London's greatest comedy festival returns for it's eighth year, bringing the spirit of the Fringe to Shoreditch!

ARGComFest is a weekend comedy festival of Fringe previews and work-in-progress shows that takes place every July. 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 ridiculously good value ticket price, you get access a whole weekend of comedy. We sell 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.

Last year’s acts included Netflix star and five-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee James Acaster and double-nominee Kieran Hodgson, as well as Top Coppers's Steen Raskopoulos, co-writer of The Vicar of Dibley Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sofie Hagen, Adam Riches, Lou Sanders, Lucy Pearman, and Ahir Shah.

For the most up-to-date programme including artists and show information, visit argcomfest.com

Images: Ed Moore

London's greatest comedy festival returns for it's eighth year, bringing the spirit of the Fringe to Shoreditch!

ARGComFest is a weekend comedy festival of Fringe previews and work-in-progress shows that takes place every July. 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 ridiculously good value ticket price, you get access a whole weekend of comedy. We sell 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.

Last year’s acts included Netflix star and five-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee James Acaster and double-nominee Kieran Hodgson, as well as Top Coppers's Steen Raskopoulos, co-writer of The Vicar of Dibley Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sofie Hagen, Adam Riches, Lou Sanders, Lucy Pearman, and Ahir Shah.

For the most up-to-date programme including artists and show information, visit argcomfest.com

Images: Ed Moore

London's greatest comedy festival returns, bringing the spirit of the Fringe to Shoreditch!

ARGComFest is a weekend comedy festival of Fringe previews and work-in-progress shows that takes place every summer. The festival brings an attentively curated programme of over sixty comedians — from big name TV favourites to up-and-coming newcomers — to the labyrinthine settings of Shoreditch Town Hall.

For a single, ridiculously good value ticket price, you get access to a whole weekend of comedy. We sell day or weekend tickets with audience members free to move between spaces, seeing whichever acts they like — just like a music festival.

This year’s festival features former Mash Report host and two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Nish Kumar; Writers Guild Award winner for Best Radio Comedy Olga Koch; and 2023 Taskmaster star and Off Menu self-doxxer Ivo Graham.

The weekend also includes star of Live at the Apollo Helen Brauer; BBC Sounds Wheel of Misfortune podcast co-host Alison Spittle; people's princess and TikTok starlet Daniel Foxx; three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Kieran Hodgson; and “the king of online” Mat Ewins.

We have exciting new works-in-progress from Live at the Apollo and Mock the Week’s Larry Dean, 8 Out of 10 Cats and The Guilty Feminist’s Catherine Bohart, and Unforgivable and Taskmaster’s Lou Sanders.

Expect tales of romance, a hologram and a near-death experience in Thorpe Park from Celya AB; jokes (mainly) about how weird and annoying capitalism is from working-class comedian Tom Mayhew; and routines on Greta Thunberg, the Queen and calling you all a bunch of virgins from Chloe Petts. We have Nabil Abdulrashid with new material about trying to be a good person while staying a badman; a show about strength, the female body and how awesome the NHS is in Scotland from Thanyia Moore; and a surreal and silly interactive stand-up show/birthday party from Cerys Bradley.

We’re presenting hotly anticipated debuts including Priya Hall’s show Grandmother’s Daughter — a joyful tribute to one old Welsh lady and the impossible standards Priya has to live up to as she prepares to become a matriarch of her own family; Lulu Popplewell exploring the links between Love Actually, smoking crack, the Daily Mail and sunburn; Freya Parker (as seen in sketch duo Lazy Susan and Jurassic World: Dominion) navigating the struggles of trying to remain cheeky when it's raining trauma; and Welsh, Brown, Gay, Gen-Z comedian Leila Navabi with a show about how unethical it is to artistically exploit marginalised identities for social gain.

Janine Harouni explores her Arab roots, pregnancy, and what happens when your DNA test does not go to plan; Stuart Laws talks about getting married, being middle of the road and trying to be more honest; Sikisa worries about words, in a story of rediscovery and reflection; John Travulva critiques his best-known tick-box character: queer, non-binary, neurodiverse class-straddler Jodie Mitchell; and following last year’s critically-acclaimed, sell-out debut, Ania Magliano returns with a show about the worst haircut of her life.

2019 Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Jordan Brookes attempts to recreate a video online of an animated snake crawling, made for entertaining cats; BBC New Comedy Award winner Heidi Regan puts the fun back into searching for meaning in a chaotic universe (if we agree to spell universe as ‘fun-iverse’, which I believe we agreed to); Absolute Radio’s Glenn Moore tries out a couple of episodes of his new Radio 4 stand-up series; and 2022 Edinburgh Comedy Award Panel Prize winner for Best in Class Sian Davies will take you on a journey through masculinity and gender identity via Salford Lads Club (puncture repair kit not included).

Following his 5-star, award-nominated, sell-out debut show in 2022, Vittorio Angelone tries his difficult second album; pole dancing comedian Siân Docksey presents her brand-new genre-smashing philosophical dance-comedy party and/or just has an existential crisis on a stick; and star of Would I Lie to You? Stephen Bailey proves why he’s much more than a crass act.

Fresh from doing tour support for Alan Carr, Russell Peters and Jim Gaffigan, Andre de Freitas tells his story of going from living in a car and under a staircase, to becoming a male escort and now being Portugal's biggest young comedy star; working class Cornish comedian Tamsyn Kelly gives us a brutally honest, but fair appraisal of the men in her life, from a woman who has cried in most high-street shops; reigning BBC New Comedy Awards winner and British Comedian of the Year Dan Tiernan presents his gag-heavy, high-energy debut hour; and Chortle's Best Newcomer 2023 and Funny Women Awards' first-ever double winner character comedian Lorna Rose Treen invites you inside her mind for an hour of characters, comedy, content, content, content, costumes and content.

The final additions to the line-up are Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Spencer Jones, Max & Ivan, Rob Auton, Tatty Macleod, Bilal Zafar, Nathan D'Arcy Roberts, Tarot, Andrew O'Neill and Tarot: Hive Mind.

The weekend’s fantastic hosts include creator and star of BBC Radio 4 sitcom The Dream Factory Joz Norris; comedy goblin and Oscar losing Writer's Assistant Saima Ferdows; and creator of international cult comedy night Storytellers’ Club Sarah Bennetto. Joining them are the “marvellously dark & dangerous” (Scotsman) Richard Sandling and the “wonderfully quirky” Nathaniel Metcalfe. You can also look forward to hosts Amy Annette, Ray Badran, Kathryn Higgins, Ben Pope, Ruby Carr and Alice India

You can see more information about the ARGComFest 2023 programme by clicking here.

