Balham Comedy Festival
FRIDAY 8th - BEST OF BANANA CABARET - Door 6.30pm / Show 8.30pm-11pm / £18 + bf
TERRY ALDERTON
Peek inside the technicolour mind of one of Britain’s finest and most exciting comic talents and you will find him doing battle with “the Voices”, two unpredictable and hilarious voices inside Terry’s head. Though often a challenge, these different sides of his ego/conscience frequently lead him into superb improvised comedy routines. No two shows are ever the same! Terry performs all over the world, garnering awards and nominations, and has many TV and radio credits. Michael McIntyre cites him as a source of inspiration, Joan Rivers is a fan, and Eddie Izzard proclaims him “a very funny comic with a fantastic comedy mind.”
“Deliciously unexpected.” - THE GUARDIAN
NAOMI COOPER
Naomi Cooper’s star is most definitely in the ascendant. A viral sensation with her Yummy Mummy Philippa videos, her performance as ‘Philippa' at the Vaudeville Theatre for Legends of Lockdown won rave reviews. A sitcom based on the character and written by Naomi is currently in development with Goat Films. A multi-talented performer, she is a seasoned standup comedian, accomplished improviser and classically trained actor. Naomi performs across the UK and Europe, at prestigious comedy festivals. She supported Jeff Garlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Goldbergs) for the duration of his extended sold out Soho Theatre run, and again at The Laugh Factory and the Hollywood Improv in LA.
“A delightfully joyful demeanour that fills the stage with mischievous glee.” - CHORTLE
MICHAEL ODEWALE
A charming and affable stage presence, a fresh and unfiltered voice delivering sharp and beautifully delivered content, Michael has well and truly caught the attention of the comedy world. His debut show #BlackBearsMatter achieved critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe 2019, earning him a nomination for Best Newcomer in the Dave Edinburgh Comedy awards. TV credits include: BBC Presents: Standup For Live Comedy; Mock The Week; The Mash Report, Chris Ramsey’s Stars Up Central and more.
“An arresting knack for storytelling… with grit and relevance.” - CHORTLE
DAVE FULTON
A highly sought-after comedian, Dave started making a living in standup Stateside back in the day, never envisioning that it would lead to living in London and performing the world over. His fast-paced, no holds barred, deceptively laid-back manner pulls an audience into his orbit, whirls them into (sometimes horrified) delight, as often as not taking the roof off. TV credits include Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Live At The Comedy Store, They Think It’s All Over and more, as well as guest appearances on BBC TV and radio news programmes. There are acting credits too, and a series of dark comedy short films, Bad Times5, written and directed by Dave, is available on iTunes.
“Tough talking, risk taking, intelligent, relaxed, and clearly out to create a bit of mischief.” - TIME OUT
JOHN MOLONEY - compere
Industry legend and esteemed co-producer of the Balham Comedy Festival, John Moloney has been a professional comedian for more years than he’d care to mention. John epitomises dry, dispassionate delivery and is master of the droll one-liner. He entertains audiences across the globe with his crafted, intelligent and original standup. Twice winner of the Best Live Performer award at the London Comedy Festival, John is one of Britain’s most in-demand comedians and also highly sought-after on the corporate circuit. Delighted to have been nominated Best Live Standup at the British Comedy Awards, he was even happier to win in the category Outstanding Contribution to UK Comedy. His Radio 4 The John Moloney Show has been BBC Pick of the Year and subsequently re-commissioned.
“Gifted and unpretentious.” - THE TIMES
SATURDAY 9th - BEST OF BANANA CABARET - Door 6.30pm / Show 8.30pm-11pm / £18 + bf
CARL DONNELLY
Carl is an accomplished standup comedian, regularly in demand at the finest comedy clubs in the UK, Ireland, and overseas in particular at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. A prolific writer and an authentic voice, his conversational, silly sense of humour has secured the high respect of his peers and a host of prestigious awards, including Chortle Best Club Comedian, and Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year. His show Relax Everyone, It’s Carl Donnelly! was nominated for the prized Edinburgh Best Newcomer Award, with Now That’s What I Call Carl! Volume V being nominated for Best Comedy Show. TV and radio include Mock The Week, Stand Up Central and Loose Ends. Carl co-hosts the Two Vegan Idiots podcast with fellow comedian Julian Deane.
