Summer Brings Changes At Komedia
By Chris 4th Jul 2008

Expansion is top of the list for Komedia this summer as the award-winning live entertainment company in Brighton announces a new venue in Bath, a new CEO and a new ticket system.

At the end of June, Komedia signed and exchanged lease papers with Bath and North East Somerset Council, granting the Brighton-based company permission to begin building works and refurbishment in the former Beau Nash cinema on Bath’s Westgate Street. Komedia Directors, along with architects Stubbs Rich and builders Sturland, expect to open the brand new venue in November 2008. Komedia Bath will present an eclectic programme of shows, from the very best comedians on the circuit to live musical acts and cabaret shows, all year round.

Komedia Bath was set to open in late 2007, but delays in planning consents and continued negotiations with the council meant the project was delayed until now. Colin Granger, co-founder of Komedia, is delighted: “We’re over the moon Komedia Bath is now but a few months away from completion. We've got a superb design from our Bath architects, Stubbs Rich, to convert the former ABC cinema into a live arts venue and have already started work with Sturland Builders on transforming this wonderful building into a fully working space once again.”

Following the news that they are to open an additional venue in Bath, Komedia have also announced they have appointed a new CEO to oversee the operation of their venues. Ranjit Singh took over as CEO at the beginning of July. The role was initially held by Colin Granger, and has most recently been in the stewardship of Komedia Chairman Richard Smith.

Ranjit’s previous roles include working for The Body Shop, with responsibility for opening outlets throughout the United States and a spell at the innovative Yo! Sushi restaurant. Ranjit previously worked with Komedia director, Richard Daws at Brighton based production company Victoria Real. During their tenure Victoria Real became one of the fastest growing private companies, ranking 4th in the Sunday Times Fasttrack. Post Victoria Real, Ranjit returned to the States to work for Virgin Drinks, heading up a joint venture with The Firm, Hollywood's largest music and film talent management company.

In order to streamline the two venue’s websites and ticket booking processes, Komedia launched a brand new ticketing system in partnership with Dublin-based TicketSolve earlier this week. Over recent months, events, venues and festivals have been the subject of increasingly negative ticket talk, with major ticketing systems crashing due to high demand or technical faults. The perceived dominance of a select few ticketing agencies fuelled discontent over a number of matters, affecting both consumer and venue alike. TicketSolve aim to eradicate this discontent by providing a system that allows venues to ticket their own events through an online complete ticketing solution. Tim Hawkins, Komedia General Manager states, “It’s exactly what we, as a growing group of live entertainment venues, need from a ticketing system. It has the potential to revolutionise the market.”

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