James Acaster and Edinburgh previews announced in the Park Laughs series
- ames Acaster will be trying out his new show for four dates in July and August
- Further works in progress and Edinburgh Fringe previews will be presented throughout the summer, including Sophie Duker, Matt Forde, Rob Auton and Chloe Petts
- Fully developed shows include Chris Grace: Sardines and Cally Beaton: Namaste Motherf*ckers
- Park Laughs Live returns with a line-up of Pierre Novellie, Catherine Bohart, Celya AB and Sophie Garrad
- Comedy Club 4 Kids continues with one Sunday show every month throughout the year
X (Twitter): @ParkTheatre | www.parktheatre.co.uk
Park Theatre has announced a jam-packed programme of fully developed shows, works in progress and Edinburgh Fringe previews as part of their Park Laughs series this summer, with appearances from more than 30 comedians including four dates from James Acaster.
James Acaster is known for his record breaking five consecutive nominations for Best Comedy Show at the Edinburgh Fringe, is the first UK comic to shoot more than one Netflix Original special, and also known for his books and podcasts. He’ll be trying out new ideas for an hour in July (16 & 17) and August (24 & 31).
In June, a quartet of comedians will also be road-testing new work. Anna Hale: Control Freak introduces a socially anxious extrovert and a perfectionist with sixty minutes to solve all her problems, while Pedro Leandro: Soft Animal invites his audience to reflect: will it, can it, ever be enough? (20 Jun). The following night (21 Jun) features Cabbage The Clown: Cinemadrome,one-part breathless parody of cinematic history, one-part thoughtful dissection of minimum wage careers, one-part rolling around on the floor covered in popcorn, and Bebe Cave: CHRISTBRIDE, a wild historical farce about what happens when you believe in yourself a little too much.
In two further nights of work in progress, double bills are presented by Eric Rushton and Hasan Al-Habib (29 June) ahead of their Edinburgh Fringe runs, and Sharon Wanjohi and Marty Gleeson (4 July). Eric Rushton: Inkeeper is paired with Hasan Al-Habib: Death To The West (Midlands), a love letter to his Iraqi heritage and Birmingham upbringing. Queer British Kenyan comedian Sharon Wanjohi tackles the lack of Gen-Z homeowners and cartoons that inspired a generation of sexual awakenings, whilst Irish comedian Marty Gleeson is renowned for her offbeat, captivating, and whimsical performance style.
In the week before the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Park Laughs will be presenting a series of Avalon Edinburgh Previews (21 – 26 Jul) with double bills of comedians in the intimate Park90 just ahead of their Scottish runs: Matt Forde and Joe Kent-Walters, Glenn Moore and Johnny White Really-Really, Chloe Petts and Pierre Novellie, Sophie Duker and Bella Hull, Rob Auton, Andrew Doherty, and two more to be announced. Earlier in the month Sorry I Hurt Your Son (Said My Ex To My Mum) (12 July) is the Fringe preview from trailblazing comedian James Barr
One-off performances of developed shows include Chris Grace: Sardines (20 Jul), asking ‘can we enjoy life if we know how it ends?’ and ‘does making art actually help?’, and Cally Beaton: Namaste Motherf*ckers (27 Jul) is a celebration of and for the female of the species. Invisible no more.
Park Laughs Live returns on 11 July, featuring hilarious household names alongside the most exciting rising stars in stand-up. This edition includes Pierre Novellie, Catherine Bohart, Celya AB and Sophie Garrad.
For younger audiences, Comedy Club 4 Kids continues to run monthly on a Sunday, offering family-friendly comedy without any patronising idiocy. Since 2005, the Comedy Club 4 Kids has been getting the best stand-ups, sketch acts and cabaret stars from the international circuit to do their thing for an audience of children (aged 6+) and their families… but without the rude bits.
Park Theatre presents exceptional theatre in the heart of Finsbury Park, boasting two world-class performance spaces: Park200 for predominantly larger scale productions by established talent, and Park90, a flexible studio space, for emerging artists. In twelve years, it has enjoyed 10 West End transfers (including Rose starring Maureen Lipman, The Boys in the Band starring Mark Gatiss, Pressure starring David Haig and The Life I Lead starring Miles Jupp), two National Theatre transfers, 14 national tours, seven Olivier Award nominations, has won multiple OffWestEnd Offie Awards, and a Theatre of the Year award from The Stage as well as their inaugural Campaign of the Year award in 2025 for their work reaching underserved audiences with Canadian/ Korean comedy drama Kim’s Convenience.