“One of the most engaging and bendy-minded comedians on the circuit.” - THE GUARDIAN
RIA LINA
Ria Lina is quickly becoming a household name. Funny and likeable, hugely admired as an accomplished comedian, actor and writer, and for a formidable work ethic, she commands the stage with a natural ease, energy and fierceness of delivery. A BSc in Experimental Biology, an MSc in Forensic Science and a PhD in Virology mean it’s not only her standup that’s intelligent. Ria is in demand for her scientific insight, her confident delivery and biting wit, and is a regular pundit on TV and radio. She is a regular guest on such shows as Have I Got News For You, Mock The Week, The News Quiz and major UK podcasts.
“Fearless, provocative and very funny.” - THE SCOTSMAN
RADU ISAC
Radu Isac is a young but veteran Romanian comedian and he’s a very nice person, always considering others first and never far from a compliment. Radu’s comedy and personal hygiene are of an excellent standard. Beginning in Bucharest 2006, he switched in 2013 to doing his standup in English to be understood by audiences on the LA open mic circuit. He moved to London, quickly made it to the final of English Comedian of the Year, and became a respected circuit professional. With appearances on multiple BBC and Comedy Central shows, Radu has also supported the likes of Louie CK and Jim Gaffigan, and has a couple of Edinburgh solo show runs under his belt. He is an impressive, intelligently subversive, spellbinding comedian.
“Simultaneously sweet and dark, cynical and tricksy.” - CHORTLE
JACK GLEADOW
Jack Gleadow (like meadow) is the best thing to come out of Hull since the M62. A multi award-winning comedian, including Leicester Mercury Champion and Amused Moose National New Comic, Jack is a complete natural and one of the most unique performers on the UK circuit today. Taking his inspiration from the Golden Age of Variety, Jack is a one-man standup variety show, complete with sounds, stories, jokes and a scooter. Gags, tales and funny sentences, this is old school comedy for the modern age. Catch this irresistible and infectiously daft rising star here!
“He’ll be as big as Lee Evans one day.” - BEYOND THE JOKE
JOHN MOLONEY - compere (as above)
SUNDAY 10th - SOLO SHOWS
SARA PASCOE - Success Story (Work in Progress) - Door 4pm / Show 5pm-6pm / £12 + bf
Sara decided she wanted to be famous at 14 years old. Since then she has auditioned for Barrymore, scared Pete Burns and ruined Hugh Grant’s birthday - but look at her now… (please look, she needs you to look. And clap. And laugh. And then clap again…)
The star of BBC2 standup special Sara Pascoe: LadsLadsLads is back with a brand new standup show! A highly acclaimed comedian, writer, and actor, she wrote and starred in her recent BBC2 sitcom Out Of Her Mind, and is the celebrated host of BBC2’s The Great British Sewing Bee, BBC’s Last Woman On Earth, Dave’s Comedians Giving Lectures and Comedy Central’s Guessable.
Garnering 4 star reviews left, right and centre, Sara also wrote and performed the BBC Radio 4 series Modern Monkey and the BBC2 short Sara Pascoe vs Monogamy, which was inspired by her first book Animal. Her second book, Sex Power Money, was a Sunday Times bestseller, and the accompanying podcast of the same name garnered millions of listens and multiple award nominations during its run.
