Hastings Comedy Festival 2025 Listings
Headline Shows
Monday 9th June 8:45pm
Tom Houghton: Deep
The Printworks £10 online/£12.50 on the door if available
After a phenomenal, sold-out, international tour. Plus, a second round of supporting Milton Jones. The man who asked us, “Do you ski?” is turning everything upside down and asking, “Do you scuba?” In a world that is full of relentless click bate, online distractions and brain rotting content, the racing brain has finally gotten too much for Tom. Booking a trip to Indonesia and leaving western world behind, it’s time for Tom to dive head first into a journey of self-discovery that will see him submerge himself as far down in the ocean as possible, while asking himself the most profound questions of what truly makes someone who they are. It’s time for Tom to go “Deep”
As seen on Netflix, Comedy Central and host of Very British Problems “Clever, passionate and soulful“ ★★★★★
The New European “A twisted view of the world“ ★★★★★ The Sunday Express “Brilliant, bright and insightful… everyone’s cup of tea“ ★★★★★ UK Cabaret
Tuesday 10th June 7:30pm
Joe Wells: Daddy Autism
Observer Building £10 online/£12.50 on the door if available
Joe and his wife have had a baby. He’s autistic so statistically it’s quite likely the baby will be too. In this new show, critically acclaimed comedian Joe Wells explores fatherhood through the lens of neurodiversity. Plus, there’s a really good joke about a parrot. As seen on: Rosie Jones’ Disability Comedy Extravaganza, BBC Two’s Ouch Storytelling Live and Channel 4’s Jokes Only a Neurodivergent Can Tell. Over 20 million online views.‘Some of the most surprising and thought-provoking material coming from any comedian’ Guardian ‘One of my favourite comics’ Frankie Boyle ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ NeurodiverseReview.co.uk ★ ★ ★ ★ Chortle.co.uk
Tuesday 10th June 8:45pm
Andy Parsons (Work in Progress)
Observer Building £10 online/£12.50 on the door if available
After his nationwide critical-smash tour ‘Bafflingly Optimistic’ in 2023/24, Andy is back with a brand new work in progress show. Time Out Comedy Award Winner / New Zealand International Comedy Award Winner / Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival Award Winner / Winner Silver Dolphin Cannes / Winner Best Film EVCOM “For those who worry that we are going to hell in a handcart, Parsons will at least make you enjoy the ride” The I “Hysterical” The Mirror “Very funny” The Times “Punchline King” The Guardian “Laugh Out Loud Funny” Sunday Telegraph “Surprisingly ripped” Rob Beckett
As seen on Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Live At The Apollo & Mock The Week.
Thursday 12th June
7:30pm Ria Lina is Going on Tour (Work in Progress)
The Piper £10 online/£12.50 on the door if available
Following her killer debut tour, Riawakening, the wickedly funny Ria Lina returns with a riotous Work in Progress before she hits the road again in Autumn 2025. Expect a relentless stream of hilarity as Ria explores the eternal battle of the sexes, the delight in throwing life up in the air after years of following the rules, and the art of radical indifference. Much loved in the industry, this multi-award winner commands the stage with a whirlwind of energy and leaves audiences breathless with laughter.
Her extensive list of credits includes Live At The Apollo, Have I Got News For You?, Mock the Week, cohosting Pointless, Lovestruck High, Richard Osman’s House of Games, The Last Leg and Celebrity Mastermind. 'I have no doubt she will hold her own so easily that she'll have a hand free to hold someone else's too' (The Guardian)
''Fearless, provocative and very funny... wonderfully on-the-edge stuff... There isn't a comedy venue in the country that shouldn't be fighting for her' (The Scotsman)
'Slickly done - the girl's got talent' (Chortle).
'Electrified the audience with her relaxed yet biting wit' (ThreeWeeks)
Sunday 15th June 3pm
Seann Walsh (Work in Progress)
The Piper £12.50 online/£15 on the door if available
Seann is still here. You are still here. This is torture. Let’s talk about it
Kids Comedy
Saturday 14th June 11:30am
Jeddy Bear and Gary Save the World
Observer Building £3 online/on the door if available
Multi award Nominated for ‘Best Kids Show’ at the Leicester Comedy Festival & UK Kids’ Comedy Festival awards, Hull’s comedy duo are ready to help you discover your very own super powers as they unleash a brand new show!
They'll combine their brand of fun & amazing new powers as they battle to save the world before the end of the show!
Expect an action-packed adventure with funny skits, games, world record attempts and the usual pie facing madness...
Saturday 14th June 1pm
Shelf: The Kids Show
Observer Building £3 online/on the door if available
Join best friends Rachel and Ruby for a kids’ comedy show that’s fun for all the family!
Full of sketches, songs, pranks and silliness, Rachel and Ruby use physical comedy and silly characters to bring sketch comedy to children of all ages – a fun way to explore emotions, friendship and shyness.
Winner: Best Kid’s Show at 2023 Leicester Comedy Festival. Over one million views on BBC Three.
"Sketch comedy for kids … Shelf pull it off with brio."
- **** The Guardian
"This pair are instantly likeable; their confident and hilarious routines are brilliantly delivered and super entertaining for adults as well as kids."
- **** The List
Monday 9th June
7:30pm Susie McCabe: Merchant of Menace (Work in Progress)
The Printworks £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Susie McCabe (Best Scottish Headliner and Best Solo Show in the 2019 Scottish Comedy Awards, and fastest-selling Glasgow Comedy Festival act for three years running) returns
with a hilarious work-in-progress show. Revel in McCabe’s raconteur style and razor-sharp punchlines in this hilarious show as she recounts the absurdities of her life; she’s a shambles and never far from disaster. Playing to ever-increasing sold-out shows, and as seen on Have I Got News For You and Frankie Boyle's New World Order, Susie is fast becoming one of the hottest tickets in the UK. ‘A magnetic storyteller and a gifted joke writer at the top of her game’ ★★★★★ (The Wee Review) ‘Susie McCabe is one of our top comedy voices’ ★★★★ (The National)
7:30pm Alex Kitson: This is Water
The St Leonard £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
The ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards Newcomer Nominee follows up last year’s multi-award-nominated, five-star culthit with a new hour of fast paced, critically-acclaimed stand-up. Tour Support for Fin Taylor, Tom Ward and Vittorio Angelone. ***** Phoenix Remix!**** Wee Review!**** Entertainment Now!**** Mumble Comedy!**** EdFringe Review ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer Nominee 2024 Dave’s 3rd Funniest Joke of the Edinburgh Fringe 2024 Best Jokes of Fringe (The Times, The Telegraph, Sunday Ex- press and Edinburgh Evening News) “The audience laughter is non-stop” - The Phoenix Remix
8:45pm Tom Houghton: Deep
The Printworks £10 online/£12.50 on the door if available
After a phenomenal, sold-out, international tour. Plus, a second round of supporting Milton Jones. The man who asked us, “Do you ski?” is turning everything upside down and asking, “Do you scuba?” In a world that is full of relentless click bate, online distractions and brain rotting content, the racing brain has finally gotten too much for Tom. Booking a trip to Indonesia and leaving western world behind, it’s time for Tom to dive head first into a journey of self-discovery that will see him submerge himself as far down in the ocean as possible, while asking himself the most profound questions of what truly makes someone who they are. It’s time for Tom to go “Deep”
As seen on Netflix, Comedy Central and host of Very British Problems “Clever, passionate and soulful“ ★★★★★
The New European “A twisted view of the world“ ★★★★★ The Sunday Express “Brilliant, bright and insightful… everyone’s cup of tea“ ★★★★★ UK Cabaret
8:45pm Hasan Al-Habib: Death to the West Midlands!
