It’s time to go and have a real laugh

That’s the message from the founder of a comedy club that’s been running in South Yorkshire for nearly three decades.

Toby Foster — comedian, actor, Radio Sheffield presenter, and Wentworth Festival producer  — runs the Last Laugh comedy club at Sheffield City Hall every Friday and Saturday night, as well as the weekly club at The Lescar in Sheffield and quarterly gigs in Penistone and Barnsley.

Back up and running post-pandemic, he said they were taking a lot of bookings for “great nights out in brilliant venues that everyone enjoys” but added: “There’s something missing — parties.

“It used to be that we would do at least three tables a night of parties of 20-plus people.

“Birthday parties, leaving dos, office parties and they have, to a great extent, fallen by the wayside.

“Working from home is the new norm and there are many things about it that are beneficial, both for commute-weary workers and cash-strapped companies who don’t need big offices anymore.

“But a side effect is that the workforce don’t get to see each other anymore, and that cannot be good for anyone.”

Toby, who also runs Wentworth Music Festival with long-time collaborator Steve White, added: “Surely now is the time to counter that by adding to your workforce’s experience by organising a night out.”

The line-up for tomorrow and this Saturday at the Memorial Hall within Sheffield City Hall includes Emmanuel Sonubi, who appeared on BBC’s Live at the Apollo earlier this year and has been described by fellow comic and TV presenter Joel Dommett as “so incredibly funny”.

Also starring are Barry Dodds, who hosts The ParaPod podcast, and double-Emmy award-winner and comedian Fiona Allen — probably most famous for starring in the TV sketch comedy show Smack The Pony, while US-born stand-up and screen-writer Dave Fulton has done shows in 25 different countries from Australia to Kazakhstan.

To book tickets, visit www.lastlaughcomedy.co.uk or call the box office 0114 4000 178.