Comedian Mark Watson has teamed up with worldwide streaming platform NextUp, in association with Impatient Productions, to curate the first online Access Festival from 3rd to 23rd January 2023. 

The fully accessible festival’s line-up features some of the most innovative comedians across 20 live shows, launching with the return of Kiri Pritchard McLean’s Covid Arms, and closing with a final variety show Live From The Monkey Barrel in Edinburgh, which will be performed for fans online, as well as to an in-person audience. In between, there’ll be solo shows from Laura Lexx, John Robertson, Bilal Zafar, Aurie Styla, Suchandrika Chakrabati, Pete Heat, Joz Norris and Sarah Keyworth. More acts to be announced.  

There will also be a reboot of two of Mark Watson’s successful online projects: No More Jockeys, the YouTube cult game played with Tim Key and Alex Horne and The Company – the sequel to The House – an online interactive choose-your-own-adventure movie which attracted, if anything, an even more fervent (if smaller) fan base in lockdown.

Featured on the NextUp digital platform, the acts will be performing from their own homes, alongside several live-streamed shows from the Monkey Barrel club in Edinburgh, Belly Laughs in Bristol, and NextUp's own studios in London.

Mark Watson says: “I’m thrilled to be curating this festival to celebrate all things digital and comedy. Online comedy was not a fad or a stopgap while we 'got through' the pandemic. It became a movement which opened up comedy to thousands of people who have had the door barred to them by health, economic, geographical or other factors. It isn't going away. Also, it will turn January into a month of pure fun - something scientists previously thought impossible.”

Tom Brandt, producer and director at NextUp, says: “Since NextUp first began hosting online shows and experimenting with what this new ‘online’ thing could be, the variety and sheer level of creativity has blown us away. We believe we’re seeing the emergence of a new form of comedy that can only supplement, promote and enhance the art form as a whole. Access Festival is the perfect vehicle to connect all of that with audiences across the UK (and the world!), and we’re excited to be working with Mark and Impatient to make this a reality.”

NextUp annual memberships are available to buy now for £30 to secure access to the entire festival. Access Festival is also partnering with Below The Line, a ticket-sharing charity of which Mark Watson is a trustee, to support those who would love to watch but cannot afford it. Free tickets can be arranged via @AccessComedyBTL and people are also welcome to donate towards this cause and buy someone a ticket. NextUp will match each donation. 

For more information visit www.nextupcomedy.com/access.

ACCESS FESTIVAL LINE-UP

more shows to be confirmed.