The St Leonard £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
Arab. Muslim. Brummy. Hasan Al-Habib was born to Iraqis that moved to Birmingham after deciding that Baghdad wasn’t dangerous enough. The Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award 2023 Winner’s WIP debut hour is about his love for both cities - despite the hate they receive from the US Government / Leicester. "Deliciously funny" - The Guardian. “Al-Habib will be famous” – Rolling Stone. "A man of a thousand voices" - Rob Beckett. “He’s so likeable, super talented, a great performer” - Mae Martin "He'll make a million doing this" - Jamali Maddix
10pm Toussaint Douglass: Purple Drizzle (Work in Progress)
The St Leonard £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
Hello, this is a show about life, love, loss, finding your way and pigeons, quite a lot about pigeons actually, pretty pigeon heavy to be honest. An hour of joyfully absurd, charmingly awkward stand up from me, Toussaint Douglass.
".. There’s something of a Richard Ayoade vibe to Toussaint Douglass.. One of the best and most distinctive acts" - Chortle Tour support for Russell Howard and John Bishop Writing credits include: Late Night Mash (Dave), Have I Got News For You (BBC One), Never Mind The Buzzcocks (Sky One), Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (ITV), Dead Ringers (BBC Radio 4), James Acaster's Springleaf: A True(ish) Crime Podcast
Tuesday 10th June
7:30pm The RH Experience: Spoilers
The Piper £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Five star comedy group The RH Experience are back with their brand new show Spoilers! An entirely improvised sketch show, inspired by you. With their unique blend of storytelling and anarchic silliness they have been performing live shows & producing sketches for nearly two decades, and between them have performed at Glastonbury and Latitude Festivals, Edinburgh & Brighton Fringes, and have featured on BBC One, BBC Radio 4 & E4.
“★★★★★ A masterful, magical adventure from truly gifted improvisers“ – JokePit
“★★★★★ Their sheer amount of brainpower and comedic instinct led to hilarity“ – TenEighty Magazine “★★★★ absurd and tear-inducingly funny” – Broadway Baby
“These pioneers of tomfoolery make us laugh to the point of exhaustion” – The405
7:30pm Greg Houston: GregSpectations
The St Leonard £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
Join Canadian comedian, and Hastings Newcomer of the year Finalist Greg Houston on his first WIP at the Festival. Part fish out of water, part the water is poison get that fish outta there!... story.
Jokes about mental health, love, death, and fitting in. 'Best Of' Camden Fringe Comedy - Camden Comedy Club 2023. Winner of the 'Funniest of the Fringe' Award Winner - Kingston Storefront Fringe Festival. Winner of Ottawa Comedy Awards Best Independent Show 2014. “Houston is definitely funny - great laughs.” - New Ottawa Critics. “Houston earns many laughs with his self-deprecating sense of humour.” - On Stage.
8:45pm Andy Parsons (Work in Progress)
Observer Building £10 online/£12.50 on the door if available
After his nationwide critical-smash tour ‘Bafflingly Optimistic’ in 2023/24, Andy is back with a brand new work in progress show. Time Out Comedy Award Winner / New Zealand International Comedy Award Winner / Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival Award Winner / Winner Silver Dolphin Cannes / Winner Best Film EVCOM “For those who worry that we are going to hell in a handcart, Parsons will at least make you enjoy the ride” The I “Hysterical” The Mirror “Very funny” The Times “Punchline King” The Guardian “Laugh Out Loud Funny” Sunday Telegraph “Surprisingly ripped” Rob Beckett
As seen on Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Live At The Apollo & Mock The Week.
8:45pm Sikisa: Lady Justice (Work in Progress)
The St Leonard £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Sikisa brings her new work in progress, exploring the things we do to escape. She tries to live her life to the fullest and appears to be living her best life, but is there something missing? Let’s get honest – expect discussions about why wrestling is the best, why kids suck, and the truth about immigration.
As seen and heard on Live at the Apollo, Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club and Off Menu podcast. Three-time Leicester Comedy Festival nominee and tour support for Judi Love, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Ed Gamble and Catherine Cohen.
“An irresistible force of nature” BeyondTheJoke.co.uk
9pm Giant Steps
The Piper £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Giant Steps is an improv comedy show with a brilliant live band! Improvisation meets improvisation as top UK comedians and virtuoso jazz musicians inspire each other in real time into leaps of comedy and creativity. Featuring a rotating ensemble of talent from your favourite Fringe improv shows like Showstoppers and Austentatious, plus the cream of the festival music scene, Giant Steps is a one-of-a-kind Edinburgh experience! 'An absolute must see' ***** (TheatreWeekly.com).
Wednesday 11th June
7:30pm Rajiv Karia (Work in Progress)
Albion £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
A new work-in-progress from the king of casual. About change, love, class, fear, fate and race, and absolutely nothing else. As seen on Comedy Central Live. As heard on Olga Koch: OK Computer. Quantum Leopard Champion of Champions 2023. “Whipsmart, yet relaxed, Rajiv Karia oozes confidence on stage… his carefully crafted material and flawless delivery make him one to watch.”
