The fourth national tour for Geoff Norcott, following on the back of Conswervative, Traditionalism and Taking Liberties.

This time Geoff talks less politics (alright, there will probably be a bit), but this brand-new show will mostly explore personal responsibility, parenting and who should take the blame when things go wrong.

Whatever happened to the idea of personal responsibility? In the age of victimhood, it seems like whatever’s wrong with your life it can be blamed on someone else. Governments, employers… some bigot from four hundred years ago.

Where did it go wrong? It has to be the parents. Every generation there’s an opportunity for a new set of mums and dads to set their kids straight and make a stand against whatever trendy nonsense is currently doing the rounds. But do we? Or is it easier to give into fear and the pursuit of a quiet life?

Geoff has realised he’s also a bag of contradictions. Raised on a south London council estate by two maverick parents, there’s plenty he has to sift through. His Dad was a trade union man who obsessed over stocks and shares. His mum was a closet chauvinist and far too frank on the subject of sex.

With a child of his own, Geoff spies a one-off chance for his family to finally get it right and produce a balanced human being, but can he filter out his own bollocks before it gets to his son?

WHY? 'Sets himself apart from the liberal commentariat with a sharp self-knowing wit ★★★★ The Times

Courtyard Theatre
£16

@GeoffNorcott
@nordenfarm

Geoff Norcott's Website

•  27 May from £15

Multi-award winning musical comedy duo (and sisters) Flo & Joan are climbing out of their pits, armed with a piano and percussion section to bring you a brand new show of their critically acclaimed songs and comedy.

Their unique, sharp-tongued style has taken them around the world with multiple sell-out tours and appearances at the Just For Laughs Festival Montreal and Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Now they are back with their biggest ever UK national tour, poking around all the classic topics of the day: over-thinking, alien lovers and fringes.

As seen on Live at the Apollo (BBC2), The Royal Variety Performance (ITV), The Russell Howard Hour (Sky), Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club (ITV), online with over 50 million views of their viral songs, in your personal nightmares, and in ‘Alive on Stage’, their own special available worldwide on Amazon Prime.

'Musical comedy hasn’t been in such safe hands for years' The List

'It’s the harmonies of Frankie Valli with the sensibilities of Frankie Boyle' Chortle

★★★★ The Telegraph | ★★★★ The Guardian | ★★★★ Sunday Times

Courtyard Theatre
£16

•   9 Jun SOLD OUT
•  10 Jun SOLD OUT

A show about sexy things (awkward), private things (oh no) and a woman trying to sit on the face of time to keep it still (hot, right?).

You’ve seen Jess on Live at the Apollo, QI and on Harry Hill's Clubnite amongst other TV shows. She's a regular co-host of The Guilty Feminist Podcast, the host and creator of The Hoovering Podcast and you hear her regularly on BBC R4's News Quiz and Now Show.

Jess was nominated for the Dave Edinburgh Comedy Award – Best Show 2019 with her last show Hench, and she won Best Show and Best Breakthrough Act in the Chortle Awards 2020.

Suitable for ages 16+ years.

Courtyard Theatre
£16

Promoter Credit: Little Wander
Photo Credit: Matt Stronge

•   8 Sep from £16

We've all had some pondering to do about the fragility of life recently, but don't worry, skinny national treasure Mark Watson has it covered.

At 41, he's halfway through his days on earth, according to the life expectancy calculator app he paid £1.49 for. That life is in the best shape in living memory... but one problem remains, and it really is a huge one.

Spiritual enquiry meets high-octane observational comedy as the 'Taskmaster' survivor, multi-award-winner and 'No More Jockeys' cult leader attempts to cram a couple of years of pathological overthinking into an evening of stand-up. Maybe we'll even solve the huge problem. Doubt it, though.

★★★★★ Telegraph

★★★★ Times | Independent | Metro | Time Out | Chortle

'Quite unlike anything else I’ve seen in almost 20 years of covering the Fringe... witty, warm, perfectly judged' ★★★★★ Telegraph

'This is a stand-up operating at the very top of his game' ★★★★ Independent

'He always displays an innate understanding of what the audience wants... creating a bespoke experience for every gig, an added flourish to a strong hour of stand-up' ★★★★ Chortle

'A quick-fire hour of fun' ★★★★ Metro

•  23 Sep from £20

Avalon are the UK's leading comedy agent - they bring two top comedians previewing their material ahead of the Edinburgh Festival this summer.

