Production company Berk’s Nest has announced the initial slate of programming for The Bush Comedy Festival which will be taking over various venues in Shepherd’s Bush from 17-20th July 2024. Tickets are available on Wednesday 5th June at 9.00 am via www.thebushcomedyfestival.co.uk. The festival has been made possible with the support of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.
The Bush Comedy Festival promises four days of unmissable live comedy, including brand new material in work in progress shows from some of the most established comics on the UK scene, live podcasts, and an all-star opening gala show - with many more to be announced. This will be a comedy extravaganza like no other - prepare to laugh until your sides ache, see your favourite comics, and create unforgettable memories at the Shepherd’s Bush Comedy Festival. This is the perfect opportunity to experience the joy of live comedy in West London!
Owen Donovan, Managing Director, Berk’s Nest: "I'm thrilled to be bringing some of the most exciting comedy shows of the year to some of my favourite venues in London. With the backing of Hammersmith & Fulham council, this festival will be a real staple in the Summer calendar for West London. With a range of shows from our all-star opening gala, through to TV names and some of the most exciting emerging acts in the country in our smaller rooms, this is going to be four days you'll want to stick in your comedy calendar. And there's many more shows still to be announced!"
For the first time, The Bush Comedy Festival is programmed and produced by award-winning live comedy production company Berk’s Nest. Berk’s Nest curated last year’s Roundhouse Comedy Festival, featuring shows from James Acaster, Katherine Ryan, and Lolly Adefope. They produce UK tours from the likes of Catherine Cohen, Nick Mohammed, and All Killa No Filla to regular line-up shows including Live at the Clapham Grand, which has been headlined by Nish Kumar, Sam Campbell, Ed Gamble, Rose Matafeo, and many more.
JUST ANNOUNCED PROGRAMME SLATE (all shows 60 minutes unless noted):
RACHEL FAIRBURN – SIDE EYE I WEDS 17 JULY, 7pm | NEXT DOOR RECORDS
Rachel Fairburn is back with seven deadly characters. We'd say Rachel can't wait to see you there, but she's not technically in the show (the devil might be…) Co-host of International smash-hit podcast All Killa No Filla and as seen on Live at the Apollo (BBC Two), Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled (Dave), Richard Osman's House of Games (BBC Two) and Russell Howard Hour Life Lesson (Sky). 'Very much the rock'n'roll star of British comedy' (Rolling Stone). 'Huge presence in a pint-sized frame' ★★★★ (Chortle). 'Bright, brave and bitterly enjoyable' ★★★★ (Skinny).
SHEPHERD’S BUSH COMEDY FESTIVAL OPENING GALA I WEDS 17 JULY, 7.30pm - 10pm | BUSH HALL
An unmissable night of live comedy to celebrate the first night of the Shepherd’s Bush Comedy Festival, filled with an all-star line-up. The first name to be announced is Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner & Netflix star Catherine Cohen, with many more exciting names to be announced
MICHAEL ODEWALE: OF MIKE AND MEN – WORK IN PROGRESS |WEDS 17 JULY, 9PM | NEXT DOOR RECORDS
Fresh off the back of his Live at The Apollo debut and Dave Edinburgh Comedy Award nomination, Michael Odewale returns with a new work in progress follow up to his smash hit show #BlackBearsMatter. WINNER: LEICESTER COMEDY FESTIVAL BEST SHOW As seen on: Live at the Apollo (BBC Two), Mock The Week (BBC Two) Jonathan Ross Comedy Club (ITV) Ben Elton’s Friday Night Live (C4), Stand up Sketch Show (ITV).
KEMAH BOB: MISS FORTUNATE – WORK IN PROGRESS |THURS 18 JULY, 7PM | NEXT DOOR RECORDS
Life is gunna life and brains are gunna brain. A debut hour as raw and silly as you’d expect from acclaimed oversharer Kemah Bob. As seen on QI, Richard Osman’s House of Games, Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club, Comedy Central Live, Don’t Hate The Playaz, and Guessable. As heard on the Off Menu podcast, The Guilty Feminist, James Acaster’s Perfect Sounds, Sarah Millican’s Elephant in the Room, Springleaf, and Brett Goldstein’s Films To Be Buried With. Tour support for Hannah Gadsby, Nish Kumar and Desiree Burch. Host of the FOC IT UP Comedy Club & podcast.
