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!
A Day Disco with a Comic Twist
All My Friends indie disco makes a long-awaited Brighton debut on the first Saturday of the Festival. Hosted by legendary BBC comic podcasters Elis James, John Robins and Dave Masterman, DJ’ing together for the first time in over two years, the day rave brings indie and pop tunes from the 80s to the present day to Brighton Dome Concert Hall, with special guests to be announced.
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 Podcast live, 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).
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). Internationally acclaimed comedian and filmmaker Simon Amstell performs I Love It Here as part of a strictly limited tour (22 Oct). 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).
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); Northern Irish-Australian stand up Jimeoin (Live at the Apollo), brings his new show Ballyhoo (18 Oct); 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 — “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). Lara Ricote (Mitchell & Webb Are Not Helping) explores millennial angst and self-discovery in Inkling (17 Oct). And BBC New Comedy Award winner Dan Tiernan is armed with jokes, punchlines and rocks in Quartz and All (23 Oct).
Feel the Buzz
Cult cartoonists Modern Toss are back with Flies – Collected Specimens 2004–26 showing in Brighton Dome Founders Room throughout the Festival. The exhibition brings together over twenty years of fly-based work by Modern Toss, spanning sculpture, animation, photography, print and interactive installation.
Alongside the exhibition, Modern Toss co-founder Jon Link runs a Make a Fly Workshop in Brighton Dome Anita’s Room on 17 October — a hands-on two-hour session for twenty participants, building a lifesize fly from clay, wire, paint and hair.
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
Meanwhile, at Komedia…
In the Basement: Guardian political sketch writer John Crace humorously deconstructs the last ten years of British politics (18 Oct) and 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.
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). Spanish comic Sergi Polo performs a set of zingy one-liners (in English!) on 21 October; Have I Got News for You writer Amy Matthews performs a night of sharp, satirical stand up on 22 October; and after selling out in Edinburgh last year, Kim Blythe presents her brand-new show Puzzle (23 Oct). There's a Comedy Festival edition of Komedia’s longest standing and most successful comedy night, Funny Women Live in Brighton (24 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 Rich Wilson shares his journey of family life, swapping dancing shoes for slippers in To the Cradle, from the Rave (25 October).
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
Laughs for All Ages
For younger comedy fans: Komedia’s Comedy Club 4 Kids — internationally-acclaimed stand up and sketch, without the rude bits! — takes place in the Komedia Studio (17 Oct). On 24 October, comic duo and Brighton Dome favourites Shelf return to Brighton Dome Studio Theatre with child-friendly music and sketches in The Kids Show 2; and swear-free standup showcase Live at Brighton Dome BLEEPED is back in the Corn Exchange, for ages 11 and up.
Get in on the Joke
Free Comedy Workshops for Young People Age 11–16 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 (24-25 October).
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.
Comedy at Brighton Dome is supported by Mayo Wynne Baxter.