Glenn Moore

Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Glenn Moore is a comedian, actor and one of the best and most prolific joke writers in the country.

Glenn is a regular face on TV, having appeared on Mock The Week (BBC), Rob Delaney’s Stand Up Central (Comedy Central) and The Stand Up Sketch Show (ITV2).

His critically acclaimed stand up show Glenn, Glenn, Glenn, How Do You Like It, How Do You Like It was nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award. He also toured the UK with his follow up hit Edinburgh show Love Don’t Live Here Glenny More. He is a staff writer on the sketch comedy show Scrambled (CITV) and has written for The Mash Report (BBC), Play To The Whistle (ITV), and Russell Howard’s Good News (BBC).

Jarlath Regan

Stand up and host of multi-award winning global hit podcast An Irishman Abroad. Jarlath’s ability to extract honesty from the likes of Sir Bob Geldof, Gabriel Byrne and Boy George has become legendary.

Jarlath’s other credits include Tonight at the Palladium (ITV), Stand up Central (Comedy Central) Russell Howard’s Good News (BBC3) Comedy Central’s The World Stands Up (Comedy Central), Last Comic Standing (NBC).

Studio
£12

•  18 May from £12

Terence Blacker has been stressing over how to grow old happily and with style ever since he got his bus pass.

Months of lockdown have not improved his age-anxiety one bit. Looking around, he has discovered that the world is every bit as muddled about age in the 21st century as he is.

Just when you’re getting going in your life, it happens. You catch sight of your father in the mirror and realise that it’s you. You start listening to your old Mungo Jerry albums. You feel the need to contact school friends you haven’t seen for years – even the ones you never liked. You join the National Trust.

Is this it? The start of a slow slide into Oldsville - comfy slippers, fussing over your breakfast cereal, talking at the TV, with the occasional Saga cruise thrown in as a treat?!

In his funny and perceptive new show, Terence faces up to the joys and pains of the passing years with songs, quotes, and anecdotes. It’s as if Victor Meldrew met Tom Lehrer for a none-too-serious debate about the meaning of life.

The result is a spirit lifting and timely celebration of the art of not taking the ageing process lying down - about being, in the words of one of Terence's songs, 'not quite done'.

Does The Shock of the Old finally reveal the great secret of the coming of age? Possibly not, but Terence Blacker shares a world of fun, warmth and wisdom looking for it.

'A bitter-sweet - and yet ultimately life-affirming - show, full of humour and terrific songs (with wonderful guitar-playing), giving two fingers up to old age. Even if you hobble in, you’ll leave with a spring in your step' Virginia Ironside, Journalist, Agony Aunt and Author

'Melodic, funny, and with a touch of melancholy, Terence Blacker’s Shock of the Old blends sharp, knowing comedy with cracking tunes. You’re in for a treat' Craig Brown, Satirist

Studio
£15

Terence Blacker's website

•  20 Jul from £15

Justin is back: still funny, yet middle aged.

A brand new show that may contain: Yoga, getting older, Madonna, shoplifters, Labradoodles, middle-aged cyclists, The Menopause, running, hating football fans but loving football, not drinking, funerals, is Tapas a rip off?, Captain Tom, Droylsden, the environment, self-improvement, ruining a sexual position, electric car charging spots used by doggers, nursery graduation, horses, Stig look-a-likes, home cooked food in places that aren’t your own home, the odd advantages of fundamental religions, the gym, shop door etiquette. And he’s got a new suit. Come, it’ll be fun.

Suitable for ages 14+ years.

'Not a moment without laughter' ★★★★ Chortle

'If joke-telling is your thing, then Justin Moorhouse is your man...very high gag rate' ★★★★ Fest

'Skilful crafting...he keeps the laughs coming' ★★★★ British Theatre Guide

'He charms the pants off the crowd' Sunday Times

'The amount of first-rate comic craft that goes into his routines is worthy of admiration' Guardian

'Simultaneously down-to-earth and out of this world' The List

•  10 Nov from £15

'The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once' Albert Einstein (probably)

If it feels like the past is catching up with us and the future isn’t what it used to be, then fear not!

Mitch Benn, comedian, songwriter and thinker of deep thoughts, (not to mention 'the country's leading musical satirist' The Times) is back, clock in one hand and guitar in the other, to help you look at time in a whole new way.

Studio
£15

•  30 Nov from £15