The festival programme celebrates and attracts diversity in all its forms. ARG is committed to making live comedy more accessible and inclusive, and this year’s programme features live captioned performances throughout the weekend. For more information, visit argcomfest.com

Plus returning this year following a sold-out show in 2022, ARG and Shoreditch Town Hall present The Friday Night Show — a spectacular, star-studded showcase of comedians at the top of their game! For more details and tickets click here.

Unfortunately the following acts are no longer performing at ARGComFest 2023: Jamali Maddix.

Tickets & OFFERS

You can book a day ticket for the festival on this page, which means you can pick which day you would like to come to. If you would prefer to book a weekend ticket and join us on both Saturday and Sunday, you can do so on the Weekend Tickets page here.

If you're looking for the festival's Friday Night Show only, just head to The Friday Night Show page here.

Line-up subject to change. For more information on this year’s programme including artists and show information, visit argcomfest.com

Following a sold-out show in 2022, ARG and Shoreditch Town Hall present The Friday Night Show — a spectacular, star-studded showcase of comedians at the top of their game.

This year’s blockbuster bill is hosted by Olga Koch and features Nish Kumar, Alison Spittle, Janine Harouni, Tiff Stevenson, Sarah Keyworth, Thanyia Moore, Sam Campbell, Aurie Styla and Brett Goldstein.

If you're looking for pre-comedy drinks, join us in our atmospheric and intimate bar in The Ditch. With limited capacity, pop by from 5pm for guaranteed entry.

Nish Kumar
Former host of The Mash Report / Late Night Mash and two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee

“Critically acclaimed comic, internationally famed meme & wonderfully nice gentleman, Nish Kumar is a comedian, and a bloody good one at that.” - Time Out

Brett Goldstein
Two-time Emmy Award-winner, Ted Lasso star and Films To Be Buried With host.

Alison Spittle
Co-host of BBC Sounds Wheel of Misfortune podcast with Kerry Katona, full Edinburgh Festival Fringe sell-out 2022 and tour support for Fern Brady and Maria Bamford

“An hour of near faultless material” ★★★★ The Skinny

Janine Harouni
Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee, star of ITV2’s Buffering, and with over 80 million views online

“Ready for her Netflix special” ★★★★★ The Times

Sarah Keyworth
Award-winning stand-up as seen on Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats, ITV's The Stand Up Sketch Show and Comedy Central's Roast Battle.

“Keyworth keeps us giggling beyond the joke, so that by the end we need to actively stop in order to come up for air” ★★★★ Broadway Baby

Thanyia Moore
Award-winning stand-up as seen on Mock the Week, Richard Osman's House of Games, Big Narstie Show and Comedy Central's Drunk History: Black Stories.

“Armed with confidence and charm, Moore knows how to play around and chat back” ★★★★ The Skinny

Sam Campbell

Winner of the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Show in 2022 and the award for most outstanding show at the 2018 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Wrote and starred in his Channel 4 short Get Real Dude as well as playing the regular character Darrel, in Sky's hit sitcom BLOODS and writing for Don't Hug Me I'm Scared for Channel 4.

Aurie Styla

An award-winning comedian, actor and writer from London, UK. Most recent comedy special GREEN was critically acclaimed, and won the Spirit of the Fringe Award for 2022, and is available to watch on YouTube.

Also seen in Deep Fake Neighbour Wars (ITVX), Comedy Central Live, Jonathan Ross' Comedy Club (ITV), Life’s A Pitch (Sky), Don’t Hate The Playaz (ITV), The Stand-Up Sketch Show (ITV2), Mo Gilligan’s Black British & Funny (C4) & more. Along with these appearances, Aurie was a writer on the Bafta Award-winning season of The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan.

Olga Koch
Writer’s Guild Award winner and as seen on Mock the Week, QI, Late Night Mash, Frankie Boyle's New World Order and her own Amazon Prime comedy special.

“Rude and raucous and utterly fabulous” ★★★★★ Broadway World

The Friday Night Show will be live captioned by Claire Hill. ARG is committed to making live comedy more accessible and inclusive and this year’s programme features captioned performances throughout the weekend. For more information, visit argcomfest.com

ARGComFest is a weekend comedy festival of Fringe previews and work-in-progress shows that takes place every July. 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 info and to book tickets for the rest of the festival, please click here.

Bridget Christie will no longer be performing at The Friday Night Show 2023.

Tickets & OFFERS

You can book a ticket for The Friday Night Show only on this page.

If you would like to book tickets to the weekend festival ARGComFest, you can do so on the Weekend Tickets page here, or the Day Tickets page here.

Weekend ticketholders can get £12 tickets (saving £8) to The Friday Night Show - just add both tickets to your basket and the discount will apply automatically.

Line-up subject to change. For more information on this year’s programme including artists and show information, visit argcomfest.com

London's greatest comedy festival returns, bringing the spirit of the Fringe to Shoreditch!

ARGComFest is a weekend comedy festival of Fringe previews and work-in-progress shows that takes place every summer. The festival brings an attentively curated programme of over sixty comedians — from big name TV favourites to up-and-coming newcomers — to the labyrinthine settings of Shoreditch Town Hall.

For a single, ridiculously good value ticket price, you get access to a whole weekend of comedy. We sell day or weekend tickets with audience members free to move between spaces, seeing whichever acts they like — just like a music festival.

This year’s festival features former Mash Report host and two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Nish Kumar; Writers Guild Award winner for Best Radio Comedy Olga Koch; and 2023 Taskmaster star and Off Menu self-doxxer Ivo Graham.

The weekend also includes star of Live at the Apollo Helen Bauer; BBC Sounds Wheel of Misfortune podcast co-host Alison Spittle; people's princess and TikTok starlet Daniel Foxx; three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Kieran Hodgson; and “the king of online” Mat Ewins.

We have exciting new works-in-progress from Live at the Apollo and Mock the Week’s Larry Dean, 8 Out of 10 Cats and The Guilty Feminist’s Catherine Bohart, and Unforgivable and Taskmaster’s Lou Sanders.

Expect tales of romance, a hologram and a near-death experience in Thorpe Park from Celya AB; jokes (mainly) about how weird and annoying capitalism is from working-class comedian Tom Mayhew; and routines on Greta Thunberg, the Queen and calling you all a bunch of virgins from Chloe Petts. We have Nabil Abdulrashid with new material about trying to be a good person while staying a badman; a show about strength, the female body and how awesome the NHS is in Scotland from Thanyia Moore; and a surreal and silly interactive stand-up show/birthday party from Cerys Bradley.

We’re presenting hotly anticipated debuts including Priya Hall’s show Grandmother’s Daughter — a joyful tribute to one old Welsh lady and the impossible standards Priya has to live up to as she prepares to become a matriarch of her own family; Lulu Popplewell exploring the links between Love Actually, smoking crack, the Daily Mail and sunburn; Freya Parker (as seen in sketch duo Lazy Susan and Jurassic World: Dominion) navigating the struggles of trying to remain cheeky when it's raining trauma; and Welsh, Brown, Gay, Gen-Z comedian Leila Navabi with a show about how unethical it is to artistically exploit marginalised identities for social gain.

