Graham Clark will perform 24 hours of continuous comedy for charity

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      Recently, The Stephen Lewis Foundation—a charity which raises money through dares—challenged Toronto Comedian Pat Thornton to do 24 Hours of Standup

      Now local comedian Graham Clark has decided to simultaneously give it a try, on November 29th. 

      With average comedy headliner set clocking in at 45 minutes to an hour, it’s a tough gig, but if anyone in Vancouver can pull it off, it’s Clark.

      A 3-time Canadian Comedy Award winner and winner of the national Yuk Yuks Great Canadian Laugh Off, Clark has appeared on CBC's The Debaters, Just for Laughs, Winnipeg Comedy Festival, and HBO's Funny As Hell.

      Graham Clark uses his beard as a brush.

      In addition, he’s also a multi-talented performer, having written for The Debaters and Corner Gas Animated, been as a correspondent for This Hour Has 22 Minutes, co-hosted the highly popular Stop Podcasting Yourself, created the Fringe hit Graham Clark Reads The Phonebook, and produced his own show Laugh Gallery every Monday night (not to mention a very talented Beard Painter).

      Clark has also served as a panelist on CityTV’s The List,  along with fellow comedians Erica Sirgurdsen, Paul Bae, and Charlie Demers back in 2009. It was there where he took on transit topics in a segment titled Third Rail:

      When the Straight asked Clark (through Facebook messenger) if Thornton had dared him to do this he said that it was actually Alistair Cook, of Havana Theatre, who came up with the idea.

      Asked how he will come up with an entire day’s worth of material, Clark made it clear that he has a plan.

      “Luckily,” he said, “I have Vancouver’s funniest comedians coming down to write material in shifts for the 24 hours.”

      He wouldn’t name names, so we’ll just have to wait to see who shows up to help. And while it would be difficult for audience members to sit through a full 24 hours of comedy, Clark notes that the show will be livestreamed so people can also watch—and donate—from home. However, comedy is best when seen live, so it’s recommended that people join the live audience to give Graham support and encouragement, as well as enjoy some top-notch jokes.

      Graham Clark Reads the Phonebook on Talent Time 2015

      What’s more, the event will also help a lot of people in need through partnership with The Stephen Lewis Foundation, which works with community-level organizations to turn the tide of HIV & AIDS in Africa by providing care and support to women, orphaned children, grandmothers and people living with HIV & AIDS. Since 2003, they have funded over 1,800 initiatives, partnering with more than 325 community-based organizations in the 15 African countries hardest hit by the global AIDS pandemic.

      And what if nature calls?

      "Bathroom breaks will be brief,” says Clark. “snacks will be nibbled on stage. Reading the ingredients will take on a life of its own."

      24 Hours of Standup begins on November 29 at 8 p.m. to November 30 at 8p.m. at Havana Theatre (1212 Commercial Drive). You can donate at the show with a minimum donation of $10, over $20 entitles you to a tax receipt. You can also donate online, or you can text JOKES24 to 20222 to donate $5. View the event on Facebook here.

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