“She’s a comic in her prime.” - THE TIMES
SHAPARAK KHORSANDI - Work in Progress - Door 6.30pm / Show 7.30pm-8.30pm / £13 + bf
Making a welcome return to the festival solo show stage with an eagerly anticipated new work in progress, comedian author, columnist and cultural icon Shaparak Khorsandi is a woman of many parts. Brandishing her spit-and-sawdust-comic credentials proudly, the live stage is her element. You’ll have seen and heard her on countless TV and Radio shows, like Mock The Week, QI, Have I Got News For You and 8 Out Of 10 Cats but it’s on a live stage where she truly shines. Top comedian and all-round delight, Shaparak is a one-woman rollercoaster of irrepressible fun.
“Makes live comedy thrilling.” - EVENING STANDARD
MARK STEEL - Solo show - Door 9pm / Show 9.15pm-10.15pm / £15 + bf
Mark Steel started doing standup in 1982, around the circuit of bizarre gigs, going on after jugglers and escapologists and people that banged nails into their ears. At last there came a regular slot on Radio 4’s Loose Ends, where he met Joseph Heller, Christopher Lee and Gary Glitter. Four radio series of The Mark Steel Solution aired on BBC Radio, and another about cricket which provoked fury in the Daily Express. Mark was very proud to present three series of Extra Time to possibly no listeners at all. Then there were four series of The Mark Steel Lectures on Radio 4, the book It’s Not A Runner Bean, another book Reasons to be Cheerful, and three BBC TV series of the Lectures. Mark has written weekly columns in Socialist Worker, The Guardian and The Independent, and the book Vive le Revolution. Further TV appearances include Have I Got News For You, QI and Room 101. On Question Time he was confused when he insulted a member of the Tory shadow cabinet who afterwards he said he was splendid and invited him for a drink.
“I’ve spoken at lots of demonstrations and union meetings and protests, and appeared at quite a few benefits, and yet capitalism still seems to rule the world. Maybe I’m a jinx.” - MARK STEEL
MONDAY 11th - SOLO SHOWS
ELEANOR TIERNAN - Away With The Faires - Door 6.30pm / Show 7.30pm-8.30pm / £13 + bf
Glorious mistakes. Glaring errors. Gallant tales of mischief and misconduct. A bonkers hour of standup, story and song from Fest’s idiot savant. Let’s allow others to speak for her: “Fun, fanciful and fearless” (Graham Norton); “Masterful” (Chortle); “Amiably acerbic” (Stewart Lee); “Cliché-free and completely unconventional” (Herald); “Runs the gamut from stupidity to sharp, humane to topsy-turvy hilarious… brilliantly original, logic-askew epiphanies” (Fest).
With a uniquely whimsical yet astute take on observational comedy, Eleanor Tiernan’s style is filled with her trademark sharp wit. Her solo shows regularly receive rave reviews, and she has been named on the Sunday Times list of Top Ten Female Stand Ups To Watch and Chortle’s 2019: The Ones To Watch. Eleanor is invited to perform at the worlds most prestigious comedy festivals, and guests on the top TV and radio panel shows. Most recently Eleanor appears in Holding, a new TV adaptation Graham Norton’s debut novel. There is an impressive list of comedy writing and acting credits.
“Tiernan boasts a magnificent curl in her lip and snarl in her voice.” - THE SUNDAY TIMES
SIMON BRODKIN - Edinburgh 2022 Preview Show- Door 9pm / Show 9.15pm-10.15pm / £13 + bf
After a sensational sell out debut standup tour, Simon Brodkin is back with a brand new show packed with outrageous gags, first class audience interaction and Simon’s unique and hilarious take on the world. Definitely not to be missed. See it here first! Leaving behind the heady success of character comedy, Simon Brodkin now wins high critical acclaim in his own name. His standup show 100% Simon Brodkin was listed by The Guardian and the Evening Standard among their Best Comedy Shows at the Edinburgh Festival, and a second show Troublemaker was the must-see comedy of 2021. Dubbed ‘the world’s most famous blagger’ by The Daily Telegraph, the untameable prankster - and erstwhile London wide boy Lee Nelson character - has repeatedly hit global headlines with his high profile stunts. There are too many TV appearances to list.
