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Taking place from Friday 4 to Sunday 13 October 2024, the Birmingham Comedy Festival returns with a stellar line-up of over 150 performances. This award-winning festival promises to deliver an extraordinary showcase of comedic talent, featuring some of the most renowned names in the industry, including Sarah Millican, Rachel Parris from The Mash Report, and Maisie Adam.
Highlights of Birmingham Comedy Festival 2024
This year’s programme features an impressive array of comedy stars. Milton Jones, known for his distinctive wordplay, will perform on 6 October at the Town Hall, while the energetic Jason Byrne takes the stage on 11 October at the same venue. Social media favourite George Lewis, often referred to as the “Instagram dad”, will perform on 13 October at The Glee Club, alongside Richard Blackwood, the well-known actor from Hollyoaks and EastEnders, who is celebrating 30 years in comedy. Joining Blackwood on stage will be fellow comedian Slim.
Other highlights include the delightful Laura Lexx, performing on 10 October at the Old Joint Stock, and Schalk Bezuidenhout, one of South Africa’s leading comedians, who will appear on 6 October at The Glee Club. Fans of Frank Skinner’s radio show will also have the opportunity to see his co-host Pierre Novellie live on 9 October at The Glee Club.
Homage to Comedy Legends
The festival also honours comedy’s rich history with several unique events. On 11 October, the West Midlands Police Museum will host a special screening of three classic Laurel and Hardy films. For those with a taste for theatre, “Howerd’s End” (3–5 October at the Old Joint Stock) explores the complex life of legendary comedian Frankie Howerd, while “Hancock’s Half Hour: The Lost TV Episodes” (4 October at The Crescent Theatre) brings back three forgotten episodes of the beloved 1950s BBC sitcom.
Showcasing Regional Talent
Birmingham’s own comedy scene is also well-represented at the festival. Performances by the celebrated Jo Enright (7 October at Hockley Social Club), Black Country comedian Jonny Cole (10 October at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall), and the widely popular Shazia Mirza (11 October at Birmingham Hippodrome) are sure to be standout events. Additionally, rising stars such as Hasan Al-Habib, winner of the Breaking Talent Award 2024, and emerging local comedians Richard Dadd, Rachel Baker, Damon Conlan, and Joe Bingham will be performing throughout the festival.
The Breaking Talent Award 2024, taking place on 10 October at The Glee Club, is a highly anticipated event that celebrates and recognises the brightest up-and-coming comedic talents from the West Midlands.
Free Comedy Events
The festival’s popular Free Half-Dayers return on 6 and 13 October, offering audiences the chance to enjoy a series of back-to-back comedy performances at The Victoria and Cherry Reds. Acts include Eric Rushton, the recipient of Channel 4’s Sean Lock Comedy Award, alongside Kwame Asante, a doctor-turned-comedian, and Hannah Weetman, who won the Breaking Talent 2022 award.
For fans of improvisational comedy, the Comedy Junction Big Improv Night on 6 October promises an evening of spontaneous humour, with performances from talented troupes such as Behind The Headlines, Next Time On, and Jumprov!.
Venues and Dates
Supported by The Arcadian and What’s On Magazine, the Birmingham Comedy Festival will take place across more than 20 venues throughout the city, ranging from intimate pub settings to large concert halls.
Milton Jones (credit Jiksaw)
Where Is the Birmingham Comedy Festival 2024?
The Birmingham Comedy Festival will be hosted across more than 20 venues in the city.
When Is It?
From October 4 to 13 2024.
Further Information
For everything else including purchasing Birmingham Comedy Festival tickets, go to: bhamcomfest.co.uk.
This year’s Birmingham Comedy Festival is set to be a remarkable celebration of both established and emerging comedic talent, offering a wide range of performances that will appeal to all audiences.
Main image: Rachel Parris – Credit Karla Gowlett