★★★★★ - WhyNow Magazine
“Simply a great joke writer” ★★★★ - The Skinny
7:30pm Alasdair Beckett-King: King of Crumbs (Work in Progress)
The Printworks £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
New jokes from the crumbliest comedian in the game. King of Crumbs, Lord of Dust and Viscount of the Inconsequential, ABK is a multi-award-winning comedian and (occasionally) an internet sensation. As seen on Mock the Week immediately before the BBC cancelled it. ***** "An absolute treasure trove" (Chortle) "Either a genius or a very silly man" (Rolling Stone)
7:30pm Jin Hao Li: Greatest Hits (Jan - Jun 2025)
The Piper £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Say we catch lightning in a bottle at this WIP, what then? I got no use for lightning Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2024 | Best Newcomer Nominee 6 Funniest Comedians at Edinburgh Fringe 2024 | Guardian
BBC New Comedy Awards and Chortle Student Awards | Finalist ★★★★★ Telegraph ★★★★ Observer ★★★★ Arts Desk
7:30pm Ian Smith
Oscars £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Show nominee 2023, and co-host of the Northern News podcast, Ian Smith returns with a new show. As seen on Live at the Apollo and The Stand Up Sketch Show - and heard on The News Quiz, The Now Show, Just A Minute and his own BBC Radio 4 series, Ian Smith is Stressed. “An effortlessly brilliant stand-up show” ★★★★ Scotsman “There are few fringe shows as purely funny as this” ★★★★ Guardian “An outstanding and stressed-out hour of stand-up” ★★★★ Fest
7:30pm Dane Buckley (Work in Progress)
Jenny Lind £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
The world’s only Irish, Indian, gay comedian… (probably) delivers cheeky, camp comedy mischief. Dane has supported Tom Allen & Rosie Jones on tour & was featured as one of Skiddle.com’s best up-and-coming stand-up comedians in 2023.
7:30pm Anu Vaidyanathan: Allegory
Ye Olde Pump House £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Allegory is about situating one's identity in the constellation that is our circle of colleagues, friends, and family—while also nursing a pet octopus with digestive issues. The show playfully examines the conundrum of being an immigrant parent, surviving the hustle as working women, and deciphering our so-called freedom. It’s a comedic exploration of the balancing act between tradition and modernity, ambition and exhaustion, and connection and independence—all wrapped in sharp humour and heartfelt observations about the absurdities of life and relationships.
8:45pm Sam Williams (Work in Progress)
Albion £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Join patron saint of bisexual firstborn sons, Sam Williams, as he sets out to make his anticipated debut standup hour: a show about love.
As seen on BBC Three, ITV2’s Standup Sketch Show, Channel 4 Digital, and the 2024 Pleasance Comedy Reserve. 100K+ followers and 100 million+ views online.
“Barnstorming” Chortle
8:45pm Steve Parry: The Last Of The Famous International Amateurs
Jenny Lind £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
After decades of procrastination, TV comedy writer Steve Parry, (Gladiators, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Love Island & many more…) turns his back on the glitzy world of mainstream television and unleashes his inner alternative comedy legend.
Expect a riotous and radical celebration of professional amateurism - stand up, stories and songs of sedition.
“This is alternative comedy as it was before it became commercialised… honest, playful and from the heart…what grassroots comedy should be all about”. – Chortle
“ …a tsunami of comedic energy…produces his own distinctive brand of stand-up”. – Fringe Review
8:45pm Joe Sutherland: Miss World
The Printworks £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
As seen on Hypothetical, Roast Battle and various apps on your phone. You know the ones.
As he embarks on his first international tour, Joe ‘could have been a dancer’ Sutherland is bravely talking about something that, until recently, he’s suffered in silence: being a total hunk.
Now that being really sexy is finally accepted in society, Joe is ready to share his story. Groundbreaking stuff from one of the most in-demand comedians in the UK.
“Oozing star power from every pore” The Mirror
“Drooling cynicism, punchy jokes and shrewd sarcasm” Voice Mag
8:45pm Carl Donnelly: Another Round
The Piper £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
The double Edinburgh comedy award nominee (as seen on shows such as Mock The Week, Alan Davies ‘As Yet Untitled’ and much more) returns a brutally funny dive into a year like no other. From his hospitalisation during last year’s Melbourne Comedy Festival to the harrowing experience of his young daughter’s hospital stay battling a serious illness later in the year, Carl’s life has been anything but ordinary. Throw in some curated morning drinking and in his uniquely effortless style, you’ve got an unmissable hour of stand-up. With his signature blend of honesty and wit, Carl turns life’s darkest moments into comedy gold. Raise a glass and join him for laughs, resilience, and hard-earned perspective. “His comic warmth could fill the Sydney Opera House” Chortle “Masterful stand-up with the lightest of touches” British Comedy Guide
“Most charming raconteur to be found at the festival” David Astle ABC
8:45pm Lily Phillips (Work in Progress)
Oscars £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
'Fresh' from hatching a baby girl and a sold out Edinburgh run, Lily, as seen on ITV, BBC, Comedy Central and E4, is back with a new hour of comedy and she's FINE. She may have lost her sleep, her social life and her perineum, but she's nailing it, everything is great, she's one of those cool mums who takes it all in their stride. If you understand sarcasm, this show is for you.
8:45pm Lee Peart (Work in Progress)
Ye Olde Pump House £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Catch Lee Peart at Hastings Comedy Festival for his debut work-in-progress show!
Known for warming up audiences on Strictly Come Dancing, Britain’s Got Talent, and Loose Women, Lee mixes sharp observations with acerbic storytelling, leaving audiences in stitches.
With his unique takes on life’s awkward moments, he’s quickly building a loyal online following for his relatable charm and knack for turning the mundane into comedic gold.
Get ready for a night of laughter that’ll make you question your life choices—or his!
10pm Marlon Davis: Work in Progress
Albion £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Join Marlon Davis as he works up new material for a brand new show. Marlon is a talented comedian, improviser and actor whose TV appearances include Live at the Apollo, Live From The Comedy Store, Stand Up Central, The Stand Up Sketch Show and Don’t Hate the Playaz.
Marlon made the final of two national competitions, Laughing Horse New Act of the Year and So You Think You’re Funny at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe the following year, very quickly and firmly cementing his status as a rising star on the comedy circuit.
10pm Taz Long: Goliath
The Piper £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
Taz Long is back for her second year at Hastings Comedy Festival. Her new show ‘Goliath’ is an ode to all things so sad that they’re funny. About the trials and tribulations of being in your twenties, how she scrappily pulls through it all and the ridiculous things that happen along the way. Still fat, still sexy and still rude as ever - she’s here to ensure you get 60 minutes of the sort of laughter that either heals you or makes you need a new pair of pants. Join her at as she explores new topics and finds a new comedic voice.
Thursday 12th June
7:30pm Ria Lina is Going on Tour (Work in Progress)
The Piper £10 online/£12.50 on the door if available
Following her killer debut tour, Riawakening, the wickedly funny Ria Lina returns with a riotous Work in Progress before she hits the road again in Autumn 2025. Expect a relentless stream of hilarity as Ria explores the eternal battle of the sexes, the delight in throwing life up in the air after years of following the rules, and the art of radical indifference. Much loved in the industry, this multi-award winner commands the stage with a whirlwind of energy and leaves audiences breathless with laughter.