“A prodigious talent.” - THE TIMES
TUESDAY 12TH - SOLO SHOWS
SEANN WALSH - Seann Walsh Is Dead. Happy Now? (Work in Progress) - Door 6.30pm / Show 7.30pm-8.30pm / £12 + bf
Charming and charismatic, Brighton’s born motor-mouth Seann Walsh is one the most frighteningly talented acts on the UK comedy scene. His physical comedy is fantastic and he draws exquisitely funny material from even the most mundane occurrence. Within two years of his first comedy performance in 2007, Seann won the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year, swiftly followed by such other coveted accolades as Chortle Best Breakthrough Act Nominee and Chortle Best Compere Nominee. As seen on Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, The Royal Variety, the front page of every fuc%ing newspaper. He has recently made his full comedy special Kiss available for free on YouTube, where it’s doing its best to break the internet.
“Unquestionably the best observational comic of his generation.” - THE GUARDIAN
MARCUS BRIGSTOCKE - Absolute Shower - Edinburgh Preview - Door 9pm / Show 9.15pm-10.15pm / £15 + bf
Multi award-winning comedian Marcus brings this blisteringly funny hour of stand-up to Balham Comedy Festival before heading to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe - 'Devilishly Funny’ - TheArtsDesk.com. This joyful show celebrates the personal triumphs and small victories of the past couple of years... while acknowledging it has, in so many ways, on so many days, for the most part, been an absolute shower of shit. Master of satirical comedy, achingly funny over a bewildering range of topics from climate change to religious extremism, immigration to loans companies, compensation culture to women’s magazines, not to mention his own middle class angst, Balham resident Marcus Brigstocke is a major comedy, writing and acting talent. He performs standup nationally to sell out audiences on tour; BBC Radio 4 has become a second home to him; he’s notched up an impressive list of TV credits; and has trod the boards of the West End to critical acclaim.
“Makes you laugh, think and then fight back the tears.” - THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
WEDNESDAY 13th - SOLO SHOWS
ZOE LYONS - Live - Door 6.30pm / Show 7.30pm-8.30pm / £14 + bf
After the last couple of years Zoe is just excited to be back on stage. She kept herself busy during the pandemic by having a monumental mid-life crisis. It involved buying a sports car and running a 100k ultra marathon, among other ill thought through endeavours. It’s time to try and put the wheels back on her life. A much loved and highly respected comedian, Zoe brings a solo show to the festival for the first time. Host of BBC2’s Lightning and Live At The Apollo, Zoe is a regular on Have I Got News For You, QI, Mock The Week and is very much in demand on TV and radio generally. To watch her perform is to watch a masterclass, wishing she would stop because it hurts but never wanting her to stop.
“Just hit after hit after hit from a standup who’s very much operating at advanced level.” - CHORTLE
MARK THOMAS - Black and White - Preview show - Door 9pm / Show 9.15pm-10.15pm / £14 + bf
Join Mark as he tries out material for his brand new show. Expect creative fun from one of our oldest surviving alternative comics. Taking down politicians. Mucking about. New ideas and finding HOPE. This award-winning comedian (is there any other type?) asks how did we get here? What are we going to do about it? Who’s up for a sing song? After lockdowns and isolation this show is about the simple act of being in a room together and toppling international capitalism. Need we say more?
“You’ll leave recommitted to the fight against this appalling authoritarian government, to keep that tradition alive.” - THE GUARDIAN (2021)
THURSDAY 14th - SOLO SHOWS
DANE BAPTISTE - Work In Progress - Door 6.30pm / Show 6.30pm-7.30pm / £12+ bf
Join Dane Baptiste as he workshops material for a new show. Original, provocative and exceptionally prolific, Dane is one of the hottest names in British comedy, rapidly becoming a household name. He made history in 2014 as the first Black British act to be nominated for a comedy award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. His 2021 smash hit pilot Bamous aired on BBC1 to a huge popular response, charting in the Top 10 comedy TV ratings in the week of its release, and profiled by Dawn French and Naomi Campbell.
