AY brings comedy tour to London days after Cardiff show shut down

Comedian AY staged the London date of his Single and Not Searching tour at the Lighthouse Theatre in Camberwell on Saturday, six days after the Cardiff show was shut down over a promoter dispute.

Standard tickets sold out before the evening began, leaving only table bookings available on the day. Silver tables were priced at £500 and Golden tables at £1,000.

AY announced the show on social media that morning. "LONDON, IT'S SHOW DAY!" he wrote, naming Akpororo, MC Monica and Mr Cee as his fellow performers. "Come with your people and leave your worries at the door!"

The red carpet opened at 6pm and the programme was scheduled to run until 11pm. Hon. Chief Alex Ubaka Achebe, Ichele Ogidi, was among those in attendance.

The Cardiff date, held on Sunday 25 October, ended abruptly before the headline acts appeared. Reports in Nigerian entertainment media traced the shutdown to an unresolved financial disagreement involving the local promoters, which caused delays on the night.

AY addressed the allegations over ticket sales and payments in videos posted online. He explained the breakdown between the promoters and advised affected Cardiff ticket holders on how to seek chargebacks through their banks.

A promotional caption for the London date then sought to reassure audiences. "DON'T WORRY WE PAID IN FULL, OVER HERE, WE DON'T OWE D ARTISTS," it read. The caption did not mention Cardiff by name.

The Cardiff promoters were not named in the material reviewed, and no response from them could be established.

The London show was presented by DJAMEDIA and Nollypeek Entertainment, and packaged by Lanre Makun Events. Early bird tickets were sold online through Eventbrite from £20.

The tour opened on 16 October in Belfast and passed through Newcastle and Southampton before reaching Cardiff. Birmingham followed on 30 October.

Manchester closes the run on Sunday 1 November at 6pm, at The Lighthouse Church in Eccles, Salford. Akpororo is billed to perform, with MC Monica hosting.

Whether Cardiff ticket holders have recovered their money has not been confirmed.