Soho Theatre Presents
Adam Riches and John Kearns ARE: Ball & Boe
Soho Theatre Walthamstow | Saturday 27th September 2025
Previous Praise for Adam Riches and John Kearns are Ball and Boe
“If I could have gone back straight afterwards to see it again, I would have”
★★★★★ The Times
“The single funniest hour I’ve spent in a theatre all year”
★★★★★ The Telegraph
“A blast, with nothing taken too seriously except the drive to hit the next laugh, and quickly.”
★★★★★ Chortle
“An hour of sheer brilliant stupidity. A true must-see one-off from two comedy greats.”
★★★★★ Beyond the Joke
“a deliciously silly sendup”
★★★★ The Guardian
This autumn, audiences are invited to treat themselves to the show they never knew they needed – and experience one of the best-reviewed live comedy shows of 2024. Directed by Tom Parry (Pappy’s, Don Rodolfo, Jimmy),Adam Riches and John Kearns ARE ‘Ball & Boe – For One Night Only’
Needing no introduction to fans of super-smart cult comedy, and after a phenomenal double run at Soho Theatre’s central London venue last Christmas – where they garnered a constellation of 5-star reviews and, in a twist that blurred the line between spoof and reality, were joined in the room and onstage by the real duo (!) plus a three-night run at the Pleasance Grand at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, Adam Riches and John Kearns are heading to Soho Theatre Walthamstow for one night only, marking their debut in the new venue.
Adam Riches is an award-winning writer and performer who won the Edinburgh Comedy Award, Time Out Comedy Person of the Year and was nominated for The Times Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the Sky Arts South Bank Show Awards. He’s also well known to TV audiences through his guest appearances as an exaggerated comic parody of actor Sean Bean on the panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
John Kearns is the only comedian to have won both the Edinburgh Comedy Awards for Best Show (Shtick) and Best Newcomer (Sight Gags for Perverts) in the awards’ 40-year history. John was a breakout star of series 14 of Taskmaster (Channel 4) and the co-host of Guessable on Comedy Central alongside Sara Pascoe and team captain Alan Davies. He also played the lead role in cult hit BBC3/Netflix sitcom Top Coppers.
Michael Ball and Alfie Boe have been working together for over a decade – their first joint album was the best-selling LP in the UK that year. Shifting over 600,000 copies in the UK alone and reaching double-platinum status, it outsold the likes of The Rolling Stones and Little Mix.
Indeed, between the four of them, Adam Riches, John Kearns, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe have won countless Oliviers, achieved double platinum album sales, sold out multiple arena tours and won two Edinburgh Comedy Awards.
Stupid, silly, and full of heart. This is one night of glitz, gags, and glorious nonsense.
More Praise for Adam Riches and John Kearns ARE Ball and Boe
“Unpredictable yet hilarious”
★★★★★ Curtain Call Reviews
“An amazing night of comedy, filled with some of the best comedic character acting and plenty of show tunes”
★★★★★ Adventures in Theatreland
“a masterclass in comedy, musicality, and sharp satire… a must-see”
★★★★.5 A Young(ish) Perspective
“Pretty much the perfect fringe show, this pastiche comedy has a freewheeling sense of carefully controlled chaos that is thoroughly winning, largely because it’s also hilarious.” ★★★★ Shadows on the Wall
“Clever, funny, and meticulously crafted” ★★★★ The Spy In The Stalls