Listings information
Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London N4 3JP
* Telephone booking fee of £3 per transaction applies. All ticket prices are inclusive of a £1.50 building levy.
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Park90 20 June
Anna Hale: Control Freak (Work in Progress) | Presented by Anna Hale in association with Park Theatre
Introducing Anna Hale: comedian, singersongwriter, control freak. She’s written the jokes, the music and the lyrics. She’s rigged the lights and sold the tickets. But what happens to a control freak when her world is out of control?
Anna is a socially anxious extrovert and a perfectionist with sixty minutes to solve all her problems. The real challenge is doing it without letting anyone else have a go.
Featuring hilarious original songs, “natural charisma” (Beyond The Joke) and “undeniable vocal pyrotechnics” (Chortle), Control Freak is the debut show from the 2024 Musical Comedy Awards ‘Audience Favourite’.
1hr
Fri 20 Jun 7pm, £10 Multi-buy with Pedro Leandro, Cabbage the Clown or Bebe Cave: Two tickets for £16
Park90 20 June
Pedro Leandro: Soft Animal (Work in Progress) | Presented by Pedro Leandro in association with Park Theatre
The debut show from Pedro Leandro, a comedian who has famously been described as ‘magnetic’ (Guardian) and ‘a beautiful bright-eyed joy’ (Everything Theatre).
Sadly, he has found this praise to be insufficient. Standing atop the lonely Everest of his innumerable achievements, he invites his audience to reflect: will it, can it, ever be enough?
If the whole world said, as one: “You are the greatest comedian that’s ever lived. In fact, you transcend that label. You are a raconteur. An artist. And we actually like that you’re gay” Would that be enough? I mean, it wouldn’t hurt.
1hr
Fri 20 Jun 8.30pm, £10 Multi-buy with Anna Hale, Cabbage the Clown or Bebe Cave: Two tickets for £16
Park90 21 June
Cabbage The Clown: Cinemadrome (Work in Progress) | Presented by Cabbage The Clown in association with Park Theatre
Minimum wage cinema employee turned multi-award winning tragic fool Cabbage The Clown’s debut hour marries a buffet of genres in polygamous holy matrimony in the name of drag.
With over 8 million views online for their genre-busting brand of multimedia drag-clowning, Cabbage presents their hotly-anticipated debut show: One-part breathless parody of cinematic history, one part thoughtful dissection of minimum wage careers, one part rolling around on the floor covered in popcorn.
So talk through the trailers, get the loudest snacks available, then sit back, relax and enjoy this Bechdel Test-passing, BBFC-unapproved, global premiere.
Running time
Sat 21 June 7pm £10, Multi-buy with Anna Hale, Pedro Leandro or Bebe Cave: Two tickets for £16
Park90 21 June
Bebe Cave: CHRISTBRIDE (Work in Progress) | Presented by Bebe Cave in association with Park Theatre
In the dark, deathly world of the middle ages, one (annoying) woman strives to find the light. Join CHRISTBRIDE, a female mystic in a world of male dullards, as she escapes from a life of monotony to a life of devotion.
Bebe Cave presents her debut character comedy show. In a time where people believe anything, CHRISTBRIDE is a wild historical farce about what happens when you believe in yourself a little too much.
1hr
Sat 21 June 8.30pm £10, Multi-buy with Anna Hale, Pedro Leandro or Cabbage the Clown: Two tickets for £16
Park200 Sundays: 29 Jun, 20 Jul, 24 Aug, 14 Sep, 12 Oct, 9 Nov, 14 Dec
Comedy Club 4 Kids | Presented by Comedy Club 4 Kids in association with Park Theatre
Since 2005, the Comedy Club 4 Kids has been getting the best stand-ups, sketch acts and cabaret stars from the international circuit to do their thing for an audience of children (aged 6+) and their families… but without the rude bits! Almost 20 years later, the company has expanded from one London residency to being countrywide, running shows and workshops all over the UK from Peebles to Portsmouth, even producing a book on how to write and perform stand-up, and hosting our own Radio Nonsense podcast to bring the sillies to families all over the world.
