STOURPORT will once again be ringing with laughter as the comedy festival returns to the civic hall for its second year.

Comedy @ The Civic Hall Festival kick starts its expanded line up of shows on Wednesday, March 4, with The Gong Show.

The quick fire, short routine show – where the audience decide who stays, who goes and who wins – gives contestants five minutes to impress, but can be voted off after just one.

The following night sees the venue debut of the award winning Showstopper! The Improvised Musical.

Each night a brand new musical comedy is created from scratch as audience suggestions are instantly transformed into an all-singing, all-dancing production.

Organisers said the show provides “unpredictable and hilarious results”, and described it as “a musical like you’ve never seen before”.

The familiar face of Alun Cochrane, known for his television performances and co-host of the Frank Skinner Radio Show, also brings the tour of his brand new show ‘Me Neither’ to the Stourport stage.

Known for his no-frills stand-up comedy and down to earth observations, Alun has been a circuit favourite for many years and will be performing on March 6.

The family comedy event of 2014, Kids Comedy, returns on the Saturday morning, where a line up of comics will perform especially for the younger generation – and the young at heart.

Headlining Saturday night is none other than top television and radio star Russell Kane, whose credits including Live At The Apollo and hosting Live At The Electric.

Many people remember Russell thanks to his impressive Beyonce dance routine as part of Let’s Dance for Comic Relief in 2011.

His energetic style of comedy has won him awards and plaudits the world over, making him one of the most in-demand comics of the last few years.

Closing the festival on the evening of Sunday, March 8, is the return of the Reduced Shakespeare Company with their brand new show, The Complete History of Comedy (abridged).

From the high-brow to the low, the American troupe performs fast-paced, seemingly improvisational condensations of comedy through the ages.

For more information about the shows and tickets, which are on sale now, visit thecivicstourport.co.uk