Actually Rather Good Comedy Festival is a weekend comedy festival of Fringe previews and work-in-progress shows that brings the spirit of the Fringe to Shoreditch every July. Founded in 2012, the festival brings an attentively curated programme of sixty comedians — from big name TV favourites to up-and-coming newcomers — to the labyrinthine settings of Shoreditch Town Hall.

For a single (and ridiculously good value) ticket price, audiences get access to a whole weekend of new and exciting comedy. ARG sells day or weekend tickets with audience members free to see whichever acts they like — just like a music festival.

In 2016, ARGComFest became the first major comedy festival to have a gender-balanced programme and it continues to champion diversity and representation within comedy.

This year’s festival will include creator of Channel 4’s Trip Hazard, the raucous and rip-roaringly funny Rosie Jones; reigning Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Jordan Brookes; silly, sexy, savage stand-up from Taskmaster titan Sophie Duker (pictured); and star of Netflix’s Philly Philly Wang Wang — it’s Phil Wang!

The weekend will also include three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Josie Long; star of Mock The Week, QI, Late Night Mash and her very own Amazon Prime comedy special Olga Koch; and the visceral, real and achingly brave Colin Hoult with the final outing of Anna Mann.

There’ll be stand-up from the host of BBC Sounds’ Wheel of Misfortune Alison Spittle, sketch from creators of Radio 4’s Soundbleed — Tarot, and jokes about skinny jeans, learning Welsh and white supremacy from All Killa No Filla’s Kiri Pritchard-McLean. Plus numerous Edinburgh Comedy Award nominees including Glenn Moore, Jess Fostekew and Mat Ewins.

Other artists include Ania Magliano, Rachel Fairburn, Sean McLoughlin, Helen Bauer, Joz Norris, Sunil Patel, Celya AB, Sikisa, Leo Reich, Cerys Bradley and Lara Ricote. Hosts across the stages include Stuart Laws, Rose Johnson, Ian Smith and Nathaniel Metcalfe. The second half of the line-up will be announced in the coming weeks.

For the first time ever, ARGComFest also presents The Friday Night Show — a one-off spectacular show in Shoreditch Town Hall’s glamorous Assembly Hall featuring an all-star line-up including:

• ●  One of the UK's most exciting comedians and panel show regular — Phil Wang

• ●  Star of Live At The Apollo, 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Casualty — Rosie Jones

• ●  Triple Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and star of two comedy specials, Cara Josephine on Amazon Prime and Something Better on Netflix — Josie Long

• ●  Creator, curator and host of The FOC IT UP Comedy Club and tour support for Hannah Gadsby, Nish Kumar, Desiree Burch and Jess Fostekew — Kemah Bob

• ●  Host of hit podcast All Killa No Filla, as seen on Have I Got News For You?, Live at the Apollo and Would I Lie to You? — Kiri Pritchard-McLean

• ●  Plus many more names to be announced.

  Tickets for The Friday Night Show are available from Shoreditch Town Hall for just £18 — and weekend ticket holders will get discounted tickets for just £10!

  Festival Director Pax Lowey said:
  “I’m thrilled that we’re back, bigger and better than ever after such a long time! We’ve missed filling every nook and cranny in Shoreditch Town Hall with laughter and I truly can’t wait to welcome everyone back.

  “We’re celebrating our return with The Friday Night Show — a selection of ARG veterans along with some newer faces, it will give us the chance to usher everyone out of the basement and up into the glamorous Assembly Hall for a change!

  “This year’s weekend programme is truly outstanding too: such an innovative, diverse, exciting and — crucially — funny selection of comedians. Whatever your sense of humour, there really is something for everyone.

  “In previous years, the festival has been a total sell out. We’ve only announced around half of the line-up so far and we still have a few big names up our sleeve — so you better get tickets now to avoid missing out!”

  For this year’s full programme including artists and show information, visit argcomfest.com. The second half of the programme (30+ more acts) will be announced in the coming weeks.

  The Friday Night Show

  Friday 1st July — Doors at 7.30pm, starts at 8pm Tickets £18 standard / £10 for weekend ticket holders

  ARGComFest 2022

  Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd July — Doors at 12pm until late Weekend tickets £49 / Day tickets £32

  Venue: Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old Street, London EC1V 9LT
  Nearest Stations: Old Street (Tube) or Shoreditch High Street (Overground)

  Tickets available from Shoreditch Town Hall at: https://shoreditchtownhall.com/whats-on/

• Pictures by Edward Moore