The show is family friendly, but without any patronising idiocy. In fact, it’s just like a normal comedy club, but it’s on in the day, kids are allowed in, and thus there is a higher than usual chance of the entire audience claiming to be called Bob.
Adults to sit with children in their party (and help explain anything they get stuck on).
Group bookings to contain at least one adult for every three kids.
Sun 29 Jun
Charlotte Cropper, Matt Green and more acts TBC.
Sun 20 Jul
Abigoliah Schamaun (MC), ventriloquist Max Fulham and more acts TBC.
Sun 24 Aug
Sketch duo Peasoup Comedy, Ben Van Der Velde and more acts TBC.
Sundays at 3pm: 29 Jun, 20 Jul, 24 Aug, 14 Sep, 12 Oct, 9 Nov, 14 Dec | £15, £10 (Park Up 16-26 years).
Park90 29 June
Eric Rushton and Hasan Al-Habib: Works In Progress | Presented by Chambers Touring in association with Park Theatre presents
Award-winning comedians Hasan Al-Habib and Eric Rushton each present a work-in-progress version of their 2025 solo shows ahead of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Eric will be previewing his new show, Eric Rushton: Inkeeper, following on from a successful nationwide tour of his critically acclaimed previous hour earlier this year. Eric has also received the prestigious Channel 4 Sean Lock Award 2023, and Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year 2020.
Hasan will be previewing his debut solo show Hasan Al-Habib: Death To The West (Midlands), a love letter to his Iraqi heritage and Birmingham upbringing. The show has already received a nomination for Best Debut at the Leicester Comedy Festival earlier this year. Hasan has also won the 2023 Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award.
1hr 40 mins (inc interval)
Sun 29 Jun 7pm, £15
Park90 4 July
Sharon Wanjohi and Marty Gleeson: Work in Progress | Presented by IAM in association with Park Theatre
Join the hilarious Sharon Wanjohi and Marty Gleeson as they test out new material.
Sharon Wanjohi is a queer British Kenyan comedian, who’s been making waves on the circuit with her take on the lack of Gen-z homeowners and maybe too much material on the cartoons that inspired a generation of sexual awakenings.
She has written on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Late Night Lycett and The Jonathan Ross Show.
Irish comedian Marty Gleeson is fast becoming a well-known name in the UK comedy scene. Recently showcased on BBC New Comedy Award Finals and Channel 4’s Sean Lock Awards, she was crowned LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year 2024. Renowned for her offbeat, captivating, and whimsical performance style, Gleeson was also a part of the prestigious Pleasance Comedy Reserve at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024.
With over 30 million views online and tour support for Vittorio Angelone under her belt, Gleeson is a comic making big juicy turbulent waves, run for cover. No one is safe.
2hrs 20 mins (inc interval)
Fri 4 Jul, 8.30pm, £15
Park90 11 July
Park Laughs Live | Presented by Park Theatre
After sell-out shows from some of the biggest names in comedy – Harry Hill, Ivo Graham & Jenny Eclair, to name but a few– Park Theatre presents Park Laughs Live!
We’re bringing you hilarious household names alongside the most exciting rising stars in stand-up for an unforgettable night of laughter.
Our upcoming show features Pierre Novellie, Catherine Bohart, Celya AB and Sophie Garrad.
2hr (inc interval)
Fri 11 Jul, 8.30pm, £15 | £10 (Park Up 16-26 years).
Park90 12 July
Fringe Preview: Sorry I Hurt Your Son (Said My Ex To My Mum) | Presented by W!ZARD Live Presents in association with Park Theatre
Trailblazing comedian James Barr brings his Edinburgh Fringe Preview to Park Theatre.
Sorry I Hurt Your Son (Said My Ex To My Mum) is a bold, ‘genre-defying’ (ArtsHub.com.au) stand-up hour about the things his ex-boyfriend did to him, including a pushy-wushy down the stairsy-wairsy.
Shortlisted at The British LGBT Awards. As seen on Hits Radio Breakfast and the British Podcast Award winning A Gay and A NonGay.
1hr 10 mins (approx.)
Sat 12 Jul, 8.30pm, £18 | £10 (Park Up 16-26 years)
Park200 16 & 17 July, 24 & 31 Aug
James Acaster: Work in Progress | Presented by Plosive Live and PBJ Management in association with Park Theatre
James Acaster tries new ideas for an hour.