SIMON AMSTELL - WORK IN PROGRESS I THU 18 JULY, 7PM I BUSH HALL
Simon Amstell performs new material for a possible forthcoming tour.
'The undisputed king of the stand up confessional' Evening Standard, ‘Simon Amstell has a gift for taking a social norm and gently mocking it until it seems utterly ridiculous’ New York Times 'No one zeros in on human comedy …. quite like Simon Amstell. He’s palpably having a great time. As indeed are his audience' The Guardian.
TAROT: SHUFFLE – WORK IN PROGRESS |THURSDAY 18 JULY, 7PM | BUSH THEATRE (STUDIO)
The best show of 2019 according to Chortle. The sixth-best show of 2022 according to The Guardian. Come watch us continue our slow descent into mediocrity. They (our parents, partners, children) say ‘Sketch is dead’, but if it’s dead then where’s all our money going? A brand new show from the critically-acclaimed, nightie-clad sketch-zealots. ‘Bark-out-loud funny… the whole show is startlingly live' ★★★★ (Guardian). 'One of the balls-out funniest show of the Fringe' ★★★★½ (Chortle). 'Tarot will not give you nightmares, though you might wake laughing your head off' ★★★★ (Evening Standard). ★★★★ (Telegraph).
SOPHIE DUKER: BUT DADDY I LOVE HER – WORK IN PROGRESS |THURSDAY 18 JULY, 9PM | BUSH THEATRE (STUDIO)
The sexiest comic alive (please do not factcheck!) brings a preview of her delusional new show to Shepherds Bush Comedy Festival. 'Extremely funny' ★★★★ (Scotsman). 'An incomparable stand-up voice of our time' ★★★★ (VoiceMag). 'Laugh-out loud funny' ★★★★ (Telegraph). 'Not scared to push the boundaries' ★★★★ (Fest). ★★★★ (Evening Standard). ★★★★ (Times). ★★★★ (Skinny). ★★★★★ (ToDoList).
LARRY DEAN – WORK IN PROGRESS |THURS 18 JULY, 9PM | NEXT DOOR RECORDS
Three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee tries some new jokes. As seen and heard on Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, Michael Mcintyre's Big Show and Shared Baggage. ★★★★★ - TELEGRAPH, INDEPENDENT, HERALD “An absolute mastery of stand up, pulling faces, putting on voices, never missing a beat or the chance of a punchline.” ★★★★ Beyond the Joke
GRACE CAMPBELL IS ON HEAT I FRIDAY 19 JULY, 7PM | BUSH HALL
A coming of age show about a bizarre turn of events that happened after Grace Campbell got a dog. Grace Campbell is 30, and she's been making some huge life changes ahead of her next glorious decade. In her hotly anticipated brand-new show Grace Campbell Is On Heat, the unwaveringly honest comedian explores what she wants from life, love, and friendship. Get ready to see Grace at her best: fiery and unhinged. And perhaps at her most mature, but no promises.
CELYA AB: OF ALL PEOPLE |FRIDAY 19 JULY, 7PM | BUSH THEATRE (STUDIO)
Celya is good in a crisis but cries at flashmob videos. Following multiple sell-out tours and barnstorming appearances at JFL Montreal and Melbourne ICF, the Live At The Apollo star returns to tackle the big three: beauty, money and the void.).As seen/heard on BBC, Comedy Central, The Guilty Feminist and Off Menu; support for Maria Bamford and St. Vincent. 'A comic shooting to fame' ★★★★ (List) ★★★★ (Scotsman)
COLIN HOULT: COLIN – WORK IN PROGRESS |FRIDAY 19 JULY, 9PM | BUSH THEATRE (STUDIO)
The acclaimed comedian and 2022 Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee returns with a stand-up show about family, fatherhood, and a formative childhood experience with a ouija board and a gorilla. As seen in Afterlife (Netflix), Avoidance (BBC), Ghosts (BBC), This Time With Alan Partridge (BBC), and judging the 2023 BBC New Comedy Awards.
SARA PASCOE – I AM STRANGE GLOOP I FRIDAY 19 JULY, 9PM | BUSH HALL
Apparently caterpillars completely break down into goo before they become butterflies. Come join comedian Sara Pascoe as she reconsiders and reconstructs herself after having two babies and very little sleep.