Janine Harouni explores her Arab roots, pregnancy, and what happens when your DNA test does not go to plan; Stuart Laws talks about getting married, being middle of the road and trying to be more honest; Sikisa worries about words, in a story of rediscovery and reflection; John Travulva critiques his best-known tick-box character: queer, non-binary, neurodiverse class-straddler Jodie Mitchell; and following last year’s critically-acclaimed, sell-out debut, Ania Magliano returns with a show about the worst haircut of her life.

2019 Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Jordan Brookes attempts to recreate a video online of an animated snake crawling, made for entertaining cats; BBC New Comedy Award winner Heidi Regan puts the fun back into searching for meaning in a chaotic universe (if we agree to spell universe as ‘fun-iverse’, which I believe we agreed to); Absolute Radio’s Glenn Moore tries out a couple of episodes of his new Radio 4 stand-up series; and 2022 Edinburgh Comedy Award Panel Prize winner for Best in Class Sian Davies will take you on a journey through masculinity and gender identity via Salford Lads Club (puncture repair kit not included).

Following his 5-star, award-nominated, sell-out debut show in 2022, Vittorio Angelone tries his difficult second album; pole dancing comedian Siân Docksey presents her brand-new genre-smashing philosophical dance-comedy party and/or just has an existential crisis on a stick; and star of Would I Lie to You? Stephen Bailey proves why he’s much more than a crass act.

Fresh from doing tour support for Alan Carr, Russell Peters and Jim Gaffigan, Andre de Freitas tells his story of going from living in a car and under a staircase, to becoming a male escort and now being Portugal's biggest young comedy star; working class Cornish comedian Tamsyn Kelly gives us a brutally honest, but fair appraisal of the men in her life, from a woman who has cried in most high-street shops; reigning BBC New Comedy Awards winner and British Comedian of the Year Dan Tiernan presents his gag-heavy, high-energy debut hour; and Chortle's Best Newcomer 2023 and Funny Women Awards' first-ever double winner character comedian Lorna Rose Treen invites you inside her mind for an hour of characters, comedy, content, content, content, costumes and content.

The final additions to the line-up are Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Spencer Jones, Max & Ivan, Rob Auton, Tatty Macleod, Bilal Zafar, Nathan D'Arcy Roberts, Tarot, Andrew O'Neill and Tarot: Hive Mind.

The weekend’s fantastic hosts include creator and star of BBC Radio 4 sitcom The Dream Factory Joz Norris; comedy goblin and Oscar losing Writer's Assistant Saima Ferdows; and creator of international cult comedy night Storytellers’ Club Sarah Bennetto. Joining them are the “marvellously dark & dangerous” (Scotsman) Richard Sandling and the “wonderfully quirky” Nathaniel Metcalfe. You can also look forward to hosts Amy Annette, Ray Badran, Kathryn Higgins, Ben Pope, Ruby Carr and Alice India

You can see more information about the ARGComFest 2023 programme by clicking here.

The festival programme celebrates and attracts diversity in all its forms. ARG is committed to making live comedy more accessible and inclusive, and this year’s programme features live captioned performances throughout the weekend. For more information, visit argcomfest.com

Plus returning this year following a sold-out show in 2022, ARG and Shoreditch Town Hall present The Friday Night Show — a spectacular, star-studded showcase of comedians at the top of their game! For more details and tickets click here.

Unfortunately the following acts are no longer performing at ARGComFest 2023: Jamali Maddix.

Tickets & OFFERS

You can book a weekend ticket for the festival on this page, which means you have access to both the Saturday and the Sunday shows. If you would prefer to visit us on only one of the days, you can do so on the Day Tickets page here.

Weekend tickets are limited, so if it looks like we've sold out but you still want to join us on both days, you can buy two individual day tickets.

If you're looking for the festival's Friday Night Show only, just head to The Friday Night Show page here. Weekend ticketholders can get £12 tickets (saving £8) to The Friday Night Show - just add both tickets to your basket and the discount will apply automatically.

Line-up subject to change. For more information on this year’s programme including artists and show information, visit argcomfest.com

London's greatest comedy festival finally returns, bringing the spirit of the Fringe to Shoreditch Town Hall!

For the first time ever, ARGComFest and Shoreditch Town Hall present The Friday Night Show — a one-off spectacular featuring an all-star line-up of Phil Wang, Josie Long, Kemah Bob, Isy Suttie, Rhys James, Nabil Abdulrashid, Sofie Hagen, John Robins, Helen Bauer and host Kiri Pritchard-McLean.

One of the UK's most exciting comedians and star of Live At The Apollo, Have I Got News For You? and his very own global Netflix special Philly Philly Wang Wang — Phil Wang

“Intelligent, self-unserious, and studded with memorable one-liners... stand-up dreamland” ★★★★ Guardian

Three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and indie-underdog 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

As seen as Dobby in Peep Show, Esther in Shameless and much much more — Isy Suttie

“The perfect concoction of warmth and grit” The Independent

Seen on Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, Sky One's A League of Their Own, and Comedy Central's Roast Battle and Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central — Rhys James

“the master of the lightning-paced, gag-dense, precision-delivered set” Guardian

“one rarely expects to go into a comedy show and be transformed.” ★★★★★ Fest

Britain’s Got Talent finalist 2020 and as seen on Live At The Apollo and Mock The Week — Nabil Abdulrashid

“Hilarious… clever, touching and funny” ★★★★★ Mirror

Multi-award-winning London-based Danish comedian, author, podcaster, and #influencer. Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer winner 2015 and acclaimed author of Happy Fat - Sofie Hagen

“Hugely entertaining” Mirror

Award winning 5Live Digital DJ and broadcaster, acclaimed author, and one of the most critically acclaimed stand-up comedians of his generation - John Robins

“Uproarious, gleefully obscene comedy” Guardian

Known for being a comedy powerhouse with an electric stage presence, as seen on Live At The Apollo and Hypothetical - Helen Bauer

‘A personality that will fill a stadium" ★★★★★ Sunday Express

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

“Making powerhouse stand-up from the thorniest of subjects” ★★★★ Guardian

ARGComFest is a weekend comedy festival of Fringe previews and work-in-progress shows that takes place every July. 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 info and to book tickets for the rest of the festival, please click here.

Unfortunately the following comedians are no longer performing at The Friday Night Show: Sarah Kendall, Rosie Jones, Olga Koch

Tickets & OFFERS

You can book a day ticket for The Friday Night Show only on this page. If you would like to book ARGComFest tickets, you can do so on the Weekend Tickets page here, or the Day Tickets page here.

Weekend ticketholders can get £10 tickets (saving £8) to The Friday Night Show - just add both tickets to your basket and the discount will apply automatically.