Her extensive list of credits includes Live At The Apollo, Have I Got News For You?, Mock the Week, cohosting Pointless, Lovestruck High, Richard Osman’s House of Games, The Last Leg and Celebrity Mastermind. 'I have no doubt she will hold her own so easily that she'll have a hand free to hold someone else's too' (The Guardian)
''Fearless, provocative and very funny... wonderfully on-the-edge stuff... There isn't a comedy venue in the country that shouldn't be fighting for her' (The Scotsman)
'Slickly done - the girl's got talent' (Chortle).
'Electrified the audience with her relaxed yet biting wit' (ThreeWeeks)
7:30pm Maureen Younger: Be More Maureen
Albion £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Single, child free and from working class stock, Maureen reflects on life (her own) romance (or rather lack of it) and ageing (lie about it) and why it's never a good idea to underestimate a middle-aged woman. Often described as opinionated, always seen as uniquely herself and never seen as a walk over. An hour in her company and you too will want to BE MORE Maureen.
7:30pm Adele Cliff: Adele, Adele, Adele… Cliff It Isn’t The Consequences Of My Own Actions
The Good Place £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
Award winning comedian Adele Cliff uses her gag heavy style and penchant for silliness to tackle the topic of lying and why we do it (or does she?) "Consummate jokesmith" British Comedy Guide.
7:30pm Esther Manito: Slagbomb (Work in Progress)
Oscars £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Esther’s new hour, “Slagbomb,” takes a nosedive into the awkward sandwich years of life. The phase when youthful freedom meets the reality of adult responsibilities. It’s a time when one finds themselves juggling everything from prostate checks to hosing faeces off the garden decking, whilst clad in questionable footwear like crocs. Then one day it dawns on Esther that she was in the most unglamourous phase of her life. Growing up she imagined she would fulfil all the expectations of a lady, poised and dignified, but looking around she realises that just hasn't happened.
Live at The Apollo Comedy Central Dave - Hypothetical ITV stand up Sketch Show Radio 4 News Quiz
7:30pm James Trickey (Work in Progress)
Jenny Lind £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
Life is full of risks. Driving your car, ice skating, reheating rice. To award winning comedian James Trickey, putting on a work in progress feels like a pretty big risk. But sometimes the biggest risks have some of the most entertaining outcomes. The risk to you is the price of a ticket and an hour of your time. The potential outcome is the opportunity to have an hour of laughs and great vibes! So why not take the plunge and come to see this 'Magnificent' (Chortle.co.uk) comedian work towards his debut! Leicester Comedy Festival Best New Show Nominee 2024.
7:30pm Joseph Emslie Splish-Splosh
Ye Olde Pump House £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
At 20 Joseph’s dad had competed in the Commonwealth Games. At 33, Joseph is thinking of buying an air fryer. Has he done enough with his life? Let’s find out together. “Definitely a name to keep tabs on.” Evening Standard. Runner Up Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year 2021 & Musical Comedian of The Year Final 2021. 2021 was a big year!
8:45pm Dinesh Nathan (Work in Progress)
Albion £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
After winning several gong shows, Dinesh Nathan won South Coast Comedian Of The Year and was a finalist at the Komedia New Act competition and the coveted Leicester Mercury Comedian Of The Year competition. In 2022 Dinesh appeared on BBC Three’s New Comedian of the Year awards and Comedy Central Live.
“With a mix of high-spirited delivery and sarcastic, self-deprecating viewpoint, this is a club-ready act, bulletproof in its relentless fusillade.” – Chortle
“Crowd-pleasing without pandering, Nathan is a class act.” – Chortle
8:45pm Kate Lois Elliot: How to Belong Without Joining A Cult
Jenny Lind £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
Kate-Lois Elliott's family lived in a secretive cult until her mum escaped. One generation later, a teenage Kate finds herself in the clutches of an equally militant operation... just your average group of teenage girls. Because, as it turns out, cults are everywhere – ask anyone with a Tesco Clubcard. British Writers' Guild Award nominee, British Comedy Guide Awards finalist. ”Such funny business” Jessica Fostekew ‘‘Funny, clever and sharply observed. With more substance than many comedy shows, Kate is one to watch’' Voice Magazine “Thought provoking & funny… clever, witty & unique” Heart London “A genius approach to breaking down what self reflection truly means and how to laugh in the face of coercion, rules, and fear. A brilliant talent for normalising the absurd” Entertainment Focus “A confident debut’’ Just Celebrity “Zeitgeisty” Dominic King, BBC Radio Kent) “Could snif vodka from the plinth” Helen Lederer The Times & Edinburgh News Best Jokes of The Fringe 2024 Directed by Esther Manito.
8:45pm Sam Nicoresti: Baby Doomer (Work in Progress)
The Good Place £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Sam Nicoresti returns with a show that isn’t about anything at all. A cowardly new hour of skin-deep emotional vacuity, Sam (Nicoresti) attempts to be as funny as possible for 50 minutes without once resorting to narrative, multimedia, or dramatic convention. Can it be done? To speculate would constitute a framing device, which would completely invalidate the entire premise – of which there isn’t one.
