Brighton Dome Comedy Festival is back and this year we’re in cahoots with Komedia!

Brighton Dome Comedy Festival is back this October, and we’ve joined forces with Komedia to bring you even more big laughs.

We’ve got an exciting programme of stand up, workshops and live podcasts lined up across both venues from 16-25 October. And, as part of our commitment to accessibility in the arts, all performances at Brighton Dome will once again be live captioned, making sure you never miss a word. Read on to find out what’s in store! 

Maisie Adam gasps while looking off camera. She is wearing a white shirt under a yellow vest, in front of a blue background
Maisie Adam.

Locked, loaded and live at Brighton Dome Concert Hall

BAFTA-award winning comic Tom Davis performs his new tour Spudgun (16 October), firing out his freshly cooked observations on life's hot topics.On 18 October, award-winning Irish satirist and podcaster Blindboy Boatclub brings his global hit The Blindboy Podcastlive, joined by a special guest. Reigning Taskmaster champion and Brighton’s own Maisie Adam provides her trademark wit, firecracker gags and angry outbursts in Whatsherface (21 October). 

Nish Kumar looks at the camera. He is wearing a blue shirt and standing against a grey background.
Nish Kumar. Photo by Matt Stronge.

Leading political comic Nish Kumar (QI, 8 Out of 10 Cats) brings Angry Humour from a Really Nice Guy: passionate stand-up, with just a touch of existential angst (23 October). And absurdist Australian comic Sam Campbell (Taskmaster series 16 winner) performs his hit show Kid Giblet at Brighton Dome for two nights (24–25 October). 

Laura Smyth stands with her hands on her waist, looking off camera. She is wearing a yellow button up dress and has red lipstick and nails.
Laura Smyth. Photo by Trevor Leighton.

Barrels of laughs at the Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre

On 16 October, Irish comic, actor and podcast host Catherine Bohart brings her brand-new show Borrowing Trouble and viral comedy character sensation Jazz Emu performs The Pleasure is All Yours. Stevie Martin (Mitchell & Webb Are Not Helping, Taskmaster) makes her return to live comedy in Clout (17 October) and Scottish comedian Larry Dean, currently appearing in Saturday Night Live UK, performs on 21 October. Funny Women Award-winning Laura Smyth brings Born Aggy to Brighton Dome’s Corn Exchange (22 October), covering her everyday life with truth, warmth, and hilarity. On 25 October, Rosie Holt appears as her hilarious MP alter ego in sci-fi streaked satire The Illegal Aliens Have Landed!

Celya AB pushes her hair back, looking at the camera. She is wearing a cream shirt and standing in front of a housing block.
Celya AB.

Celya AB — “one of the most gifted joke writers of our age” (Chortle) — brings her punchy stand-up show We Must Stop Meeting Like This to Brighton Dome’s Studio Theatre(16 October). And on 24 October, family-friendly night Live at Brighton Dome BLEEPED returns to the Corn Exchange. This swear-free evening showcases a mixed bill of fantastic comics, perfect for youngsters and families.

 

It is a dream come true to be presenting our comedy festival in cahoots with the fantastic Komedia. How exciting to align two Brighton powerhouses of comedy to bring our audiences an even more brilliantly funny festival. I can’t wait to skip between our venues to pack in as many shows as humanly possible in ten days.

— Rosie Crane, Brighton Dome Comedy Producer

A person stands on stage speaking into a microphone. To their right is a washing stand with lots of cut out faces pinned to it.
Solve-Along-Murder-She-Wrote. Photo by Rich Rogers.

Meanwhile, at Komedia…

In the Basement: multi-award-winning “comic genius” (The Scotsman) Phil Ellis plays as part of his first UK stand up tour. Don’t miss hit cult show Solve-Along-Murder-She-Wrote, featuring games, prizes and audience participation (21 October). TV favourite Aurie Styla returns following his acclaimed 100+ date worldwide tour (25 October). And enjoy Festival editions of your favourite regular nights, including Comic Boom Comedy Club and Komedia Comedy Club.

Sooz Kempner. Photo by Steve Ullathorne

In the Komedia Studio, award-winning comic Alfie Brown performs brand new show The Entertainer (16 October) and the Elvis of comedy Jordan Brookes continues his residency at the gates of hell with The Part of You That’s Always Screaming (17 October). Writer, comedian and former co-host of The Infinite Monkey Cage (BBC Radio 4) Robin Ince and character comedian Joanna Neary present an evening of stories, songs and comedy (18 October). Have I Got News for You writer Amy Matthews performs a night of sharp, satirical stand up on 22 October. Comedian, singer and actor Sooz Kempner brings her brand-new show Imposter on 25 October: a showabout finding your voice, silencing trolls and Princess Diana. And Spanish comic Sergi Polo performs a set of zingy one-liners (in English!) on 21 October. Komedia’s longest standing and most successful comedy night, Funny Women Live in Brighton, rounds off the line up (24 October).

Matthew McKinney

It's with great pride that Komedia is working alongside Brighton Dome for this extra special iteration of Brighton Dome Comedy Festival. We've curated a block-buster lineup full to the brim with the nation's favourites acts and funny people, guaranteed to appeal to anyone who's ever enjoyed a laugh. With this partnership, we want to highlight Brighton's leading role in the country's comedy eco-system whilst bridging the gap between grassroot venues and theatres.

— Sam Moore, Lead Programmer at Komedia 

Winner of the 2024 Kathleen Ferrier Awards, Scottish tenor Matthew McKinney is quickly establishing himself as an exciting and sensitive young singer. His year began with performances at Carnegie Hall as a song studio artist. He looks ahead to an eclectic year of opera, recital, oratorio and community music. In March Matthew returns to Glyndebourne, first as a Jerwood artist, before making his role debut in Autumn. He recently recorded Gastone La traviata (OperaGlass Works) and Rodolfo La bohème on Robin Norton-Hale’s forthcoming feature produced by Finite Films. Other operatic roles include staged performances of Beethoven’s An Die Ferne Geliebte as part of the newly compiled work Do Not Take My Story for a Fairy Tale. He also covered the Tsar in a new English translation of Korsakov’s The Snow Maiden, both at English Touring Opera. Following the success of the Ferrier, Matthew and his duo partner Roelof Temmingh will perform recitals throughout the UK and Ireland. They are thrilled to have the opportunity to further explore their deep love of song repertoire. Matthew is a graduate of The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Alongside his growing career as a soloist, he has a love for community music and music outreach.
A young person stands on stage performing a stand up set in front of a screen which says
Young Comedians’ Comedy Show in 2025. Photo by Jamie MacMillan.

Get in on the Joke

Free comedy workshops for young people return to Anita’s Room at Brighton Dome. Learn to craft jokes, develop your performance skills and get the chance to perform your set on stage.

This year, Brighton Dome is also working with leading physical comedy ensemble Spymonkey on Finding Your Funny, a series of clown and comedy workshops for adults in recovery from substance use challenges. Running from 13–22 October, the workshops build confidence through play, performance and connection and are open to all levels of experience.

Find what tickles you this Comedy Festival. 

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Comedy at Brighton Dome is supported by Mayo Wynne Baxter.