Laughter is certainly the best medicine - even if you’re not ill! Why not get your ribs well and truly tickled over the next few weeks by attending one or more of the following laughter-fests...  

 

ANGELA BARNES

When Angela Barnes’ inspirational father died, it proved to be the catalyst for her to follow his advice - finally - and hurl herself into the rough, tough world of standup comedy... 

And her success since then has proved that she definitely made the right decision. 

A BBC New Comedy Awards winner, Angela is this month visiting the region with Angst, a new show that ‘mostly features stories of unmitigated failure, a distinct lack of wisdom, a little bit of German and loads of jokes’.

Swan Theatre, Worcester, Friday 26 September; Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Tuesday 14 October; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Saturday 6 December

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CALLY BEATON

Comedian Sally Phillips is among Cally Beaton’s many and varied admirers. “She spins tales like Aisling Bea,” says Bridget Jones star Sally, “has the hair and strength of Pippi Longstocking, and the punk edge of Debbie Harry. Do I want a Cally Beaton rebrand? Hell yeah!” 

Cally is visiting the Midlands with Namaste Motherf*ckers, a show described by its publicity as ‘a quick-witted, unexpected and unapologetic insight into life in midlife’.

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Thursday 6 November; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Saturday 21 February

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ROB BECKETT

First tickling the nation’s funny bone in 2009, Rob Beckett’s TV work includes 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Celebrity Juice. A high-tempo comedian who’s been described by one newspaper as ‘a little short of a revelation’, Rob claims his relationship with comedy began as a youngster... 

“I was the middle child and desperate for attention,” he explains, “so I decided to try and get it by making my friends and family chuckle - or better still, belly laugh.”

Gags include, “You know you're working-class when your TV’s bigger than your bookcase,” and “My girlfriend worries about me cheating on a night out. I say to her, ‘Why would I have a burger when I’ve got steak at home?’ The only problem is, when you’re drunk, burgers are well nice.”

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thurs 20 - Sat 22 November

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LUCY BEAUMONT

“I started out acting but quickly realised I needed to try something else,” says Hull-born comic Lucy Beaumont, who was diagnosed with ADHD a couple of years back and more recently separated from her husband and fellow comedian, Jon Richardson. “I’ve had all sorts of humorous things happen to me in my life, so I thought it made sense to see how I’d do at being funny.”

Birmingham Town Hall, Wednesday 10 December; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thursday 11 December 

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ED BYRNE

A highly regarded master of observational comedy, Ed Byrne is bringing his latest stand-up offering to numerous Midlands venues this month and next. 
So does he enjoy touring the country? “Apart from the travel involved, which no comic likes, I love it. You have people responding to something that you’ve written alone in your office, and the work comes alive in a roomful of people. I like the TV things I do, but nothing can beat a live comedy audience.”

Malvern Theatres, Fri 3 October; Lichfield Garrick, Wed 29 October; Evesham Town Hall, Sun 2 November; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 8 November; Rosies Nightclub, Birmingham, Thurs 13 November; Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Fri 14 November

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JONNY COLE

“It’s difficult for me to put my brand of comedy into an industry-standard soundbite,” says local comedian Jonny Cole. “There are a lot of people who love Black Country humour and who’d love to go into a rough & ready Black Country pub just to listen to the banter - and that’s exactly what I do. I’ve absorbed Black Country humour the whole of my life. I take it out of that pub - where people wouldn’t dare go, in case they got their teeth knocked out - and I put it into a safe, controlled environment where they can enjoy it.”

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Thursday 25 September; Lichfield Garrick, Saturday 18 October; Halesowen Town Hall, Tuesday 21 October; Walsall Arena & Arts Centre, Wednesday 22 October; Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, Thursday 23 October

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ALAN DAVIES

Alan Davies has been a high-profile television face for more than 30 years now, first coming to prominence in hit detective series Jonathan Creek. 

Further and numerous TV credits have followed - perhaps most notably QI and Taskmaster - ensuring he’s remained very much in the public conciousness... 

He is here making a relatively rare headline appearance with brand-new touring show Think Ahead.

The Alexandra, Birmingham, Monday 29 September; Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Friday 17 October

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GEORGIE CARROLL

Although it was only a couple of years back that nurse-turned-comic Georgie Carroll fully stepped into the comedy spotlight here in the UK - debuting at the Edinburgh Fringe and reaching the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent - she’s been making significant headway on the Australian circuit for quite some time now. Indeed, her previous stand-up offering, Sista Flo 2.0, won the Best Comedy Award at the Adelaide Fringe. 
A versatile and dynamic performer, Georgie is visiting Birmingham this month with her latest show, Infectious. 