“Nicoresti is an auteur” Fest
“Dare I say it, a young Daniel Kitson”Bruce Dessau
8:45pm Andrew White: Rhinestone Comedian (Work in Progress)
Oscars £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
A stand-up show of new jokes, unheard stories and experimental routines. Enjoy "a plethora of memorable gags" (Chortle) and a "rampantly engaging" delivery (The List), as Andrew explores everything from all-you-can-eat buffets to grief... PLUS, the comedy material may be new, but the clothing material will be sharp - expect high fashion! “A vision in sparkly jacket and glamorous pearls” (Chortle) “Charisma to burn and eye for sharp punchlines” (British Comedy Guide) “Very exciting and very funny” (Joe Lycett) "Go see him, he's sublime" (Maisie Adam)
8:45pm Matt Rouse
Ye Olde Pump House £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Matt Rouse brings a work in progress stand up show to the Hastings Fringe, trying to figure out identity, renting and whether he’s being left behind. Already winner of the respected Hastings Fringe New Act Competition and nominated for the BBC New Comedy Awards, in 2023, Matt performed stand-up on the BAFTA-winning The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan (C4)
9pm Max Fulham: Edinburgh Preview (Work in Progress)
The Piper £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Max Fulham is coming to Hastings with an evening of never-before-seen nonsense. Having amassed millions of online views with his signature brand of stand-up, Max is catapulting ventriloquism into the 21st century and is not to be missed! Expect talking ham, malfunctioning self-service checkouts, and an inner monologue that just can’t be kept inside anymore…
“Skilled and quick-witted” (The Stage)
“Max is brilliant! He’s Old School meets NuSkool in the best and funniest way” (Mel Giedroyc
10pm Sam Willett: Finding Myself: From Pints to Pilates
Albion £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
The awkward transition from Pints to Pilates , sea swimming, running, and small plates, trying (and failing) to balance wellness with his chaotic past and (still) living with his parents. In the immortal words of Neil Warnock.. Enjoy it, but enjoy it being disciplined aye. A new show from local comic behind Tony Reid and Tristan
Friday 13th June
7:30pm Lucy Pearman (Work in Progress)
Albion £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Lucy Pearman is working out a new show and wobbling around as the moon. There will definitely be a song, a cow and in an ideal world, an audience. ‘Spending an hour in Pearman’s world is a true delight’ ★★★★ List Nominee | BAFTA Best Newcomer Nominee | Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Show Nominee | Leicester Comedy Festival
7:30pm Darren Walsh: Do you like puns? (Tour Warm Up)
Electric Palace £10 online/£12.50 on the door if available
ʞɔǝɥ ←flippin' heck! Witness a pun Goliath in person, as Darren Walsh brings his 8ft frame and award winning act to the theatre. From appearing on Comic Relief to his ‘Jokes on the street’ series on social media, he’s been racking up millions of views, but live is where he thrives. Combining sound effects, videos, one-liners and improvised jokes based off audience suggestions, prepare for a comedy show like no other, bar pun. Book now, li is two short. Winner - Joke of the Edinburgh Fringe ***** The Mirror **** The Sunday Express
7:30pm No Regrets and Friends
The Printworks £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
Forget "what ifs" and missed opportunities! No Regrets will show you what could have happened in an alternate timeline had you made a different choice! Whether it's the road less travelled, your lost love or that tattoo of Barbara Windsor, bring us your unexplored options and we will show you how mirror-universe you turned out. By the power of improv, No Regrets bend the laws of time and free will to recycle your unlived lives into a great night out. We had such a good time in 2024 that this year we will be joined by some lovely emerging local improv talent!
7:30pm Liz Guterbock: Nice (Work in Progress)
The Good Place £5 online/£6.50 on the door
In her new work-in-progress stand-up show, Liz Guterbock (Guardian’s 10 Best Jokes of Edinburgh Fringe 2023, Dave’s #2 Joke of the Fringe 2023) explores what it means to be nice, and that one time when she was mean. In a world where people get social traction from being mean, come see someone try to be kind…while telling jokes. It’ll be nice. Promise.
7:30pm Charlie Baker (Work in Progress)
Oscars £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Talksport radio host and Award winning stand up comedian Charlie Baker brings all his latest quiet thoughts to the Hastings Comedy Festival to say them out loud. Everyone welcome. No Dryrobes.
7:30pm Omar Badawy Culture Cuck (Work in Progress)
SugarPie Honeybun £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
A debut WIP show from the ‘So You Think You’re Funny’ award winner and BBC New Comedy Award national finalist Omar Badawy! Expect bits about dating for his own mother, encounters with EDL-badge-wearing bouncers and kebab shops. Omar makes these unique experiences both relatable and hilarious.
“Omar Badawy is a veritable gag-machine, with tightly-packed zingers” Chortle
7:30pm The Embers Collective & Stumble Trip Theatre: Brits Abroad: Banned
East Hastings Sea Angling Association and Social Club £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
After being banned from going anywhere abroad, yes even Benidorm. British tourists are forced to go on holiday to the only place that’ll have ‘em. Hell.At least it’ll be hot.
Featured as part of Pleasance Theatre’s ‘Best o f Fringe 2022’ and following sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe and Brighton Fringe. Not That But That are returning to Hastings once more for a rowdy, rip-roaring holiday you won’t forget. ‘Magical, sexy, funny & unforgettable’ - Broadway Baby ★★★★★
‘A very entertaining performance. Highly recommended.’ – The Student News ★★★★★
8:45pm Josh Baulf (Work in Progress)
Albion £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Josh Baulf has appeared on BBC, ITV and his online sketches have amassed millions of views worldwide. He brings to Hastings a work in progress of his Autumn tour show. “Go and see Josh Baulf live” Rob Beckett
8:45pm Barry Ferns: My 7 years as Lionel Richie
Electric Palace £10 online/£12.50 on the door if available
A new Show from Barry Ferns about being a stand up comedians since the age of 15, about living 7 years of your life as the Grammy Award Winning Artist Lionel Richie, going from being homeless to presenting a TV show.
“A marvellous, personal, beautifully constructed and laughter-packed hour” ★★★★★ ThreeWeeks ★★★★ Scotsman ★★★★ Broadway Baby
8:45pm Jessica Fostekew: Fettle (Work in Progress)
The Printworks £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
The earliest beginnings of what will eventually become a brand new show that might even still be called KETTLE. We’ll probably just decide on the day if we like?
From Jessica Fostekew who you know from BBCs QI or Live at the Apollo, her two BBC R4 series of ‘Sturdy Girl Club’, The Guilty Feminist, the Hoovering Podcast, Travelman on C4, World’s Most Dangerous Roads on Dave, Celebrity University Challenge where she intellectually soiled herself on prime time viewing this Christmas or even just all the other Machynlleth Festivals she has done.
8:45pm Chantel Nash & Jen Nolan (split hour): Work in Progress
The Good Place £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Join two rapidly rising stars of comedy for a shared work in progress show!
Chantel Nash started performing stand-up comedy half way through 2022 and her effortless charm is winning over audiences one postcode at a time. She has won regional heats and reached the finals of both the So You Think You’re Funny and BBC New Act competitions last year.
Chantel has featured on Comedy Central Live and Mo Gilligan’s Spotlight on Audible, as well as her own podcast ‘Making Friends with Chantel Nash’ where she is on the hunt for the creme de la creme of friends. She's thinking big, she's thinking aspirational, she's mostly thinking Michelle Obama but she'll take whoever she can get.
Jen Nolan is an up and coming working class comic hailing from east London. Jen, ‘confident and energetic with big laughs’ (Broadway World), will be bringing you tales from her life growing up on the breadline with that cheeky cockney attitude. She was part of Edinburgh Fringe’ ‘Best In Class’ run in 2023, and has since reached the semi finals of Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian of the year, and LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the year.
8:45pm Tadiwa Mahlunge: Hakuna Ma Tad Tad (Work in Progress)
SugarPie Honey Buns £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
As seen / heard on Stand Sketch Show (ITV 2), The News Quiz (BBC R4), Best of the Fringe (BBC R4), Comedians Giving Lectures (Dave), Comedy Central Live - Tad brings a new hour about chasing purpose over comfort in all aspects of life.