COMEDY CLUB 4 KIDS I SAT 20 JULY, 3PM | BUSH HALL - Suitable for ages 6+
Since 2005, the Comedy Club 4 Kids has been getting the best stand-ups and sketch acts from the international circuit to do their thing for an audience of children (aged 6+) and their families… but without the rude bits! The show is family friendly, but without any patronising idiocy. In fact, it's just like a normal comedy club, but it's on in the day, kids are allowed in, and thus there is a higher than usual chance of the entire audience claiming to be called Bob. "A highlight for children in recent years, giving them a taste of some of the biggest names in comedy... with the fun, rowdy feel of a real comedy club" - The Guardian
EMMA SIDI IS SUE GRAY – WORK IN PROGRESS |SAT 20 JULY, 3PM | BUSH THEATRE (STUDIO)
Character comedian Emma Sidi is back. And now she’s Sue Gray. But who is Sue Gray? As seen on TV, such as Starstruck, Pls Like & Ghosts “Bonkers originality…A-grade stuff, invigoratingly fresh” ★★★★ Telegraph
PAUL WILLIAMS: MAMIYA 7 – WORK IN PROGRESS |SAT 20 JULY, 5PM | BUSH HALLThe star of Taskmaster New Zealand returns after sell-out shows at Melbourne, New Zealand, and London’s Soho Theatre. Paul bought a second-hand film camera last year and it turned out the previous owner had left a used-up roll of film in it. This show is about that. Good for all ages but if you're really old, please only come if you promise to stay calm.
MATT FORDE – WORK IN PROGRESS|SAT 20 JULY, 7PM | BUSH THEATRE (STUDIO)
Matt Forde (Spitting Image, HIGNFY, British Scandal, The Last Leg, The Royal Variety Performance) explores the dark comedy horror that is British politics, right off the back of the next election. Plus silly voices.
ALICE SNEDDEN: HIGHLY CREDIBLE – WORK IN PROGRESS |SAT 20 JULY, 9PM | BUSH THEATRE (STUDIO)
After years away from stand-up (due to the global pandemic and a lack of interest in being out late), the co-writer and co-director of BBC and HBO’s ‘Starstruck’ returns with a brand new show! 'Highly Credible' will cover: Alice’s life in the last three years; her car getting stolen; fertility; a bit of gay stuff (yet to be written but feels pretty likely).
“Rip-roaring stand up” ★★★★ Fest Mag ★★★★ Three Weeks ★★★★ The List ★★★★ The Wee Review ★★★★ Funny Women
FESTIVAL VENUE SPACES INCLUDE:
BUSH HALL
Originally built by a publisher in 1904, as one of a trio of London dancehalls he built for each of his daughters, Bush Hall is the only surviving of the three. In 2001, the building was returned to its former musical glory...All Edwardian grandeur has been restored, 6 chandeliers replaced and ornate cherubs rediscovered. The space has enjoyed past lives as a soup kitchen in WWII, a bingo hall, a rehearsal space for the likes of The Who, Adam Faith and Cliff Richard in the late ’50s and 60s, and finally a snooker & social club in the ’80s and 90s. It was restored to its intended, musical, purpose in 2001 by present owners Charlie Raworth & Emma Hutchinson. Today, Bush Hall hosts everything from up-and-coming musicians, comedy and cabaret shows, wedding receptions, conferences, corporate events to film shoots. Our space boasts high ceilings, beautiful acoustics, much history and many stories. We are a venue quite different from the rest.
BUSH THEATRE STUDIO
The Bush Theatre is a world-famous home for new plays and an internationally renowned champion of playwrights. They discover, nurture and produce the best new playwrights from the widest range of backgrounds from their home in a distinctive corner of west London. They are excited by exceptional new voices, stories and perspectives – particularly those with contemporary bite which reflect the vibrancy of British culture now. Their mission is to champion, uplift and support unheard voices and to develop the artists and audiences of the future. They stage surprising and ambitious shows, with their work often going on to tour or transfer to the West End.
NEXT DOOR RECORDS:
Next Door Records is a Record Shop, Café, Bar and Bottle Shop that hosts a range of different events. West-London’s newest record shop specialises in forward thinking live and electronic music. In the daytime NDR operates as a record shop as well as a comfortable workspace. In the evening, serving natural wines and a range of different cocktails NDR has an exciting drinks list. Next Door Records hosts regular live gigs, DJ's and pop-up events - there's always something on.
FESTIVAL TICKET DETAILS:
Tickets go on general sale Wednesday 5th June via thebushcomedyfestival.co.uk
Pictured: Celya B by James Alexander, Simon Amstell by Harry Carr