The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Wed 8 October; Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Thurs 23 October 

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JIMMY CARR

Jimmy Carr’s comedy is all about quickfire, deadpan one-liners - so many of them, in fact, that he’s not sure whether their content actually matters all that much: “People don’t really remember the individual jokes I tell because I tell such a lot of them. What they do remember is how those jokes make them feel.” 
Jimmy is a comedian for whom no subject is off limits: “I’ll talk about anything as long as I feel the joke justifies it. Sure, it may cause controversy - but then controversy is an easy story on a slow-news day. And I never apologise for jokes. After all, I’m not making a serious political statement, I’m just trying to make somebody laugh.” 

Utilita Arena Birmingham, Wednesday 10 December

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JENNY ECLAIR

“I think women get dirtier as they get older,” says long-in-the-tooth comedian Jenny Eclair. “The more your body lets you down, the more you have to find it funny. It produces more emissions, farts and little noises, and bibbly-bobbly bits that appear and disappear. And then there’s giving birth. As soon as you do that, you have to lose all respect for your body. Maybe it’s a cheap device, but it does make me laugh. I just think bumholes and fannies are hilarious. The first joke my father told me was a fart joke, and I still find it funny.”
Jenny’s in the region this month and next with her new show, Jokes Jokes Jokes Live!.

Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Wed 8 October; Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Thurs 13 November; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 21 November

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RUSSELL KANE

Past publicity blurb for this fella said it all: “Strap in for some super-speed sunderings and inconvenient sociology in a show of self-soiling merriment that will leave you with rickets.” 

In short, Russell Kane is a very funny man - and it’s not just his publicist who thinks so. Russell has been drawing a crowd since bursting onto the scene more than 20 years ago, serving up liberal doses of humour at a frenetic pace. 

The London-born comedian visits the Midlands with latest touring show HyperActive.

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Friday 5 & Saturday 6 December   

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KAE KURD

British-Kurdish stand-up Kae Kurd didn’t have the easiest start in life. Even before he was one year old, he had become a refugee, as his parents fled Saddam Hussein’s brutal regime and headed for the UK. 
In Iraq, Kae observes, ‘activism’ means risking death. In the UK, all you have to do to be an activist is tweet with the right hashtag! 
This wry comment and plenty more in the same vein formed the basis of Kae’s first-ever full-length stand-up show back in 2018. He’s now out on the road again, performing another 90 minutes of brand-new material presented under the title What’s O’Kurd.

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat 18 October; The Alexandra, Birmingham, Sun 19 October 

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SHAPARAK KHORSANDI

A regular contributor to radio and television programmes, Iranian-born comedian Shaparak Khorsandi describes herself as a ‘spit and sawdust’ stand-up comic, happily pulling on her wellies and trudging through muddy fields to perform at any and every music festival that boasts a comedy tent.
She visits the Midlands with long-touring show Scatterbrain.

Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Tuesday 30 September; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sunday 1 March

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RIA LINA

The state of the world, the eternal battle of the sexes - and the delight of throwing life up in the air after years of following the rules - are among the subjects that comedian and forensic scientist Ria Lina puts under her microscope in brand-new touring show Riabellion. Her jokes include: “I wanted to do a show about feminism, but my husband wouldn’t let me.” 

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 10 October; St. George's Hall, Bewdley, Mon 13 Oct; The Glee Club, Birmingham, Sun 19 October; The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, South Shropshire, Sat 14 February

 

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JASON MANFORD

Becoming successful in comedy is no walk in the park, as Jason Manford knows. And the former One Show presenter has some sage advice for wannabe comedians: “Don’t take any of my work!... I would also say to people, compare yourself to yourself. Don’t think, ‘Why has that guy got that?’ or ‘Why is Michael McIntyre doing so well?’ or ‘I’m really funny, so why is so-and-so doing that gig, not me?’ You know what, just don’t worry about it. If you’re doing better now than you were six months ago, then you’re doing well.”
Jason is stopping off in the Midlands with his brand-new show, A Manford All Seasons.

Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Tuesday 30 September; The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton, Saturday 11 October; Walsall Arena, Thursday 6 November 

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DARA Ó BRIAIN

Charismatic, fast-talking and very, very funny, Dara Ó’Briain is a familiar face on the telly thanks to shows like Mock The Week and Have I Got News For You.

Jokes include: “If we were truly created by God, why do we occasionally bite the insides of our mouths?” and “Even though you’re still allowed to smoke in your own house, do you have to stub it out when a burglar breaks in, as your house is now his workplace?” Dara stops off in the region with his new touring show, Re:Creation.