A whimsical master, James has received acclaim from around the world, including a record breaking 5 consecutive nominations for Best Comedy Show at the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016 Edinburgh Fringe Festivals. In 2017 he toured the country with a staggering three-show trilogy, performing Recognise, Represent and Reset consecutively over three nights in each venue. These three shows and Recap form his Netflix four part series, Repertoire. It was the first of its kind, a stand up mini series with an overarching narrative, and James is the first UK comic to shoot more than one Netflix Original special.
In 2019 James completed a mammoth long tour of his hugely successful show Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999 around the UK, Australia and America, the show was nominated for a critics choice award after its release in 2022 and is now available to watch on his website. James is currently touring his new show Hecklers Welcome internationally.
As well as a celebrated stand up, James is a Sunday Times best selling author, with three publications; Classic Scrapes, Perfect Sound Whatever and his most recent book, James Acaster’s Guide to Quitting Social Media. James also has three hit podcasts: Off Menu which he hosts with Ed Gamble, Perfect Sounds and his latest release; Springleaf which he wrote and stars in.
This year James joins the Ghostbusters cast in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
1hr
Weds 16 & Thurs 17 Jul 9.45pm, Sun 24 & 31 Aug 7pm | £15.75, £10 (Park Up 16-26 years).
Park200 20 July
Chris Grace: Sardines | Presented by W!ZARD Live in association with Park Theatre
Acclaimed actor and comedian Chris Grace (as seen in Superstore) brings his newest show to Park Theatre for one night.
Sardines explores the tragic, hilarious, and important questions of our time: Can we enjoy life if we know how it ends? Does making art actually help? And if Rihanna’s song is called “Don’t Stop the Music”, why does the music… stop? Find out in this insightful and vulnerable comedy. Brighton Fringe Excellence Award Winner.
You may have seen Chris in Atypical (Netflix), Stumptown (ABC), This Is Us (NBC) and Superstore (Netflix). In 2025, he appears in Netflix’s The Residence.
60 mins
July 20, 7pm | £20
Park90, Park Laughs 21 July
Matt Forde and Joe Kent-Walters | Presented by Avalon in association with Park Theatre
Avalon Edinburgh Previews
140 mins (inc interval)
Mon 7pm | £15
Park90 22 July
Glenn Moore and Johnny White Really-Really | Presented by Avalon in association with Park Theatre
Avalon Edinburgh Previews
140 mins (inc interval)
Tues 7pm | £15
Park90 23 July
Rob Auton | Presented by Avalon in association with Park Theatre
Avalon Edinburgh Previews
140 mins (inc interval)
One further act to be announced.
Weds 7pm | £15
Park90 24 July
Chloe Petts and Pierre Novellie | Presented by Avalon in association with Park Theatre
Avalon Edinburgh Previews
140 mins (inc interval)
Thurs 7pm | £15
Park90 25 July
Sophie Duker and Bella Hull | Presented by Avalon in association with Park Theatre
Avalon Edinburgh Previews
140 mins (inc interval)
Fri 7pm | £15
Park90 26 July
Andrew Doherty | Presented by Avalon in association with Park Theatre
Avalon Edinburgh Previews
140 mins (inc interval)
One further act to be announced.
Sat 7pm | £15
Park200 27 Jul
Cally Beaton: Namaste Motherf*ckers | Presented by Roadtrip Media Limited in association with Park Theatre
Namaste Motherf*ckers is the new show from Cally Beaton (QI, Live at the Apollo), a quick-witted, unexpected and unapologetic insight into life in midlife.
Combining Cally’s comedic and storytelling prowess with extracts from her provocative, stereotype-busting book of the same name, the show has at its heart her own story of radical reinvention – taking her from meetings in boardrooms to treading the boards, thanks to a chance conversation with the late, great Joan Rivers.
A funny show about a deadly serious subject, Namaste Motherf*ckers is a celebration of and for the female of the species. Invisible no more.
The show includes a Q&A and meet-and-greet with Cally. Who knows, Jeff the wonder dog may even be there too…
1hr 40 mins (inc interval)
Sun 27 Jul, 7pm, £20 | £10 (Park Up 16-26 years)