For this year’s full programme including artists and show information, visit argcomfest.com

Covid-19 Safety Measures

We will be taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of everyone in the building. For all our Covid-19 Safety Measures in place, please click here.

London's greatest comedy festival finally returns, bringing the spirit of the Fringe to Shoreditch!

ARGComFest is a weekend comedy festival of Fringe previews and work-in-progress shows that takes place every July. 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, you get access a whole weekend of comedy. We sell 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 James Acaster (Taskmaster, James Acaster: Repetoire on Netflix); reigning Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Jordan Brookes; silly, sexy, savage stand-up from Taskmaster titan Sophie Duker; 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 Amazon Prime comedy special Olga Koch; and the visceral, real and achingly brave Colin Hoult with the final outing of Anna Mann. 

Marcus Brigstocke (“Devilishly Funny” TheArtsDesk.com), Ciaran Dowd (“A riot from beginning to end” ★★★★★ Chortle), Ivo Graham (Mock The Week, Live At The Apollo), Jo Griffin (★★★★ Chortle) and Alex Kealy (“A must-see at the fringe” ★★★★ Broadway Baby).

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 and Jess Fostekew.

Also joining the line-up are Yuriko Kotani (Winner of the BBC New Comedy Award and Time Out’s One to Watch), Pierre Novellie (★★★★ Times), Grace Petrie (“Whining folk singer,” Telegraph), Nic Sampson (“A beautiful gem of comedic goodness” Three) and John-Luke Roberts (★★★★★ The Wee Review).

Plus, stand-up from Erika Ehler, Garrett Millerick
(Best Show Nominee 2022 - Leicester Comedy Festival), Harriet Kemsley (Live at the Apollo, 8 Out of 10 Cats does Countdown), Isy Suttie (Dobby in Peep Show), and Jack Barry (Jack in Feel Good (Netflix)),

Also joining the line-up are, Nick Helm, Rajiv Karia (Lazy Susan (BBC Three) and Comedy Central Live), Rhys James, Rob Auton and Sara Barron (Live at the Apollo & Would I Lie to You).

Final additions to the line-up are Sofie Hagen (Edinburgh Comedy Award winner), Jenny Bede, Heidi Regan ( Winner of BBC New Comedy Award), Andrew O'Neill (BBC Radio 4's Damned Andrew) and Sian Davies (Best Debut Show at Leicester Comedy Festival 2020).

AND with your hosts - Joe Sutherland, Annie McGrath, Ben Pope, Helen Duff, Richard Sandling, Kat Bond, Saima Ferdows and Lulu Popplewell.

You can now see the full ARGComFest 2022 weekend line-up and schedule here.

Plus this year, for the first time ever, ARGComFest presents The Friday Night Show — a one-off spectacular featuring an all-star line-up. For more details and tickets click here.

Unfortunately the following acts are no longer performing at ARGComFest 2022: Rosie Jones, Jen Ives, Sheeps, Mat Ewins, Bronwyn Sweeney

Tickets & OFFERS

You can book a day ticket for the festival on this page, which means you can pick which day you would like to come to. If you would prefer to book a weekend ticket and join us on both Saturday and Sunday, you can do so on the Weekend Tickets page here.

If you're looking for the festival's Friday Night Show only, just head to The Friday Night Show page here.

For this year’s full programme including artists and show information, visit argcomfest.com

Covid-19 Safety Measures

We will be taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of everyone in the building. For all our Covid-19 Safety Measures in place, please click here.

London's greatest comedy festival finally returns, bringing the spirit of the Fringe to Shoreditch!

ARGComFest is a weekend comedy festival of Fringe previews and work-in-progress shows that takes place every July. 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, you get access a whole weekend of comedy. We sell 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 James Acaster (Taskmaster, James Acaster: Repetoire on Netflix); reigning Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Jordan Brookes; silly, sexy, savage stand-up from Taskmaster titan Sophie Duker; 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 Amazon Prime comedy special Olga Koch; and the visceral, real and achingly brave Colin Hoult with the final outing of Anna Mann. 

Marcus Brigstocke (“Devilishly Funny” TheArtsDesk.com), Ciaran Dowd (“A riot from beginning to end” ★★★★★ Chortle), Ivo Graham (Mock The Week, Live At The Apollo), Jo Griffin (★★★★ Chortle) and Alex Kealy (“A must-see at the fringe” ★★★★ Broadway Baby).

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 and Jess Fostekew.

Also joining the line-up are Yuriko Kotani (Winner of the BBC New Comedy Award and Time Out’s One to Watch), Pierre Novellie (★★★★ Times), Grace Petrie (“Whining folk singer,” Telegraph), Nic Sampson (“A beautiful gem of comedic goodness” Three) and John-Luke Roberts (★★★★★ The Wee Review).

Plus, stand-up from Erika Ehler, Garrett Millerick
(Best Show Nominee 2022 - Leicester Comedy Festival), Harriet Kemsley (Live at the Apollo, 8 Out of 10 Cats does Countdown), Isy Suttie (Dobby in Peep Show), and Jack Barry (Jack in Feel Good (Netflix)),

Also joining the line-up are Nick Helm, Rajiv Karia (Lazy Susan (BBC Three) and Comedy Central Live), Rhys James, Rob Auton and Sara Barron (Live at the Apollo & Would I Lie to You).

Final additions to the line-up are Sofie Hagen (Edinburgh Comedy Award winner), Jenny Bede, Heidi Regan ( Winner of BBC New Comedy Award), Andrew O'Neill (BBC Radio 4's Damned Andrew) and Sian Davies (Best Debut Show at Leicester Comedy Festival 2020).

AND with your hosts - Joe Sutherland, Annie McGrath, Ben Pope, Helen Duff, Richard Sandling, Kat Bond, Saima Ferdows and Lulu Popplewell.

You can now see the full ARGComFest 2022 weekend line-up and schedule here.

Plus this year, for the first time ever, ARGComFest presents The Friday Night Show — a one-off spectacular featuring an all-star line-up. For more details and tickets click here.

Unfortunately the following acts are no longer performing at ARGComFest 2022: Rosie Jones, Jen Ives, Sheeps, Mat Ewins, Bronwyn Sweeney

Tickets & OFFERS

You can book a weekend ticket for the festival on this page, which means you have access you both the Saturday and the Sunday shows. If you would prefer to visit us on only one of the days, you can do so on the Day Tickets page here.

Weekend tickets are limited, so if it looks like we've sold out but you still want to join us on both days, you can buy two individual day tickets.

If you're looking for the festival's Friday Night Show only, just head to The Friday Night Show page here. Weekend ticketholders can get £10 tickets (saving £8) to The Friday Night Show - just add both tickets to your basket and the discount will apply automatically.

For this year’s full programme including artists and show information, visit argcomfest.com

Covid-19 Safety Measures

We will be taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of everyone in the building. For all our Covid-19 Safety Measures in place, please click here.