★★★★ ‘Though their styles are different, the circuit might just have created another Jimmy Carr...’ - Chortle
★★★★ ‘Young and gifted, in comedy terms, he’s already looking like the complete, fully rounded package’ - The Scotsman
★★★★ ‘An impressively accomplished and infectiously funny debut hour, Tadiwa Mahlunge is a name you’ll want to watch out for’ - The Skinny
8:45pm Imran Yusef: Soft Jihad
Oscars £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
This brand new show is an honest and cheeky celebration of modern Britain. Karma has caught up with the colonial past of our nation, and those who were once subjugated by the British Empire have made it their home. Be it the Mayor, the Prime Minister, or a Stand Up Comedian; Britain has bloomed into a bountiful basket of rich talent because many of us got on with integrating, working hard and making a massive contribution through patient and peaceful endeavour… Welcome to my ‘soft jihad’
8:45pm Josephine Lacey (Work in Progress)
East Hastings Angling Club £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Josephine Lacey first came onto the London comedy circuit in October 2008. Drawing on her Jamaican Irish heritage and life experience she delivers her material with an honest humour and a natural raw energy with the guile and wisdom of someone that has been there, done it and bought the t-shirt, delivering her material with an effortless charm and huge smile that leaves audiences loving her and wanting more.
2024 saw Josephine selling out her debut solo show ‘Autism Mama’ at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and at the fabulous Soho Theatre, London, gaining rave 5 STAR reviews at both venues.
She regularly performs ‘opening’ and ‘headline’ spots all around London, England, Ireland, and Europe. She is a sort after emcee and is one of the resident emcees at The Top Secret Comedy Club in Covent Garden, where audiences and comedians alike are safe in her hands!
10pm John Tothill (Work in Progress)
The Good Place £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
In 2024, John Tothill’s appendix burst onstage, just days after Trump was almost assassinated. Both men claimed that these near-death experiences changed them. Both were lying.
Join John Tothill as he attempts to monetise what body parts he has left in this brand new work-in-progress from the world’s most profound comedian. Chortle’s Best Newcomer nominee 2024.
One of 2024 and 2023’s Best-Reviewed Edinburgh Fringe Shows British Comedy Guide As seen on Comedy Central Live. Tour support for Fiona Allen. 'One of the most distinctive stand-up voices of his generation' Chortle
★★★★★ Telegraph ★★★★★ EdFest Mag ★★★★★ To Do List ★★★★★ Lost in Theatreland
10pm Adam Morrison
Oscars £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
Ex-sailor, devoted husband, proud father, and a seasoned professional in the sewage treatment industry, Adam Morrison brings a unique perspective to the comedy stage. With 15 years of hands-on experience in the murky world of water treatment, his career as a mechanical fitter has equipped him with a knack for finding humor in even the grimiest situations. What began as a hobby in 2012 quickly transformed into a promising comedy career. In 2017, Adam’s performance at a local competition captured attention, opening doors to regular paid gigs. Since then, he has gone from strength to strength, sharing the stage with some of the biggest names in UK comedy, including Romesh Ranganathan, Rosie Jones, Maisie Adam, Larry Dean, Joel Dommett, and many more.
Adam's relatable material, infused with his cheeky chappie persona and signature twinkle in the eye, resonates with audiences across the UK. Whether he's spinning tales from his days as a sailor, finding humor in family
10pm Arthur Smith: Laughs, poems and ridiculous memories
Electric Palace £10 online/£15 on the door if available
Arthur Smith leads you through a hilarious and moving evening recalling episodes in his long career in comedy and answering any questions you may have
Saturday 14th June
3:45pm Cerys Bradley: Queer Tales for Autistic Folk
Jenny Lind £5 online/£6.50 on the door
You find a mysterious door that you have never seen before. Do you open it? If yes - buy a ticket to see this show. If not - why not? Join Cerys Bradley (Actually Autistic Excellence Award 2022, as seen on Comedy Central, UKTV, BBC One Wales) and their wonderful, expansive, interactive (technically not written yet) choose your own story telling comedy show. ***** “AUTISM!” The Neurodiverse Review “a great storyteller” The Guardian Supported by Arts Council England
5pm Lucas Jefcoate
Jenny Lind £5 online/£6.50 on the door
Award winning comedian Lucas Jefcoate looks like someone’s aunt. He’s got feminine wrists, an affinity for cardigans and jokes that will make you say, ‘You can tell he was raised by women’. Lucas will be bringing his over 3 years experience as a comedian and 23 years experience as a person to the stage.
Watch the viral wonder boy with over 25 thousand followers and 35 million views founder on stage in front of your very eyes! If you like him in one minute prepare to have your attention span challenged! (subway surfer gameplay will play throughout the show) Hastings Comedy Festival Newcomer Winner 2024
5pm Sharon Em: I Know a Guy
Ye Olde Pump House £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
What happens when a kidnapping is the result of a medical misdiagnosis, and an Irish family secret is revealed later than it should have been?
Only a funny, light-hearted, layered and crafted look at a family secret that, when revealed, made Sharon think very differently about her life. Making her reconsider many of her previous decisions. Could she have used this information to her advantage? Probably!
''...honed close to perfection' 'what a bloody story!' 'exceptionally clever.' - Fringe Review (2024)
5pm Mark Nicolas: This Is Not The Autistic You Are Looking For
The Good Place £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
Winner of the ND Review Disability Champions Award and the Amateo Award 2022 brings his debut show to Hastings
Mark is NOT your typical autist; he's rubbish at maths, he can't card count and, unlike Dustin Hoffman's Rainman, he’s NOT an "excellent driver". Come and find out how Mark did NOT get his diagnosis, did NOT become a successful SEN Teacher and did NOT follow his family’s career advice. This is not the Autistic You are looking for. May The Aspie be with you. ★★★★ - “Lots to Enjoy” (Neurodiverse Review)
"Impressively Skilled" - The Scotsman
"One of the best new acts on the circuit, check him out before he's famous!" - Joe Wells
6:15pm Mike Shephard & Luke Connell: Hit & Myth
Jenny Lind £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
Bespectacled satirists Mike Shephard and Luke Connell return to Hastings to finally bring peace between the Saxons and Normans, with only one fully operational beard between them. Join them for an hour of silliness skewering history, politics, and the indignities of modern life. Mike has written extensively for BBC radio and TV comedy, including Have I Got News for You, The Now Show, Museum of Curiosity and The News Quiz. Luke is a North East circuit regular, and panellist on The Stand Comedy Club’s cult Nerds Just Wanna Have Fun (êêêê “a lovely stage presence...this is awesome”).
6:15pm Kuan-wen: Andrews Are The Worst (Work in Progress)
Ye Olde Pump House £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
New Work-in-Progress show from Leicester Comedy Festival Best Show Nominee Kuan-wen (as seen/heard on BBC Radio 4/BBC Three/Comedy Central). The mischievous Taiwanese comic dated his 1st Andrew - absolute human garbage. The 2nd Andrew promised he’s not like the other guy - except HE WAS EXACTLY LIKE THE OTHER ONE. We haven’t even got to Prince “I can’t sweat” Andrew or Mr. Andrew Tate yet. Allow Kuan-wen to convince you all Andrews are pieces of s*** - Andrews are welcome to make your case - and why he’s better off on his own.