Dane’s numerous TV credits include Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, The Stand Up Sketch Show, Black, British and Funny, Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, Roast Battle, Live from the Comedy Store and more.
“Powerful and persuasive.” - FEST MAGAZINE
LUCY PORTER - Wake Up Call - Door 9pm / Show 9.15pm-10.15pm / £12 + bf
A brand new show from fringe favourite Lucy Porter, Wake Up Call is a show about revelations, realisations and epiphanies - both large and small. Covering bin collections, the novels of Jean Rhys, cats, school fair booze tombolas, the Scottish Enlightenment, pressure washers and Huel, it’s an exuberant, silly show with some wisdom sprinkled on top. Hugely in demand as a standup comedian, Lucy is veteran of the UK comedy circuit. She has performed 13 one woman shows at the Edinburgh Festival and taken her comedy all over the world from Las Vegas to Cape Town. She’s a familiar face on such TV shows as Would I Lie To You, Live At The Apollo and QI; a familiar voice on radio shows like The News Quiz and The Now Show. Lucy is a keen amateur quizzer, raising money for charity on TV shows like The Weakest Link and Pointless, and winning both Celebrity Mastermind and The Chase.
“Impeccably punchlined anecdotes… genuinely delightful.” - THE TELEGRAPH
FRIDAY 15th - BEST OF BANANA CABARET - DOOR 6.30pm / SHOW 8.30pm-11pm / £18 + bf
BEN NORRIS
Renowned for his incredibly relaxed stage persona, Ben is a highly experienced and hugely admired headlining standup. With a razor sharp edge honed over a couple of decades commitment to the craft of which he is a true master, Ben consistently delivers sharply crafted and polished material. His innate, exquisite improvisational skills are the stuff of legend in the comedy fraternity and the envy of his peers. He works an audience like nobody else. Ben has written and performed solo shows at the Edinburgh Festival, and acted in the play The Last Minutes, broadcast on Radio 4, developed with the Comedians Theatre Company. TV credits include Mock the Week, The Comedy Store, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and They Think It’s All Over. Can’t call yourself a comedy fan if you ain’t seen Ben Norris!
“Unbelievably brilliant” - JASON MANFORD
SARAH CALLAGHAN
Sarah Callaghan hit the ground running and is taking the comedy circuit by storm. A complete natural onstage and effortlessly appealing, radiating confidence and with an original, refreshing voice, Sarah has got everyone excited. Named One To Watch by Time Out, her critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe debut with Elephant, a confessional exploration of escape and ambition, played to packed houses and received great reviews across the board. Elephant subsequently toured to the prestigious Soho Theatre for a run of shows, again to acclaim, and then on to the Perth and Sydney Comedy Festivals in Australia. Her status is cemented by her Malcolm Hardee Award nomination for Act Most Likely To Earn A Million Quid. Her comedy is well-received wherever she travels across the globe, and Sarah is also in demand for her writing skills.
“The instant she steps on stage you know you’re in the presence of someone new and special.” - THE MIRROR
CAREY MARX
A circuit veteran, Marx concocts his own blend of dark humour with mischief and glee. His wilful disregard for the controversial and taboo is tempered with his ability to find joy in the most unexpected places. An international multi-award winner, Carey is no stranger to screen or radio with credits ranging from Channel 4’s Gas to BBC One’s The Stand Up Show as well as his own Radio 4 show, Intensive Carey adapted from his wildly successful Edinburgh Festival Fringe show of the same title. With such a unique voice it is no surprise that Carey has written for the likes of Newzoids (ITV), The Now Show, (Radio 4), and Nick Doody’s Bigipedia (BBC Radio 4). Join Carey this festival at his life-pondering, behaviour-dissecting, twisted, brutal and honest best.