It is with great sadness that ARGComFest 2020 at Shoreditch Town Hall has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Thank you for your ongoing support. More information on what we have on offer whilst on lockdown can be found here.

London's greatest comedy festival returns for its ninth year, bringing the spirit of the Fringe to Shoreditch!

ARGComFest is a weekend comedy festival of Fringe previews and work-in-progress shows with an attentively curated programme of sixty acts, featuring big name TV favourites and up-and-coming newcomers. 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.

Regular acts include many previous Edinburgh Comedy Award nominees and winners, such as Netflix superstar James Acaster, cult favourite Josie Long, and The Mash Report host Nish Kumar.

For the most up-to-date programme including artists and show information, visit argcomfest.com

Open House London is the world’s largest architecture festival, giving free public access to 800+ buildings, walks, talks and tours over one weekend in September each year.

Shoreditch Town Hall is a magnificent Grade II listed building housing many contrasting spaces from the grand Assembly Hall to the untouched rabbit warren of basement rooms. Free tours will run every 30 minutes from 10am - 5pm on Saturday 21 (last tour leaving at 4pm) and 10am - 2pm on Sunday 22 September (last tour leaving at 1pm).

Welcoming 70,000 people through its doors every year, Shoreditch Town Hall is an independent, flagship arts and events venue for Hackney. Introducing an arts programme just six years ago, and following £2.3m of capital investment, the Town Hall has rapidly established itself as a vital, non-traditional arts space. With eight performance spaces ranging from 40 to 800 capacity and a focus on emerging talent and site-responsive theatre, the building has become a vibrant home for original and ambitious work, where unique, transformational experiences are made for and by the building’s distinctive, characteristic spaces.

Visit Open House 2019's website for more information.

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim | Book by Hugh Wheeler | Directed by Sally Ann Gritton

Performed at the historic Shoreditch Town Hall, this production of Stephen Sondheim’s iconic musical will bring the dark side of Victorian London to life. When a prisoner returns to town, he promises to wreak vengeance on the men who stole his freedom. And his revenge is a dish best served piping hot…

Sally Ann Gritton is Mountview’s Director of Academic Affairs. Previous direction for Mountview includes Grand Hotel, Jane Eyre, Mary Shelley and Anna Karenina.

Funzing presents a unique evening with award winning broadcaster and documentary maker Reggie Yates, in partnership with Shoreditch Town Hall.

What took his career from the BBC Radio 1 studios through to the refugee camps of Syria? What was it like to be on the front-line of the Mexican war on drugs? This rare 'In Conversation' will get under the skin of his exciting career and feature select footage of his under-cover adventures.

Reggie Yates’ career has seen him move from fronting children's programming, to national radio to become an RTS award-winning documentary maker. In the last five years, Reggie has become synonymous with critically acclaimed documentaries. His films include the BBC3 Extreme series, Reggie Yates: Extreme Russia, Extreme South Africa and Extreme UK.

Other notable films he has made include the critically acclaimed BBC Two documentary Grenfell Tower’s Hidden Victims which aired in March last year and the amazing Insider series.

In 2017, Reggie released his debut book Unseen: My Journey with Penguin Random House, taking readers behind the scenes of his journey from TV presenter to documentary maker.

During this exciting In Conversation, Reggie will discuss all of this and more.

‘The dead are invisible, they are not absent’
St Augustine

Birth is a powerfully sensitive new piece of visual theatre about being on a precipice, losing and creating a new life.

Emily is six months pregnant when she reads her grandmother's journal.

Delving into the depths of her family history triggers a shift in her sense of reality, unveiling a legacy of unspoken tragedies, courage and unconditional love.

Established in 2009, Theatre Re is a London-based international ensemble creating thought-provoking and moving work. Its shows examine fragile human conditions in compelling, physical style, embracing mime, theatre and live music. Close collaborations with appropriate community groups and experts in different fields including science, philosophy and public health throughout the devising process play a crucial part in the development of its work.

Birth was inspired by the field of psychogenealogy, Frida Kahlo and interviews with women. The live, original music score is by Alex Judd.

On Theatre Re's previous shows:
"Theatre Re creates an entrancing, poignant world" Edinburgh Spotlight

"Profoundly moving… An action-packed celebration of life" BBC Radio 4 Front Row

Soaring voices, roaring brass, fiery jazz solos, hypnotic drums…

When the Empire Windrush arrived in 1948 with hundreds of people from the Caribbean to help rebuild Britain after the war, was it yet another chapter in the long history of African migration, and how those migrants have been treated? Uncharted Crossings tells the back story of the Windrush generation, a story that began long in the past.

Over 500 years ago with the transatlantic slave trade, millions of Africans were transported to Brazil, Cuba, the West Indies and southern states of the USA. In horrific circumstances, they took with them their customs, their culture and their religions; remarkably these survived in the New World, and above all their music has developed into an extraordinary legacy.

This is a story the Grand Union Orchestra is well-equipped to bring to life. Its musicians and singers include many of African or Caribbean heritage, all fine exponents of West African drumming and chant, through Latin-American and Caribbean music to the blues and modern jazz.

Among them are South African Claude Deppa (trumpet, congas); jazz saxophone star Tony Kofi (Ghana); Francis Fuster (Sierra Leone), master of the talking drum; singer Jumoké Fashola; singer and African drummer Jonathan André; Caribbean Britons Harry Brown (trombone) and Andy Grappy (tuba); Jamaican-born Kevin Robinson (trumpet, flugelhorn); jazz virtuosi Chris Biscoe (soprano and alto saxes), Louise Elliott (flute, tenor sax) and Shanti Jaysinha (trumpet, cello); and an allstar international rhythm section of Carlos Fuentes (Latin percussion), Gerry Hunt (guitar), Andres Lafone (bass guitar) and Cristiano Castellitto (drums)

Music: Tony Haynes
Lyrics: Sara Clifford, Valerie Bloom, David Bradford, Jumoké Fashola

The complete line-up, further information and links to audio and video tracks can be found here.

Tony Haynes writes about his music for Uncharted Crossings here

'These guys know that what brings people together is something shared. It can be music. It may be through struggle. One thing’s sure: the Grand Union Orchestra’s music makes you feel alive, makes you think and makes you long for a better world. I can think of few other ensembles with its sheer range, versatility and sense of the dramatic.' – Duncan Heining, All About Jazz

Hamburger Queen, Scottee’s infamous beauty pageant and talent show for fat people is back!

Established in 2013 the contest has seen over 60 fatties from across the world battle it out for the coveted title! This year to celebrate a decade of Scottee’s work he is bringing the cult contest back for one night only!

20 contestants will flaunt their fashions, talent and culinary skills for our celebrity judges and their chance to win a cash prize, exclusive goodies and of course the crown!