6:15pm Isabelle Farah: Mother?? Courage!!
The Good Place £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
Isabelle Farah, (nickname: irresponsabelle) has entered her responsabelle era. She has a baby, who was planned, albeit later than is traditional, is engaged, maybe even married. A turn up for the books for someone whose personality type is “fun aunt”. How smooth or bumpy has the transition been? Praise for previous work: ***** - “Fab stuff” Fringe Mum **** - “the energy of a caffeinated squirrel and the comedic timing of a seasoned stand-up.” Fringe Minge **** - “spellbinding” Chortle **** - “Must-see” Daily Mail **** - “marvellous” Wee Review **** - “Authentic, hilarious, three-dimensional comedy” - Fringe Biscuit
7:30pm Ben Van Der Velde: Van der Laugh Generator
Jenny Lind £5 online/£6.50 on the door
One of the best improvisers on the stand-up circuit tries to make sense of the chaos of the world. Join Ben as he squeezes the comedy juice out of topics from hunter-gatherers to AI, XL bullies to board games and beyond. It'll be a bit like watching Wikipedia having a nervous breakdown. For fans of Ross Noble, Jason Byrne and heroic nonsense. "An accomplished comic." Time Out "Perfect...the audience were hysterical." Huffington Post “Displays a crackling, spontaneous energy in which we’re swept up.” Fest
7:30pm Kate Cheka: A Messiah Comes
Electric Palace £10 online/£12.50 on the door if available
The reigning Funny Women Award winner and Chortle Best Newcomer nominee brings you her debut hour where she tries to save the world.
Where does this messiah complex come from? Is it the second coming or has she just inherited her mother’s psychological disorder?
If you’re anxious about the state of the world (or just your own mental state), join this ‘impressive, frank and relatable’ (Chortle) BBC New Comedy Awards semi-finalist as she becomes the first woman to wonder what many men have wondered before her: am I actually God? Directed by Dec Munro. Presented by BIGHEAD Comedy.
7:30pm Will Rowland (Work in Progress)
The Good Place £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
The New Comedian of the Year finalist and co-creator of Crizards **** (Guardian) uncurls from his sleeping spot in the airing cupboard to ponder life's most pressing issues: the decline of civilisation, the degradation of the natural world, and the dwindling acceptance of invitations to his birthday barbeques. Praise for Crizards: **** (Telegraph). **** (BroadwayBaby.com). **** (List). **** (Entertainment-Focus.com). **** (Skinny). **** (Edinburgh Festivals Magazine). ***** (BroadwayWorld.com). ***** (TheReviewsHub.com). ***** (EdFringeReview.com). ***** (NorthWestEnd.co.uk)
7:30pm Tony Law
East Hastings Sea Angling Association and Social Club £10 online/£12.50 on the door if available
Canadian surrealist and master story-teller Tony Law is a three-time Chortle Award winner, Amused Moose Best Show winner and Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee. His extensive TV and radio credits include: Have I Got News For You(BBC One), The Alternative ComedyExperience (Comedy Central), 8 Out Of 10 Cats(Channel 4), Celebrity Mastermind(BBC One), Celebrity Squares(ITV) Never Mind The Buzzcocks(BBC Two), Heading Out(BBC Two), The Culture Show(BBC Two), Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe(BBC Two), Edinburgh Nights(BBC Two), Tony Law’s Surreal Guide To Surreal Comedy(Radio 4 Extra), Loose Endsand Infinite Monkey Cage(Radio 4).
“Takes post-modern stand-up to a dangerously funny new level” – The Guardian ****
‘The King of post-modern nonsense” – Telegraph
8:45pm Dinner with President Obonjo
Jenny Lind £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
President Obonjo has got a whole country in stitches but his reign is more about reigniting the comedy scene than running anything , he is the first President to take the UK Comedy industry by storm. Flown in by Easy Jet to wow audiences across the UK. Are audiences confusing satirical Presidency with actual governance. Is he really a President or Comedian ? Is he really best friends with Trump , Putin , Kim Jong un. He has more Tik Tok followers than Political parties in the UK. He sets up fire alarm during speeches. Join the President Obonjo for Lunch or is it Dinner?
8:45pm Marty Gleeson (Work in Progress)
Electric Palace £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Irish comedian Marty Gleeson is fast becoming a well known name in the UK comedy scene. Recently showcased on BBC New Comedy Award Finals and Channel 4's Sean Lock Awards, she was crowned LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year 2024. Renowned for her offbeat, captivating, and whimsical performance style, Gleeson was also a part of the prestigious Pleasance Comedy Reserve at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024.
With over 30 million views online and tour support for Vittorio Angelone under her belt, Gleeson is a comic making big juicy turbulent waves, run for cover. No one is safe.
8:45pm Lechlan Werner: WonderTwunk
The Good Place £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
The Twunk: Body of a Hunk, Head of a Twink
The strength of a hundred Olympians. The face of an angel.
Behind this curtain lies a brand new model of manhood for a modern age.
Lachlan Werner - award-winning "twink"★★★★ (Guardian) and "the funniest new ventriloquist on the block" ★★★★ (Telegraph) - workshops a brand hour of Grand Guignol stupidity - a feat of brute strength, raw muscle and minimal lip movement. Enter Brad News' Circus, a place of impossible talent and wonders beyond belief.
Jack Hammer is the strongest boy in the world. He can lift a ten tonne truck and crush the strongest steel.
Just don't get too close. His management says you can look, but you can't touch.
Following his 5 star, cult-hit horror debut, Voices Of Evil, Lachlan Werner promises to build a super strong genre-bending tale of stunts, sea-lions, sci-fi and secrets…
9pm Twidow Wankey’s Dirty Panto
East Hastings Angling Club £10
For the first time ever, Twidow Wankey’s Dirty Panto is bringing its outrageous, unscripted, and improvised chaos to Hastings – “oh yes, it f!?ing is!” This improvised adult panto takes the British tradition and flips it upside down in a filthy, unpredictable ride where the audience controls the madness. Every night is unique as you choose the twists, turns, and downright disgraceful antics straight from Twidow Wankey’s dirty pile. With outrageous improvised characters, shocking humour, and absolutely no limits, no two shows are ever the same. Anything can happen and probably will! Don’t miss the filthiest, funniest, and most unpredictable night in pantoland!
