Camden Fringe Comedy Choices

You won’t just dind stand up, improv and sketch comedy in the comedy section at Camden Fringe. Fringe theatre goers will find more thratre-based offerings in this section, so don’t just restrict yourself to the theatre section of the Camden Fringe programme. There is quite a lot of work-in-progress stand-up happening this year, so tread with care, but also tread with dare!

Here are some of our recommendations for this year.

Kicking of with “45 minutes of jokes, stories and silliness”, you’ll want to see Carolie McEvoy, a stand-up from Bangor, Northern Ireland, based in London. She’s founder of 2x Chortle award-winning night Comedy Bandits. Here’s tje lowdown for this solo comedy show, Caroline McEvoy: Glass Child: “Caroline had a pretty typical childhood. Her younger brother, who has autism, did not. In her latest show, Caroline looks back at their upbringing in Northern Ireland, with 45 minutes of jokes, stories and silliness.”.

For a “‘Fearless comedian on the rise’ – Daniel Kaluuya”, Tadiwa Mahlunge: Professional Comedian issues the dollowing invotation: “I’ve got a bunch of new jokes about being in my 20’s, working the day job, hanging out with my girlfriend – normal life shit. The material goes hard though – this is not for the Radio 4 listeners…”

Helsinki Noir looks very intriguing. Billed as a comedy revue, Superior A Theatre offer a “satirical revue of events in Helsinki in the past year or so that transformed Finland from a neutral, peace-loving country to a militaristic, immigrant shunning, arms exporting, sabre-rattling member of the nuclear club, austerely stripping its welfare state to spend more than it can afford on its bristling armed forces. Figuring prominently in the show, staged by denizens of a dysfunctional Helsinki retirement home, are our luminary ex-PM, Sanna Marin, her new-found associate Tony Blair and swinging newly elected president Alexander Stubb. The show on Finland’s transfiguration is acccompanied by a medley of Finnish music and song.”

Award-winning Marcel Lucont, self-described as a “multi-award-deserving deadpan Frenchman”, brings us Marcel Lucont’s Whine List, billed as “his acclaimed interactive show, in which he serves up a unique Whine List from the audience’s past woes and misdemeanours.” Described as “A kind of group therapy experience, but one where everybody will probably leave more depressed.”

For something comedically combative, Comedian vs Drag Queen “Drag menace Sassafras Nitro Jet takes on comedian Paul Moore. It’s a battle of wigs and wit to find out who will come out on top (neither of them – as most of London knows). It’s a stand-up comedy split bill, but not as you know it. They’ll be battling it out to win the hearts and minds of North London’s most discerning audience (you). Will there be a clear winner? Or will it descend into chaos? Anything could happen.”

Glass of Sketch is hosted by Daniel J. Willis. No, it isn’t a sketch comedy show. It is a comedy show about sjetch comedy, desribed as “an informative talk on the ‘serious’ art form that is sketch comedy.” Ok, it’s is sketch comedy of a sort and is promised to be an”uplifting, silly hour of quick, quirky comedy sketches… Utilising pre-recorded lines and audio to showcase a number of quick and vivid multi-character sketches, this one-person surreal sketch comedy show takes audiences on a unique tasting tour of different sketch genres.”

“London’s gentlest comedian, and Camden local” Stephen Portlock presents Stephen and Hamlet: Blind and Mad. For an very personal comedy hour: “Having previously traipsed around Edinburgh, Hove, Plymouth and Brighton, … Stephen Portlock, accompanied by his impeccably well behaved dog Hamlet, and bringing a cuddly Minion in tow, returns home to leave residents and visitors bewildered, befuddled and bemused as he delivers a very ramshackle guide through the highways and byways of life’s weirdness, exploring his ambivalent feelings about identity politics, and musing on how we can just learn to be nicer to one-another.”

A debut solo comedy show comes from JamJam The Comedian in Sorry For The Weight, in which “JamJam explores the trials and tribulations of everyday life, from navigating the complexities of relationships to the absurdities of modern society. With his razor-sharp wit and infectious charm, JamJam tackles topics ranging from love and friendship to food and fitness, offering a hilarious take on the struggles and joys of the human experience.”

Fans of actor Nicolas Cage will, of course, be there for Searching for Nicolas Cage. in which award-winning comedian and film maker Joe Bor, tells of his “quest to make a film with Nicolas Cage”

For some absurdist physical clown comedy, Carlos Sandin’s Pull My Goldfinger is something to get booking for, Sandin is graduate of much respected SpyMonkey’s Clown Creation School and this is his debut clown solo show. The premise: “

Bond is dead. Craig’s out. To revive the world’s most famous spy we must return to the very beginning. But who has the courage to bring Bond back? Let it be known, there is a new improved era for 007 on the horizon and his name is Sandin… Carlos Sandin. Known for his ethnically ambiguous bone structure and dynamic physicality, Carlos Sandin is bringing a Bond that obliterates all others. A new undercover hero we never knew we needed. Expect action, drama and live music; a fresh take on a modern classic.” Also, if clown is your thing, also check out work-in-progress Jacob Lovick: Jagol Bloso.

Now, onto something different and a bit classic. “In this fast-paced, time travelling retelling of the autobiography of one of the Middle Age’s most incredible women, Margery takes to the stage to give us her life in her own words – tears and all.”. This is The Book of Margery Kempe performed by Nadia Lines. ” Margery Kempe is a normal housewife. She has fourteen children, a useless husband, and no education. But God has chosen her for a very special purpose. She’s been given the gift of tears, and she’s going to make sure you hear them. As Margery’s raucous and ravishing visions of God begin to derail her life, she starts to attract more and more attention. And soon she’s on trial for heresy. But Margery won’t be quiet, and the visions won’t stop. In fact, they’re becoming more intense.”

Andy Field The Rhythm, Field The Rhyme, Get On Up, It’s Comedy Time should alxso be on your watch list. A comedy festival and TV regualrar, be readt for his “silly style and refreshing approach to traditional stand up.”

There’s a story behind this award0winning solo show. “At the end of 2023, skinny-boy Andrew Coleman was rushed to A&E with heart problems (he survived). A month later, his girlfriend broke up with him (don’t worry the show is funny). The award-winning comedian brings his first solo show to The Camden Fringe with witty one-liners and high-energy stories about modern relationships, phone sex, undercover ticket inspectors and embarrassing first class flying.” So, get your tickets for Andrew Coleman’s Heart Problems, which also features, “a different opening act (TBA) showcasing the best talent on the UK comedy circuit.”

There are over 120 comedy shows to choose from at this year’s Camden Fringe. You might also want to check these out…

For a “gloriously interactive comedy show written and performed by a former yoga teacher-turned-comedian” then see Namaste Blisters.

For some accalimed comedy cabaret, see Freaks and Fools – the Cabaret.

For a solo show about how to process guilt, what makes us carry it, the see award-winner Phil Green in Phil Green: Guilt.

For an absurd satire about making progress, hitting targets and bullshit jobs, well reviewed at Brighton Fringe, then see The Unstoppable Rise of Ben Manager.

And do check out our improv comedy choices on their own special page here.