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Bristol Comedy & Stand-Up Events

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Bristol's Comedy Scene

Bristol is an essential stop-off in the UK comedy circuit. The Comedy Box is probably the city’s most prolific stand up promoter, regular shows bring crowds to The Hen and Chicken, The Tobacco Factory and Colston Hall’s ‘The Lantern’. In summer The Comedy Garden in Queens Square brings a who’s who in British comedy with past guests including Stewart Lee, Marcus Brigstocke, Mark Watson and Shappi Khorsandi. The Loco Club (beneath Temple Meads train station) is home to occasional stand up nights promoted by Bristol Underground Comedy. In the city centre alongside the headliners found at Colston Hall and Bristol Hippodrome, Riproar Comedy host stand-up every Friday and Saturday evening.

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Our recent comedy recommendations

Sell out warning! Extraordinary feats of solo performance for Mayfest! Experimental theatre maverick Tim Crouch invites us into a voyeuristic and dystopian VR production of King Lear that only he can see, shaking the very nature of performance along the way. In this extraordinary solo work, Tim Crouch draws on ideas of virtual reality to send King Lear back to the wreckage of the world they left

Sell out warning! True cinephiles judge the time of year by the days until the cult horror/action/sci-fi Forbidden Worlds bonanza. 4 days of mind-bending screenings from must-revisit blockbusters (Speed, Stargate, Timecop) to rarely-shown gems (Soviet dystopian comedy Kin-dza-dza). Plus a deep dive into the Killer Queens of the screen with a special 4K restoration of Luc Besson’s uber-stylish sociopath Nikita. Killer Queens, Outer Worlds and a Genre Cinema Icon!

Dare2's irregular all-day dragtacular returns with the infamous Lady Imelda, Drag Race UK' Cornish queen Vicki Vivacious and, as always, your host will be Bristol’s brightest, Alyssa Van Delle. Drag Queens galore

New queer classic in the making: in Cowboys and Lesbians, two teenagers escape the real life inertia of secondary school for the dream world of a sweeping South Western ranch romance - we’ve all been there. A comic coming-of-age charmer exploring desire, gender and fantasy. Queer coming of age rom-com play

What our editors say

“Mark’s now famous mix of standup, theatre, journalism and the odd bout of performance art has made him one of our oldest surviving alternative comics. Often referred to as the ‘godfather of political comedy’ (amidst many other things), Mark has been performing comedy for nearly 40 years.”
From: Mark Thomas: Gaffa Tapes

“Join us for a night of spontaneous laughter at The Improv Spotlight. Immerse yourself in the world of unscripted comedy as two talented groups from our vibrant community take centre stage. These groups will weave unique stories, characters, and humour on the spot for your entertainment. The Spotlight highlights the spontaneous comedy of improvised theatre and proudly showcases the diverse skills of local troupes and artists within our community.”
From: The Improv Spotlight

“The theatrical phenomenon that is Blue Man Group are back, bringing their award-winning Bluevolution World Tour – a euphoric celebration of human connection through art, music, comedy and non-verbal communication – to the UK for the first time.”
From: Blue Man Group: Bluevolution World Tour

“Bristol comedian and club favourite Burt Williamson, 'hilarious at every turn' **** (Scotsman), performs his second hour of stand-up comedy, "Riding Bareback Through Your Mind" in the caves in Basement 45. Filming the hour for posterity after the success of his first stand-up special 200 IQ Audience Only, Burt amps up the ante with a jam packed offering of hilarity.”
From: Burt Williamson: Riding Bareback Through Your Mind

“Come along for a fun, funny, and fast-paced romp through the masterpieces of Jane Austen with The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged. Three nimble actors take on all of Austen’s beloved heroines, friends, and love interests—and her incisive social satire—in just 80 minutes. It is a truth universally acknowledged that an audience in possession of high spirits must be in want of a ticket to this big-hearted comedy that will delight Janeites and newcomers alike.”
From: The Complete Works of Jane Austen