What happens when an institution of live music and performance in London (The Roundhouse) partners up with an award-winning live comedy production company (Berk’s Nest)? You get a comedy festival of epic, side-splitting proportions. Kicking off this weekend, on Saturday, August 5, The Roundhouse is bringing their first-ever Roundhouse Comedy Festival to London, with some HUGE names set to perform.
The Roundhouse Comedy Festival will run throughout August, before commencing with a closing gala on August 23. The very first event finds Rose Matafeo headlining the Opening Gala in the venue’s Main Space. During the evening, the audience will also be entertained by Catherine Cohen, Jordan Gray, Lolly Adefope, Rhys James, and Kiri Pritchard-Mclean.
Who’s performing at the Roundhouse Comedy Festival?
Because we simply couldn’t shout about it any louder if we tried, we’ll repeat it here – Katherine Ryan and James Acaster will be performing! Hot off the back of a global hit show for Amazon Prime, Backstage with Katherine Ryan (which was recorded at the Roundhouse), Katherine Ryan is back to headline their comedy festival. She’ll take to the stage for a night of stand-up, joined by special guests Stephen Bailey, Michelle De Swarte, Zach Zimmerman, and the London Gay Men’s Chorus.
Meanwhile, James Acaster will be performing four shows of his recently announced Heckler’s Welcome as part of the festival. The show, as the title suggests, actively invites audience members to break with live comedy convention as Acaster navigates the heckling in an ever-changing show.
But as excited as we are for James and Katherine, there are countless other huge names also taking to the stage over the duration of the festival.
Acts range from comic legends that are at the top of their games, to exciting new voices that are changing the landscape of comedy. The performances will cover the spectrum of comedy – from stand-up to sketch, ventriloquism, podcasts, and beyond. Many of the nights will feature multiple comics uniting for gala performances.
Mawaan will headline the final night at the Roundhouse Comedy Closing Gala. He’ll be joined over the course of the night by Ed Gamble, Fern Brady, Sophie Duker, and Two Hearts.
Among the other acts we’re most excited about are:
- Nish Kumar
- Dylan Moran
- Josh Glanc
- Nina Conti
- Sindhu Vee
- Suzi Ruffell
- Jessica Fostekew
- Desiree Burch
- Maisie Adam
- Sukh Ojla
- Simon Amstell
- Joe Lycett
- and many, many more.
The Roundhouse
The iconic Grade II* listed building in Camden has hosted performances from legendary artists from across the globe. The likes of The Doors, Sister Sledge, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Motörhead, James Brown, Jay-Z and LOADS more have performed there. It’s a fitting venue, then, for what might be one of London’s most exciting new comedy ventures.
Said Marcus Davey, CEO and Artistic Director, The Roundhouse:
“I’m really delighted that we’re presenting our first ever comedy festival at the Roundhouse this summer which includes leading comedians alongside new names who are rapidly making a name. Musicians, actors, circus performers and poets tell stories on our stages every day and as comedians are some of the best storytellers, we hope that audiences will make their way to Camden this summer to laugh with us and at the craziness of the world in which we live.”
To make sure that all patrons are comfortable and looked after during the Roundhouse Comedy Festival, the Roundhouse will be utilizing an all-new seating structure. This will allow for improved accessibility, with “wheelchair spaces and ambulant accessible seats that now include wider seats, more leg room and assistance animal locations.”
Tickets are available on the Roundhouse website.