Hosted by: Scottee
Head Judge: Sofie Hagen
Judging panel includes: Grace Victory, Louise McSharry, Gemma Cairney and Scottee’s Mum
With guests: Le Gateau Chocolat and Rubyyy Jones

Superstar guest performances, plus disco dancing til late with Unskinny Bop providing the tunes!

Who will be crowned Queen of the Fatties?

Kindly supported by Tatty Devine & Paul A Young Chocolates

Meet Kate: a physicist in the male-dominated labs of the 1980s. Addicted to the pounding beats and neon glow of her generation. Follow Kate as she discovers her potential as a cutting edge scientist.

As a girl, Kate dreamt of being among the elite, but as expectations become reality and the professional turns personal, her world is in a spin.

Inspired by the work of female scientists, Flux uses extraordinary puppetry, an electrifying set of shadow and light and a filmic score, to follow Kate as she discovers what it means to be a woman in a world of men.

Flux has been developed with Shoreditch Town Hall, Oxford Playhouse, Arts at the Old Fire Station, Cornerstone Arts, Brewery Arts Centre and the Institute of Physics.

Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

Critically-acclaimed arts innovators Upstart Theatre present the third annual DARE Festival in the Ditch at Shoreditch Town Hall. Three days of performance, art installations, conversation and fun. Selling out in 2016 and 2017, DARE brings together artists and audiences from across London and beyond in an explosion of new and in-development work. Inventive, unexpected, challenging and joyous, DARE Festival is a place for people to make, discover, dream and play.

Now in its third year, DARE is a festival of new and in-development theatre and performance. This year’s festival explores the theme of ‘power’ through performance, installation and conversation between artists and audiences.

The three-day festival is peppered with performances, informal discussion events and opportunities to network. The festival culminates in a party on Saturday night in the Ditch bar.

At Upstart Theatre, we believe that theatre is a tool to kick-start conversations about the world we live in. Inspired by the shared origins of theatre and democracy, we bring people together to take part in acts of shared storytelling, where the world onstage offers us new ways of thinking about the world off it. The relationship between theatre, politics and dialogue is at the heart of what we do.

In the last few years, these values have led us to push the boundaries of what’s possible in live performance – whether through the pan-European interconnected performance of Phone Home, the interactive decision-making of The Situation Room, or the unique blend of theatre, art, performance and discussion events that makes up the DARE Festival programme.

See below for the full performance schedule or visit Upstart Theatre's website for show information.

Supported using public funding by Arts Council England and by Cockayne - Grants for the Arts and The London Community Foundation

Please note, this event takes place offsite at Rose Lipman Building, 43 De Beauvoir Rd, London N1 5SQ

And What Festival is committed to providing a welcoming environment for all visitors. Please contact andwhatarts@gmail.com before booking to discuss any specific access requirements you might have.

Himheranit Productions + And What? Queer. Arts. Festival invite you to enter GARDEN
- a surreal immersive experience for ONE audience member at at time -

Inside GARDEN you become immersed in an alternate world, inhabited by characters that invite you to question both their identity and your own. It is a land where no story is ever written the same. It is one where you become the protagonist of your own fairy-tales. GARDEN eclipses your perceptions of reality, your idea of self, and of the other.

Free yourself from the world you see around you, lose yourself in GARDEN, find another you.

Who are you? Which rabbit do you follow?

GARDEN is a unique performance experience, unusual in that it is for only one audience member at at time. Your journey will last approximately 45-50 minutes. You will be contacted from GARDEN ahead of your arrival to confirm the visit. Upon arrival you will be greeted by a GARDEN representative and gifted with all you need for a safe and enlightened passage. From then onward you will travel into a surreal world, guided through curtained corridors, led under dim lights and washed-over by ambient soundscapes (light, sound & tech design Jeppe Cohrt) . The visual world of GARDEN is partly-inspired by Alice in Wonderland and Twin Peaks; it is a bespoke world built inside a custom built set and housed within an old municipal library. It includes two casts of performers (Andreas Constantinous & Dagmara Bilon or Tone lorenzen & Nick Finegan, depending on when you arrive). In other words, there is nothing else like GARDEN.

GARDEN comes to London fresh off-the-back of two sold-out runs in Denmark and a nomination for a Reumert Award 2018 in category of best performance. GARDEN was listed as one of the top ten best performances in Denmark by Den 4. Væg published December 2017.

Tickets are very limited. Tickets must be purchased online as no tickets will be sold on the door due to limited availability. Please book ahead to avoid disappointment.

Audience Feedback:
'Amazing and Intense'
'A dream experience where reality and fiction melt together...'
'I haven't seen anything like it before'
'Full of Love'
'Really interesting universe!'

The London dates of GARDEN are kindly supported by Danish Arts Council, Arts Council England, And What? Queer. Arts. Festival, Rose Lipman Building and Shoreditch Town Hall

Fighting Monkey Practice
Anatomy of Injury 300/30/3/0.3

PLAY MORE.
TRAIN LESS.
LEARN MORE.

a/ Athletic Leg Program “3 Basic Resilience Cycles”
b/ Coordination Practice with 9 Speedtool by FM
c/ Movement Situations & learning strategies

Anatomy of Injury explores ways to treat and self diagnose injuries, and more importantly, to detect where future injuries might occur based on your structural integrity, movement and behavioural patterns. Techniques are discussed regarding the develop of the nervous system to make you more adaptable to stressors you come across.

This program is highly recommended for anyone who wants to reach to a more sustainable mobility status in the long run. Professional and no professional athletes, coaches, dancers, physiotherapists and other kinds of healers can also acquire valuable diagnostic and treatment skills.

The Anatomy of Injury concepts teach all people how to respond to injuries, how to protect their joints, deal with connective tissue health issues and how we can become more intelligent with our joint preparation and practice before training and during performance.

Athletic Leg Program “3 Basic Resilience Cycles”

is practice that offers genuine inside on the actual age of your joints. It is not entertaining or spectacular. It takes time to learn and reveals the way your body thinks during training.

The process of change is and should be slow, so that the effects last for long and create a powerful momentum to carry you through old age.

It is simple, just the basics.

It is your relations with minutes, hours and years of precise practice that will transform you into one animal.

The practice entails an introduction to Irregular & Transitional Squats, to improve and re-vitalize our hip joints. More over it explains "proportional dynamic training" that will enable you to distribute forces of stress through the entire elastic structure of legs during motion, allowing you to use your legs in more dynamic and intelligent ways and to increase your athletic performance.

These cycles clearly identify your deficiencies and spot the problematic areas in your structure - informing you on how your joints collaborate and how well your entire structure is orchestrated in relation to your feet.

Coordinations Practice with 9 Speedtool by FM:

Coordinations with FM9 Speedtool improve the explosive power of the overall structure based on greater release of kinetic potential. The FM9 Speedtool practice offers intelligent transition from predictable, symmetrical power training to neurologically challenging multi-directional coordinations. Improving as well joint stability, velocity, elastic power and flexibility of upper body.