10pm Kent Cameron: Larger Than Life
The Good Place £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
Larger than life’ is the debut show of up and coming Scottish stand up talent Kent Cameron. At 6ft 5, this scottish powerhouse has been a standout presence. Join him as he guides you wistfully through fatherhood, gigantism diagnosis, and more.. Shortlisted for leicester comedy festival circuit breakers 2025, Making waves as a semi-finalist in the British Comedian of the Year, and a regional New Act of the Year winner 2023. Towering in both stature and comedic talent, this Derby-based sensation is turning heads with laughter across the UK.
10pm Pat Cahill presents St Julian’s Social Club (Work in Progress)
Electric Palace £10 online/£12.50 on the door if available
I have recently counted my friends and was found wanting. So, I’ve invented several more, and gathered them at everyone’s favourite municipal function space, St Julian’s. Come along for some mulled coffee, free singing and group noises. Absurd standup, songs, characters, dances and nonsense.
“This is one of the strangest and most satisfying hours of the Festival.” ***** Edfestmag
'Wonderfully weird' The Guardian
10pm Paul Merryck: Ambulance For One
Jenny Lind £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
Paul Merryck re-emerges from the Essex Swamplands with a new show that will cleverly deconstruct the dialectic of modern stand-up comedy, by a telling a lot of stupid jokes and daft short stories, tenuously held together by the narrative thread of a crap middle-aged bloke who spends his life in the pub.
9pm The Late Show
East Hastings Angling Club £10
Join us for a Jam packed Saturday night of live comedy,featuring Some of your festival favorites hosted by the one and only, insurance spiking comedians Gary Jennison.
Zany humorist Gary Jennison delivers comedy like a toddler with a Tommy gun, fast and unbridled chaos.
He'll be bringing 100% unscripted, and unsupervised fast paced comedy which the audience can try and steer with suggestions and participation.
Expect observations with a twist, with surreal energy and unrivaled enthusiasm – all for your entertainment.
He always has fun and you will too
Sunday 15th June
1:30pm Mike Cappozolla: May The farce Be With You
Electric Palace £5 online/£6.50 on the door if available
Comedian and cartoonist Mike Capozzola’s multimedia show mocks and celebrates all things Star Wars! THRILL TO uncanny impressions! GLIMPSE archival art from school notebooks! WITNESS a merciless appraisal of Star Wars merchandising RELIVE the tale of an epic lightsaber battle that nearly derailed a New York parade!
1:30pm Luke McQueen (Work in Progress)
Jenny Lind £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
This is a show about AI, creativity, failure, ideas, self-reflection, and self-sabotage. Luke is the guest on a podcast where he’s scripted both the questions and the answers. But as the conversation unravels, so does his grip on the narrative.
Unpredictable, experimental. Work in progress. Mistakes will be made. Some on purpose.
award-winning stand-up comedian, writer and actor, who you will have seen on 'The Moth Club' (Dave) 'Comedians Giving Lectures' (Dave) 'The Stand-up Sketch show' (ITV) and 'Roast Battle'. (Comedy Central) He is a critically acclaimed maverick of the Edinburgh fringe, having performed 5 solo shows to sell out crowds and rave reviews.
2:45pm Sharon Wanjohi (Work in Progress)
Sugarpie Honeybuns £7 online/£8.50 on the door
Sharon Wanjohi is a queer British Kenyan comedian who is working on her debut hour. Sharon has been making waves on the circuit with her take on the lack of Gen-z homeowners and maybe too much material on the cartoons that inspired a generation of sexual awakenings.
2:45pm Richard Todd: Fine, Fine, Everything’s Fine
Electric Palace £5 online/£6.50 on the door
Neurotic, overwrought and, somehow, award-winning comedian Todd reminisces on his experiences working at a drop-in for homeless and vulnerable adults, and running art groups there. Expect to discover: alternative receptacles for tepid mince takeaways when Tupperware is unavailable; the human solution to broken windscreens wipers in a rain storm; how the phrase ‘double bed’ is not to be taken lightly. He will also be drawing to help ease his anxiety. May his doodles keep his demons at bay.
“A comic with the ability to do surrealism, storytelling and exquisitely crafted wordplay all in the same few minutes.” The Scotsman ****
2:45pm Rohan Sharma: Mad Dog
Jenny Lind £5 online/£6.50 on the door
Rohan Sharma brings his debut hour to London. Expect a surreal multimedia odyssey tackling heritage, disconnection and Madame Tussauds.
Leicester Square New Comedian Winner 2024 BBC New Comedy Award Shortlist 2024 Pleasance Reserve 2024
'Had the Audience howling...ingenious' - BeyondtheJoke
'Very Surreal and Very Funny' - Voicemag
4pm Lucy Porter: Let Yourself Go!
Sugarpie Honeybuns £7 online/£8.50 on the door
Festival favourite Lucy returns with a brand new show about the power of letting yourself go - in every sense. Whether that means embracing your wrinkles and love handles whilst living in a slanket, or having a couple of babychams and dancing like nobody’s watching (and if you’re a middle aged woman, they’re probably not). It’s also about letting go of the person you’ve always thought you are, and using your midlife crisis to pursue new goals and reinvent yourself.
“Impeccably punchlined anecdotes … genuinely delightful” The Telegraph
“A treat from start to finish” The Herald
4pm Juliette Burton: Going Rogue
Electric Palace £7 online/£8.50 on the door if available
Every great superhero must start by saving herself. Join a geek girl on a quest to live her best nerd life. As a young nerd, Juliette loved to dress up, and she loved Rogue from the X-Men – funny, dark past, great costume. Now, decades later, she’s an award-winning comedian and mental health activist masked in glitter and sequins. Join her on a journey from cosplay to confidence as Juliette asks "where does our power really lie? What can playing dress up reveal about ourselves? Can a superhero story help us rewrite our own?" Expect gamification and introvert-friendly interactivity which evolves and mutates with every performance. Edinburgh Fringe sell-out 2015/16/17/18/23. As seen on BBC One and ITV.
“A huge nerd; a safe space. Simply marvellous.” ★★★★★ Starburst Magazine
5:15pm Robin Ince
Sugarpie Honeybuns £10 online/£12.50 on the door
Robin Ince is many things. A multi award winning comedian, author, broadcaster, bibliomaniac and a populariser of scientific ideas. He is perhaps best known as the co-host and co-creator of the Sony Gold Award winning BBC Radio 4 series The Infinite Monkey Cage with Professor Brian Cox.
As a stand up Robin has toured the world and as an author he has written four acclaimed books, including Bibliomaniac, earned him the prestigious Booksellers Association Author of the Year award. His fifth, Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal is published in May 2025.
He co-created the Cosmic Shambles Network and created the groundbreaking science variety night Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People which has been adapted worldwide. He has received an Honorary Fellowship of UCL, an honorary doctorate from Royal Holloway College (University of London), and is a fellow of the British Science Association