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wednesday 5 - Thursday 6 November

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ARDAL O'HANLON

“I make lots of mistakes,” admits Ardal O’Hanlon, “but I guess I’m not that interested in being shocking when I do stand-up. I think the best place to start is your own life, and sometimes that will touch on taboo subjects. I think it’s kind of lazy and generic to shock just for the sake of it. You’ve got to have some sort of take on it, but I think things become fashionable in comedy, as with everything else. If there’s a massive scandal in the press, then many comedians feel compelled to do something about it just because everyone else is, even though it’s not particularly funny. To me, that’s lazy and a bit too obvious.”

The Alexandra, Birmingham, Wed 1 October; Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Sun 12 October; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Fri 17 October; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat 1 November

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DANIEL O'REILLY

Daniel O’Reilly reckons his life has resembled a rollercoaster ride - and he’s stopping off in the Midlands this month to tell his legion of fans all about it.
The London-born comic originally made his name over a decade ago as the character Dapper Laughs, but an ill-advised joke about rape put the brakes on what had seemed to be a promising career. 
The years which followed saw him battling a drug and alcohol addiction, and fighting hard to reestablish himself on the UK comedy scene.  
Now, having been sober for more than 1,000 days, Daniel is out on the road again. He’s performing his latest stand-up show, Let’s Have It, under his own name - and joking that he hopes he gets cancelled, as he could do with a bit of a break.

Birmingham Town Hall, Sat 18 October; Walsall Arena, Sat 21 March; Swan Theatre, Worcester, Sat 2 May; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 26 September; Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Fri 2 October

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SARA PASCOE

At a time of significant global upheaval and uncertainty, Sara Pascoe is clear about one thing - there are no off-limit subjects when it comes to comedy.
“People forgive the subject matter when they find something funny,” she says, “but that doesn’t mean the comedian has no responsibility to question their own material. If they’re going to tell a joke about rape, they should first consider how you might feel if you’ve been a victim of it. If, after that, they still feel it’s a joke worth telling, then they’ll be doing so with complete faith in their own material, which is great.” 
Sarah visits the Midlands this month with her latest show, I Am A Strange Gloop.

Birmingham Town Hall, Thurs 30 October; Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Thurs 6 November; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 14 November 

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ANDY PARSONS

With complimentary reviews including such observations as ‘what he lacks in hair, he more than makes up for in originality,’ Andy Parsons is a sharp and topical comedian who’s well known from TV shows such as BBC’s Mock The Week and Live At The Apollo. 
Jokes include: “If you’ve been affected by any of the issues raised in tonight’s episode of EastEnders, they must have been acting better than they usually do.”
Andy’s currently performing his new touring show, Please #@!$ Off To Mars.

Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham, Fri 10 October; Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Thurs 6 November; Lichfield Garrick, Sat 21 March; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Thurs 26 March

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EMMANUEL SONUBI

Emmanuel Sonubi has been clambering up comedy’s greasy pole at spectacular speed and looks set to achieve big things in the coming years. 

An Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee, he’s visiting the Midlands with a show in which he contemplates his life after surviving heart failure, in the process exploring the ‘strange and funny ways we all find to keep going when life gets hard’.

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Friday 26 September; The Glee Club, Birmingham, Thursday 9 October; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tuesday 11 November; Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Thursday 13 November

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TOM STADE

Clever, controversial and Canadian pretty much sums up Tom Stade, a familiar face on television programmes including Live At The Apollo and Mock The Week. 

Having racked up 30 years on the comedy frontline, Tom is visiting the region with brand-new touring show Naughty By Nature.

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Friday 26 September; The Glee Club, Birmingham, Thursday 2 October; Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Thursday 20 November; Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, Saturday 29 November; Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs, Sunday 21 June 2026

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MARK WATSON

Well established on the UK comedy circuit, Mark Watson was born in Bristol to Welsh parents and initially delivered his act with a Welsh accent, claiming he felt “more comfortable talking in a voice that I didn’t quite recognise as my own”. 

“Comedy is certainly a time-consuming element of my life,” he admits, “but then while I’m out touring and on stage, there are people at home doing far less glamorous things. There have certainly been times when I’ve been very happy to say, ‘Of course I’d like to stay and help out with that plumbing crisis, but the Midlands awaits!’”

Foxlowe Arts Centre, Staffs, Friday 26 September; Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Saturday 27 September; Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Wednesday 1 - Thursday 2 October; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sunday 2 November; Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Saturday 16 May