to get to where we have got to and we hope to continue trying to shift the norm into something that’s fun for all and won’t break the bank.” Contact: Mhairi Vincent Company: Altitude Comedy Festival Web Address: www.altitudefestival.com