22/07/2026
thank you speech from Ben Moorhouse
Bringing the Tringe back after our year off has been an absolute joy, but a festival like this takes a whole load of wonderful support. Here are my thank yous.
First, to my phenomenal design team: Elliott Quince for our beautiful, long-running festival designs, and Mike Saunders for his artwork wizardry.
To Alison Cyster-White, who works tirelessly year-round on all our book and comedy events and the bookshop's school’s programme.
To my brilliant Bookshop team here in Tring — Lindsey, Keely, Shelley, and Alice—your friendly faces are the backbone of everything we do.
And to my wife, Sandra, who has the shortest straw possible in having to put up with me 24/7. Imagine!
To our tech heroes, Russell and Ollie—the backbone of the Tringe —alongside Chris Cooper on lights. You have collectively kept us looking and sounding professional, and you’ve brilliantly filling the large shoes of Dave Stevens, who ran our tech for so many years.
A huge thank you to our sponsors, Big Yellow Self Storage and Pendley Manor Hotel. Your support is so appreciated.
Thank you also to Liz, Lindsay, Mandy and the theatre team and volunteers for making this year run so smoothly,
The first night of the festival is always the Roving Comedy Night. A random idea I had 16 years ago has become one of the most unique comedy events in the country. It wouldn’t be possible without so many kind friends and supporters, the amazing trainees, comedians and of course Logan Murray.
I also want to extend a massive thank you to all the incredible acts and agents who have supported us this year, and every year since we started.
Finally, to you—our audience. Your support during our hiatus was overwhelming. It’s been said many times the Tringe crowd is the most intelligent, comedy-savvy, patient audience around. You have no idea how important you are in the festivals success.
Now, I’d like to finish with this. It’s no secret that I had some very public difficulties and disagreements with the theatre ownership. It was a tough time, and it put the future of comedy in this space in real doubt.
But out of those difficulties has come the most incredible resolution.
We should be absolutely thrilled that an agreement has been signed giving a brand-new organisation, Tring Community Theatre, the exclusive right to purchase this venue. Please note – that is a working title and not the new name of the venue.
Led by Liz Raba, Lindsey Booth, and Robert Breakwell, the goal is to buy this theatre, protect it for public benefit, and make it a thriving hub for youth theatre, community groups, music, and, of course, comedy!
To secure the building and renovate it, the overall target is £1 million. Initially, the team will target major grant givers and the National Lottery. But in time, there will be a major appeal to our community.
While I’m not involved in the committee, I very much want to be front and centre in helping us raise the money and hit that target.
When that public appeal comes, I urge you to support it as generously as you can. Let's make this venue truly ours, forever.
On that note, I’ve already had numerous wonderful offers from comedians and agents to provide their support for future comedy fundraising events here.
Thank you all again. Have a wonderful final night, let's keep supporting live comedy, and let's save our theatre!"