“Highly engaging, devilish, menacing and totally mesmerizing.” - EDINBURGH GUIDE
FINLAY CHRISTIE
Fast-rising star Finlay Christie writes and creates interesting things that make people laugh. He did his first stand-up show at the age of 6, and went on to win the prestigious new act competition So You Think You’re Funny in 2019, in the footsteps of past winners like Lee Mack and Sara Millican. He has performed all over the UK and France, in English and French, alongside live comedy’s best. With over 170k followers on TikTok and 8.5 million likes for his original content, as well as online content for Amazon Prime, Finlay is really getting noticed. He also has an impressive acting CV, including BBC2’s The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff.
“Bags of energy, sweet and comical, different enough to make his mark.” - BEYOND THE JOKE
JOHN MOLONEY - compere (as above)
SATURDAY 16th - BEST OF BANANA CABARET - DOOR 6.30pm / SHOW 8.30pm-11pm / £18 + bf
RACHEL PARRIS
Special guest on the festival closing night, Rachel Parris really needs no introduction. An award-winning musical comedian, actor, improviser and presenter, she was nominated for BAFTA for Best Entertainment Performance in 2019, and beat Tiffany Haddish, Ellen Degeneres and Amy Schumer to become Female First’s Comedian of the Year 2018. Her incisive and hilarious segments of the hit BBC2 series The Mash Report, and her Lockdown Lipsync videos, have been worldwide viral smash hits all across social media and firmly established her as a comedy star. A popular voice on Radio 4 panel shows, a founder member of the acclaimed improv show Austentatious, Rachel has taken many critically acclaimed shows to the Edinburgh Fringe, Soho Theatre and on tour. It’s Fun To Pretend (2018-19) was extended due to popular demand and culminated in two sold-out shows at London’s Bloomsbury Theatre.
“Her delivery and timing are as precise and skilled as hand-etched glass. This is classy, clever, controlled comedy.” - THE SCOTSMAN
VIDURA BANDARA RAJAPAKSA
Vidura is a Sri Lankan comedian based in London, via Malaysia and Berlin. His dead pan style puts audiences at ease while challenging conventional wisdom with a unique tone that is often irreverent, at times poignant, and always hysterical. He was placed third in 2Northdown’s New Act Competition, and made his UK TV debut on the 2021 Christmas Special of ITV’s The Stand Up Sketch Show.
“Intriguing… modestly-spoken style camouflaging some provocative ideas.” - CHORTLE
KEITH FARNAN
Irresistible funny Keith Farnan is an an internationally renowned Irish comedian in high demand. His hilarious and unique shows engage his audience to explore major social issues with satire and insight, at clubs and festivals across the UK, Europe and the world. A former solicitor on Death Row, Keith began his standup career in Ireland and quickly reached headliner status. He has appeared on Michael MacIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Montreal’s Just For Laughs, Showtime’s Live from Amsterdam, as well as hosting his own standup documentary Money, Money, Money for RTE exploring the financial collapse in Ireland.
“Artful, satirical, with a lightness of touch and a hefty helping of roguish Celtic charm.” - THE SUNDAY TIMES
JOE WELLS
Unexpected, fiercely intelligent and decidedly funny, Joe Wells’ powerful jokes and razor-sharp political comment never fail to win an audience to him. An autistic comedian, writer and speaker from Portsmouth, Joe shot to fame in 2020 when his video about having a non-autistic brother garnered 2.5 million views across platforms. He is in demand all over the comedy circuit, boasts winner, finalist and nominee in an array of prestigious awards, has appeared on BBC2, Dave, BBC3 and opened for Frankie Boyle and Alexei Sayle. Worthy of stardom.
“Some of the most surprising and thought-provoking material coming from any comedian.”- THE GUARDIAN
JOHN MOLONEY - compere (as above)
