Bible Comedy stops off at Hull on Limited National Tour
Stand-up comic, broadcaster and comedy scriptwriter Paul Kerensa is coming to East Yorkshire for one of just a handful of dates on a new tour, which aims to explain the big story of the Bible and ends with a sing-a-long to the tune of a Kool and the Gang hit!
The Greatest Story Ever Toured will be performed at Hull Minster for one night, on Friday 22nd June, 7.30pm, in a joint venture between the Bible Society, the Believe in Hull church partnership and the Minster. The city was chosen as one of the venues following the success of the Feeding the 5,000 event by Believe in Hull last year.
Along with theologian Dr Andrew Ollerton, Paul Kerensa, who was a scriptwriter on the Miranda sketch show, will be touring 10 venues across England. The tour aims to highlight The Bible Course – an eight-session course that gives an overview of the Bible - and show how key events, books and characters fit together using teaching, humour and the soundtrack of Eminem, Kool and the Gang and La La Land.
Paul says: “It's an evening of a comedian, a theologian and a musician telling the tale from Genesis to Revelation, via Eminem, crisp flavours and some interactive voting. It'll be fun and eye-opening to all from archbishop to atheist.
“The Bible is left in hotel rooms and we can often treat it like part of the furniture. So, anything that gives us a sense of what’s in it and encourages people to read it themselves is fantastic.
“Eddie Izzard, Woody Allen and countless other comedians have drawn on the Bible as fertile ground. It’s our story. Let’s talk about it.”
The Bible Course author, Andrew Ollerton, says that people struggle with the Bible because ‘it’s big and old’. It’s the book that has had the most impact on the world that we live in. Our world has been shaped by the power of this text. Even if you don’t believe, that’s a good enough reason to do the course. It’s a starting point for understanding the world.’
He adds: “You know those space launchers where the booster rockets fit on the side of the rocket and give it an injection of energy and then they drop away? I think the Bible course is a bit like that.”
The Bishop of Hull, the Right Reverend Alison White, who chairs Believe in Hull, says: “It is a fantastic coup to have this play in Hull. The Bible Society was very impressed with the way the community responded to Feeding the 5,000 last June and wanted to return to the city. I hope the Minster will be packed out!”
Tickets for the show, which also feature music from Susie Lopez and the Sound of Wales musical collective, are available at £6 per person, from https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/products/ticket-tbc-hull/
The cast:
Paul Kerensa (above, left) is an award-winning comedian, writer for BBC’s Miranda, Not Going Out and Top Gear, bestselling author, broadcaster on Radio 2’s Pause For Thought and a regular at Spring Harvest, Greenbelt and New Wine festivals. Paul is available for preview interviews.
Dr Andrew Ollerton: The Bible Course author, a theologian, teacher and minister who unpacks the Scriptures - making them accessible for everyone.
Cath Woolridge: is a singer and worship leader, heading up Sound of Wales, a collective of musicians, storytellers, creatives, artists and writers who are passionate about creatively communicating the gospel.
Susie Lopez: is a Surrey-based singer, songwriter, worship leader and vocal coach. Her first EP is called ‘While We Wait’. She is currently recording her first album.
