THE DEBATERS LIVE ON TOUR HOLIDAY SPECIAL

FEATURING HOST STEVE PATTERSON

 WITH COMIC ALL-STARS DEANNE SMITH
+ GRAHAM CHITTENDEN

Following in the footsteps of their highly successful theatre tours of the last two years, The Debaters Live are back and just in the St. Nick of time!

Here comes The Debaters Live on Tour Holiday Special to theatres throughout Ontario and Western Canada featuring the one and only Steve Patterson and two of his funniest comedian/debater friends: Canadian favourite Graham Chittenden and international phenomenon DeAnne Smith!

With cutting edge stand-up from the three seasoned comedians plus two brand new, never before heard debates about the season. This event is NOT PRODUCED FOR BROADCAST BY CBC, so you’ll have to come and experience the action live!

In this age of excessive screens, streams and outraged screams, we’re in danger of losing the most cherished holiday tradition of  all - face to face yuletide tiffs with family. And that's where The Debaters Live on Tour Holiday Special comes in.

"Debate is as old as Christmas,” says veteran host and multiple award-winning comedian, Steve Patterson. “Even the three wise men debated about which gifts to get baby Jesus and in the end none proved very wise. What’s a baby going to do with gold, frankincense or myrrh? Given the surroundings, a blanket would have been a much wiser choice. Or a stuffed animal that didn’t smell quite as stable–like as the actual animals at the birth.”

Graham Chittenden comes to the debate from a do-it-yourself perspective, going so far as to debate inanimate objects when a worthy adversary isn’t available: “Who hasn’t argued with a string of Christmas lights in the middle of a snow storm, while dangling off a ladder? Beginning by threatening the tiny illuminants to ‘light up or else’ and eventually going through the three steps of begging, then prayers, then frozen tears.” 

Meanwhile, international headliner DeAnne Smith, whose Netflix special ‘Gentleman Elf’ and online videos have captivated millions, ironically sees the danger of too much screen time: “With everyone on social media reacting to whatever outrage is circulating that day, we’re losing the opportunity to engage in debates the way they were meant to take place –at the family dinner table, while drowning out ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’.”  

That’s why this is the perfect show to get the season rolling.  Are there jokes? Of course. Relevant points and funny facts? Yes. More so than political leaders’ debates, in fact. But mostly it’s a festive free-for-all that will prepare even the most reticent revellers for a season of disagreements.

So before you get angry in arguments with your family members this holiday season, come and get some ideas on how you could make them laugh instead. The Debaters Live on Tour Holiday Special: the one thing this season everyone can agree on. 

Tickets for The Debaters Live on Tour Holiday Special are on sale now at: debaterslive.com.

 

THE DEBATERS LIVE ON TOUR HOLIDAY SPECIAL
November 18th - Nanaimo, BC - The Port Theatre
November 19th - Victoria, BC - Royal Theatre
November 22nd - Abbotsford, BC - Abbotsford Arts Centre
November 23rd - Vernon, BC - Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre
November 25th - Edmonton, AB - Winspear Centre
November 27th - Kitchener, ON - Centre In The Square
November 29th - London, ON - Centennial Hall 
November 30th - Hamilton, ON - FirstOntario Concert Hall 
December 1st - Kingston, ON - Grand Theatre
December 7th - Ottawa, ON - National Arts Centre (2 shows)
December 13th - Mississauga, ON - Living Arts Centre - Hammerson Hall 

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MEDIA TOOLS:
WATCH/SHARE The Debaters Live on Tour Holiday Special promo video HERE
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ABOUT THE HOST:
Steve Patterson has been a professional headliner since 1997 and has taped numerous national television specials in the past decade,  including four Just For Laughs galas. His performance in 2010 earned him a Gemini nomination and caused host Steve Martin afterwards to exclaim “If I’d have known he was going to be THAT good, I would have cancelled him.” Following that performance, Patterson was twice named Best Male Stand-up Comedian at the Canadian Comedy Awards and most recently has been nominated for the 2015 Canadian Screen Awards as Host on HGTV’s I Wrecked My House.  Steve’s nationally toured and award nominated theatre show entitled This is Not Debatable is now available on iTunes and his Book of Letters I Didn’t Know Where to Send is available in book stores and on Audible. Visit stevepatterson.ca for more details.

ABOUT THE COMICS: 
DeAnne Smith, the humble person writing this bio, is an international comedy sensation. Her video from the Winnipeg Comedy Festival “Straight Men Step Up Your Game” has been viewed over 47 million times, and her critically-acclaimed Netflix special, Gentleman Elf, is available as part of the Comedians of the World series. She's performed everywhere from Iceland to New Zealand and is a regular at both the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Montreal's prestigious, invite-only Just for Laughs Comedy Festival. Time Out Melbourne says she "blends smart and silly subjects with expert conviction" and the UK Telegraph says she's "Very funny. Effortless charm lets her get away with murder." She's currently developing a show with CBC. She’s never actually murdered anyone. For more info: deannesmith.com.

 Graham Chittenden is a familiar face at the Just for Laughs festival, as well as on Just for Laughs tours, coast to coast in Canada and as far away as Bermuda. He has shared the stage on the theatre tours of Howie Mandel, Gad Elmaleh, John Pinette, Brent Butt, Bob Saget and more. Graham has his own award-nominated special on CTV, has hosted talk shows on MTV, and The Comedy Network, and written for shows such as CBC’s Mr. D and Still Standing. You may also recognize his voice from CBC Radio’s acclaimed comedy show, The Debaters. Graham’s new one hour comedy special “Reluctant Adult” premiered on CraveTV in 2018. For more info, please visit: grahamchit.com.
 

DISCLAIMERS:
Due to the spontaneous nature of live performances, some language may be inappropriate for younger audience members.

This event will not be produced for broadcast by CBC.