Coordination training is a powerful feedback method and training strategy to improve your athletic performance and overall health, especially in bipedal motion. It helps you to develop a dynamic configuration for running, jumping, striking, throwing and any motion that requires velocity and increased kinetic potential. It also helps you cultivate an intelligent and adaptive structure able to move through multi-plane, multi-joint coordinations and generate a more rhythmically organised collaboration of the entire body.

Movement Situations will go through:

Provoking and increasing the adaptive value of your movement qualities. Strategic planning and creativity in an ever-changing and unpredictable environment. Studying the underlying principles of human motion. Stress and pressure effects on our perception, behavior and actions. Level of response in complex situations.

Family workshop: 11:00 – 13:00
(no experience necessary, all under 16’s to be accompanied by an adult)

Musicians workshop: 14:00 – 16:00
(they should bring their own instrument, any level of skill, recommended 14 years+, all under 16’s to be accompanied by an adult)

In association with Hackney Museum’s autumn exhibition Black British Music in Hackney, Grand Union Orchestra and Shoreditch Town Hall present a programme of workshops and performances to complement this. Ricardo Axé will be leading two workshops throughout the day, with a morning session for families and an afternoon session for musicians.

Ricardo Axé is a specialist in candomblé and maracatú, the
chant/dance/percussion tradition of North East Brazil, which derives from the Yoruba culture of West Africa carried across the Atlantic with the slave trade. Ricardo is a charismatic performer and highly experienced teacher who has
been working and performing with music and dance for over 20 years.

Grand Union Orchestra will be bringing together different generations of Hackney musicians, and commemorating 500 years of black music, from its origins in Africa, its transportation to Brazil and Cuba, the Caribbean and Southern USA, right up to the arrival of the Empire Windrush and post-war migrants.

This programme culminates in a spectacular finale at Shoreditch Town Hall on 9 December. Full programme to be announced soon.

Hackney Proms is a family-friendly concert series presenting brilliant live gigs on Sunday mornings around the borough. We want everyone to be excited about music.

This month's programme includes three4, a classical trio that never fails to delight. Violinist Kate Conway, soprano Emma Dogliani and pianist Stuart Wild are three musical friends specialising in intimate and classy performances. Expect musical virtuosity, plenty of banter and pieces by Bach, Verdi, Wieniawski and others.

Do join us. It will be special.

Breakneck-speed jazz kora player Jally Kebba Susso is a UK based griot, born and raised in 74 generations of Gambian musical heritage. But he is not your ordinary griot. Forging a new trajectory of sound for the West African harp, Jally Kebba skillfully blends the traditional repertoire into his own heady-jazz concoction that is immediately accessible and uplifting and yet filled with nuances and intoxicating rhythmical layers that give the music depth and intrigue.

Raised in a household of musicians, Jally Kebba was exposed to incredible musicianship from a very early age and under the guidance of his father Bully Suso, a very well-respected kora player and his elder brothers by 13 he was touring internationally across Europe. He honed his own sound over years of experimentation on the London underground scene since 2002 when he relocated to UK. In 2007 he formed his band Manding Sabu and has since released two albums of original compositions – Banjul-London (2017) and Malaye Warr (2012) and gigged extensively. Precision, speed and a merciless energy characterise their performance style making them solid crowd-pullers at festivals such as Wilderness, Shambala and Secret Garden Party in UK. Songs are sung in Mandinka and are songs of praise and love and are a timely call for togetherness and solidarity, palpable to all language speakers.

The City Academy Studio Company return this Autumn to present their production of musical thriller, Sweeney Todd.

This 1979 Broadway classic boasts an operatic, funny and epic score by Stephen Sondheim, and a gothic-inspired script by Hugh Wheeler. The musical, in its various incarnations, has won scores of Tonys, Oliviers and Drama Desk awards over the years, and has been reinvented in many weird and wonderful ways. This latest show is sure to be no exception.

Staged in The Ditch , which dates back to the same period as the tale of Sweeney Todd, the venue and cast will transport the audience straight back to Victorian London from the moment they walk into this atmospheric and unusual space!

The Studio Company launched in 2015 and features a cast of London’s finest amateur and professional performers. Sweeney Todd is a perfect project for this group whose focus is on detailed acting and musicianship.

A killer! That’s what I am. And if I’m not very much mistaken...You could be too!

A loner finds an albino ostrich that can perform miracles. A one-legged surfer grows a new limb. A lonely maid's chance at romance is ruined by a sledgehammer. Killer is a magical and, at times, menacing anthology of stories told in the recesses of the dark...

Employing binaural sound, director Jamie Lloyd takes you on an intimate journey within the bowels of Shoreditch Town Hall and the depths of your psyche. In this world première production, Philip Ridley's darkly comic collection of new monologues shiver with the anxiety of our age.

You know why the ghost train is so popular? Because there are no ghosts. Once you’ve learnt that you can make a fortune.

Presley and Haley have bolted their East London home against the terrors of the world. Since their parents died ten years ago, they have found comfort in chocolate, medication and fantasies of nuclear apocalypse. But, one night, Presley sees a beautiful stranger on the street outside. And while Haley sleeps, he lets their worst nightmare in.

Claustrophobic, comic and deeply unsettling, Philip Ridley’s seminal masterpiece played a revolutionary role in changing the face of British theatre when it premiered in 1991 to critical acclaim and controversy. Its exploration of ‘a climate of fear’, living in ‘alternate worlds’ and persistent thrum of sexual anxiety has continued to act as a tuning fork for the zeitgeist - a play whose relevance is forever in the now.

Step into Shoreditch Town Hall’s atmospheric basement spaces and experience this unique, immersive revival of Ridley’s debut play deep in the eerie underbelly of East London.

Following their hit BBC Radio 4 series, and many years of sell-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and London’s West End, don’t miss everyone’s favourite Dictionary Corner regulars on 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and the first band to ever host Never Mind The Buzzcocks (BBC 2)!

Expect a heady mix of spontaneous stand-up, spectacular performance and outlandish musical talent led by the brilliant comedian Alex Horne (Taskmaster, Dave).

When David was 15, he loved punk, house parties and poetry. But most of all, he loved Kate. They loved each other so much it hurt. Kate has an eating disorder. But David knows he can make her better.

On The Run return following the five-star sell-out success of their debut, with a new show – solo performed by David Ralfe - about love, hopeless devotion and growing up.

Performed by David Ralfe. Directed by Chris Harrisson. Commissioned by Shoreditch Town Hall and supported by The North Wall Oxford, Camden People’s Theatre and Arts Council England. Production images by Alex Brenner.

A television journalist and a politician clash live on-air. What begins as a traditional interview slowly unfolds into a waking nightmare. A trap has been set: which side will walk into it?

A darkly comic, dystopian glimpse of Britain’s near future: experienced entirely in palindromic form.

