Bush Theatre today announces a four-day festival of comedy taking place this summer in Shepherd’s Bush. The line-up performing at the newly refurbished theatre will include James Acaster, Helen Bauer, Desiree Burch, Jessie Cave, Nina Conti, John Kearns, Tim Key and Mark Watson with more acts still to be announced. The festival runs from 19-29 June 2018.
The festival has grown from four days of fresh and exciting new work to eight days, spanning two weekends of some of the hottest and most surprising comedians in the UK. The shows will be accompanied by a series of free comedy workshops for local children.
The festival is presented by Hammersmith & Fulham Council and PBJ Management in partnership with the Bush Theatre.
“Following the success of last year’s event, we’re on our way to making Shepherds Bush a key location on the pre-Edinburgh Festival comedy circuit,” said Cllr Andrew Jones, H&F Cabinet Member for the Economy and the Arts. “We’re delighted to be able to bring more high calibre comedians and more laughs to the residents of H&F. The Shepherds Bush Comedy Festival forms part of our aim to make H&F’s vibrant arts scene even better. We want to be one of the country’s leading destinations for the arts.”
James Acaster – Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999
‘Looking around my bedroom now I’m counting four deodorants. Only one of them contains anything but I don’t know which one. I don’t know why I’m not throwing deodorants away once I’ve finished using them. They’re all roll on though so that makes me feel a bit like a grown up at least. Anyway, on top of this palaver, I’ve got to write another show and while this deodorant thing makes for a novel blurb it’s certainly not making it in. But it should give you an idea of where I was at when writing said show so you can probably expect a similar tone. I decided on the title when I was drunk.’
Jessie Cave – Sunrise
Following her first two sold out shows and critically acclaimed shows, here she is with her third over-sharing, like she does best. As seen on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Black Mirror and Harry Potter.
Nina Conti is Monkey - Work in Progress
Nina is experimenting with new ideas and some old favourites as she works out her new show. British Comedy Award winner Nina Conti improvises unforgettable puppetry, using live audience members, with the help of cartoonish masks and her simian sidekick, Monkey. She’s stormed Live at the Apollo, Russell Howard’s Good News, Sunday Night at the Palladium and made a BAFTA-nominated film, and all without moving her lips.
John Kearns - Don’t Worry They’re Here
John, the only ever winner of the Best Show and Best Newcomer prizes at the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Awards, presents his latest stand-up show, an hour of ‘richly idiosyncratic comedy, frequently compared to Tony Hancock’ (Guardian). As seen starring in BBC3’s Top Coppers, guesting on Channel 4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats and heard on his own BBC Radio 4 series. Following highly acclaimed sell-out runs ta the Edinburgh Fringe and at Soho Theatre, John dons his false teeth and monk wig for his debut UK tour. Directed by Olivier Award winner Jon Brittain.
Tim Key - Megadate
A brand new 70 minutes, blending poeticals, talking, standing, spotlights, cables, Kronenburg, foot-stamping and old school wistfulness. An Edinburgh Comedy Award winner years ago, Key has appeared in Taskmaster, Inside Number 9 and the Alan Partridge franchise.
Mark Watson - Edinburgh Preview
Edinburgh Festival Award Winner and Time Out Critic’s Choice, Mark's recent TV credits include Taskmaster (Dave) and Bear Grylls' Celebrity Island (Channel 4). Mark has been the face of shows such as BBC Four’s We Need Answers and BBC Radio 4’s Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better. He has also appeared on Mock The Week, Celebrity Pointless, Have I Got News For You, Would I Lie To You?, Live At The Apollo and Channel 4’s Comedy Gala and is currently recording another series of his hit Radio 4 show Mark Watson Talks A Bit About Life. In August 2016, Mark performed his latest show I’m Not Here at the Edinburgh Festival, and then went on to tour it around the UK from September – December 2016 receiving rave reviews.
Not only a Stand-Up, Mark has written six novels: Bullet Points (2004), A Light-Hearted Look at Murder (2007), Eleven (2010), The Knot (2012), Hotel Alpha (2014), and The Place That Didn’t Exist (2016).
‘Terrifyingly funny’ - The Times
‘Belly laugh brilliant… The audience was weeping with laughter’ - Time Out
Shepherd’s Bush Comedy Festival
Presented by London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and PBJ Management in partnership with the Bush Theatre
19 – 29 July 2018
Individual show listings (further performances to be announced)
Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, W12 8LJ
Online bushtheatre.co.uk