Written by the award-winning writer and Standby For Tape Back-Up and BBC Radio Four star Ross Sutherland.

Directed by Rob Watt (Standby For Tape Back-Up). Original music by Jeremy Warmsley (Summer Camp). Production images by Alex Brenner

Commissioned by Shoreditch Town Hall. Developed with the support of Shoreditch Town Hall, Metal Peterborough and Unity Theatre Liverpool.

You are expected to behave…
Use the right words.
Act appropriately.
Don’t break the rules.
Just behave.
This play is not well behaved.

Alice Birch’s acclaimed play, transfers to Shoreditch Town Hall following runs in Edinburgh and at The Other Place Festival in Stratford-upon-Avon. Winner of the 2014 George Devine Award, this performance examines the language, behaviour and forces that shape women in the 21st century and asks what is stopping us from doing something truly radical to change them.

Directed by RSC Deputy Artistic Director Erica Whyman.

A new piece of a cappella song theatre

Mmm Hmmm is a playful, poignant musical journey shaped by three exceptional female voices jumping between sound worlds and lyrical styles.

Using intricate vocal techniques and rich harmony, Mmm Hmmm holds a magnifying glass up to snapshots of everyday life. One moment a fragile apology, the next a perilous trip to the First Great Western buffet car…Verity Standen’s original a cappella songs evoke the awkward, heartrending and hilarious moments that characterise what it means to be human.

Jam sessions, patter with a Southern drawl, big dance numbers, and a bit of sweat: this is a re-enactment of Elvis Presley's 1968 Comeback Special. But not how you might expect.

What happens if the Comeback comes back? Like a half-remembered dream or two mirrors facing each other or repeating a word so much it loses its meaning. Comeback Special is a double negative. It’s not the original, but it’s not not.

Greg creates an echo of the original event coloured by reverberations of contemporary masculinity, visibility and desire; a peculiar kind of séance.

Inspired by acclaimed US writer David Foster Wallace’s short story Mister Squishy, Focus Group* is an absurd comedy with a dark heart. We invite you to laugh at the joy, loneliness and surreal nature of contemporary life and consumer culture; all guided ably and professionally by our Focus Group moderator, Terry.

Sit back, eat (individually wrapped, luxury) cake, and see a man gradually relinquish the delusion that he matters in the slightest.
Through TOOT’s distinctive style of interactive-storytelling the company will be asking you to consider; 'is a real connection possible at all?'

.... And then go back to watching kitten videos on Facebook.

Created and performed by Stuart Barter, Clare Dunn & Terry O’Donovan
Produced by Faith Dodkins
Design by Jackie Shemesh
Dramaturgy by Nina Steiger

I Am Not Myself These Days is a shockingly direct and heartbreakingly funny new play about love and self-discovery in the flashy, trashy New York of the 1990s, based on the bestselling autobiography by Josh Kilmer-Purcell.

Tom Stuart delivers “an astonishing, all-consuming performance” (FEST MAGAZINE) as Josh in this “mesmerising” (MUMBLE THEATRE) one-man show. Ad man by day and drag queen by night, Josh battles his own alcoholism while desperately trying to make his relationship work with Jack, a high-class rent boy addicted to crack. I Am Not Myself These Days is one man’s unconventional journey to self-acceptance that resonates far beyond the confines of the story.

Funded by Arts Council England. Supported by Shoreditch Town Hall.

A young woman enters a hotel. She is magnetic and compelling, yet strangely detached, as if in a dream; she knows everyone, yet is utterly alone; she has many lovers, but loves no one; she is 18 years old - or is she 80?

ABSENT is partly inspired by The Duchess of Argyll's residence at a central London hotel from the 1970s until the 80s, when she was finally evicted, having run out of friends and credit.

Threading its way through the maze-like basements of Shoreditch Town Hall, ABSENT will create a multi-layered journey mixing film, installation and a haunting soundtrack by Lapalux to create an increasingly labyrinthine dream world that merges past, present and future.

In November 2012, Greg stumbled upon the confession tapes of Ted Bundy, the American serial killer, rapist and necrophile. He couldn’t stop listening.

The Ted Bundy Project was born from a curiosity about the nature of charm, the label of ‘monster’ and the tension between attraction and repulsion.

Greg has a wig, a bit of rope, a few YouTube videos and Bundy’s confession tapes. Come and hear what he has to say to you.

A Contact Flying Solo Commission developed at Ovalhouse, Bristol Old Vic Ferment and the Orchard Project. Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

“Two years ago, I found a videotape in my loft. On it: one and a half films, one quiz show and two sitcoms. Somehow it became the story of my life.”

Ross Sutherland attempts a daring experiment in synchronicity. Using nothing but found-footage from one of his granddad’s old videotapes, Ross attempts to draw out his entire life story.

The true story of one man’s journey into synchronicity and madness.

So It Goes is a true story about love and loss.

Hannah has always wanted to talk about her dad. But in the seven years since he died, she hasn’t quite managed it. Not one to be defeated, she’s enlisted her friend David to help her on a journey through memory, laughter and sorrow. Frank, funny and endlessly inventive, So It Goes explores the light and dark sides of grief, in a playful and deeply personal show. Written and performed by Hannah Moss and David Ralfe.

Sorted Food are hosting the ultimate foodie Big Christmas Bash, and this time…you’re invited!

Come join the Sorted crew and be right amongst the action for their first ever in-person show.

Brace yourself for an avalanche of Christmas chaos: cringeworthy cracker jokes, saucy stocking fillers, mistletoe mischief, naff Christmas jumpers, party games, singalongs and more. Stuffed full of your favourite video series’: pretentious ingredients, blindfolded taste tests, top chef tips for your Christmas leftovers and the return of the dreaded quiz cup! Finally, witness a totally live, totally chaotic Pass It On Christmas Spectacular!

Who knows, there may even be a surprise visit from a very special guest…

The Big Christmas Bash promises to be a wild and unpredictable rollercoaster of foodie festive cheer!

Train Strikes: RMT have confirmed industrial action will be held across 16 - 17 December. Please allow extra time for your journey.

Presented by Sorted Food and The Live Show Company

This ticket will not grant access to the online livestream. Tickets for the livestream must be purchased separately here.

Disclaimer: Please note, this show will be recorded for online streaming purposes. Your entry and presence on the event premises constitutes your consent to be featured as part of the in-person audience in the live record. This includes, without limitation, waiving any right to inspect or approve the photo, video or audio recording, any releasing claims for invasion of privacy, violation of the right of publicity, defamation, and copyright infringement or for any fees for use of such record media. ‘Sous Chef’ tickets are situated on stage and will be more likely to be featured on the live record.

This event is an external promotion by Sorted Food and The Live Show Company

Covid-19 Safety Measures

We will be taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of everyone in the building. For all our Covid-19 Safety Measures in place, please click here.