A double header of comedy as two top comedians warm up ahead of the Edinburgh Festival.

Matt Forde

Matt Forde is one of the country’s most in demand satirists.

Described as 'our foremost satirical stand-up' by The Sunday Times, Matt Forde has toured critically acclaimed shows nationwide including most recently Clowns To The Left of Me, Jokers To The Right in 2022 and Inside No. 10 in 2023.

Matt Forde’s hit live podcast The Political Party transferred to the West End’s Duchess Theatre in 2021 after over 70 sold out shows at Westminster’s The Other Palace, for a twice extended fortnightly residency continuing in to 2024. Matt has brought Parliament to life with his stand-up and debate with some of politics’ most powerful figures including Keir Starmer, Nicola Sturgeon, Tony Blair, Eddie Izzard, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Angela Rayner, Michael Heseltine, Anthony Scaramucci, Alastair Campbell, Gordon Brown and Gary Neville. Matt has received numerous nominations from award bodies including the British Podcast Awards and Chortle Awards and the show is regularly highlighted as a top podcast pick in the press.

Matt wrote and voiced characters for Spitting Image (BritBox/ITV) including Boris Johnson, Keir Starmer and Donald Trump. Matt currently presents Absolute Radio’s weekly Rock ‘n’ Roll Football Show. He is also the co-host of Wondery’s flagship British Podcast Award winning British Scandal alongside Alice Levine.

In 2019 alone, Matt hosted the Alternative News Desk for Channel 4’s election night coverage, chaired the One Nation Conservative leadership hustings and debated Britain’s withdrawal from the EU with Tony Blair for the Institute of Global Change.

Matt hosted four series of Unspun with Matt Forde on Dave, receiving several nominations at the Broadcast Digital Awards, and has numerous other broadcast credits including: Have I Got News For You (BBC One), The Royal Variety Performance (ITV), Mock The Week (BBC Two), 8 out of 10 Cats (Channel 4), Hypothetical (Dave) Rory Bremner’s Coalition Report and Rory Bremner’s Election Report (BBC Two), Question Time (BBC One), This Week (BBC One), Newsnight (BBC Two) and Daily Politics (BBC Two).

Matt’s first book Politically Homeless was listed by The Sunday Times as one the Best Political Books of 2020.

Chloe Petts

'One of the most compelling young comics' Brian Logan, The Guardian

'Clearly a rising star whose name will soon be in lights' Bruce Dessau, The Evening Standard

Chloe has established herself as one of the most exciting up and coming acts on the circuit.

Chloe is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer with her new show How You See Me, How You Don’t. This comes after a UK Tour of her show If You Can’t Say Anything Nice which sold-out in the first week of the Edinburgh Fringe last year, leading to 6 extra shows being added to the run. In 2022, she performed her debut show Transience to sold-out audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and for two five night runs at Soho Theatre, which led to a tour around the rest of the UK which ended with an extra date added at London’s Leicester Square Theatre. Receiving rave reviews from publications including The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Evening Standard.

On television and radio, Chloe recently appeared on Have I Got News For You (BBC One), and hosted her own segment every Saturday morning on Sky Sports News. She has also been a regular on The Frank Skinner Show (Absolute Radio), World Cup Breakfast (Sky Sports) for the Men’s Football World Cup 2022 and previously for Good Morning Euros (Sky Sports) for the UEFA Women’s Euros. Further appearances include MOTDx (BBC), Jonathan Ross’s Comedy Club (ITV), The Stand-Up Sketch Show (ITV2), Richard Osman’s House of Games (BBC Two), Random Acts (Channel 4), Hypothetical (Dave), Fighting Talk (BBC Radio 5 Live), BBC Three Quickies (BBC Three), as well as winning Pointless Celebrities (BBC One). In terms of podcasts, Chloe has appeared on Off Menu, Films to Buried With and co-hosted The Guilty Feminist.

An alumna of the prestigious Pleasance Comedy Reserve, shortlisted for the BBC Comedy Award, finalist of Leicester Square New Comedian of the Year Awards 2017 and runner-up in the Funny Women Awards 2017. As well as supporting Ed Gamble on current Hot Diggity Dog UK tour and previous tour Electric, Chloe has supported Frank Skinner during his West End run and performed at Melbourne International Comedy Festival this year and last year.

She is a co-founder of The Lol Word, a queer comedy collective that hosts sell-out monthly London nights, boasting the finest female and non-binary queer acts on the circuit. Their most recent Edinburgh run was a sell-out. Diva Magazine has described it as a space that is demographically queer, inclusive, and safe, and on top of all of that – the comedic talent is smart, insightful, hilarious, and completely relatable.

Studio
£12

Matt Forde
Matt's website

X MattForde

Chloe Petts
Chloe's website

X ChloePetts
Insta chloepetts

•  15 May SOLD OUT

The critically acclaimed comedian is back on the road with a brand new tour show.

Expect Jamali's trademark brutally honest and unflinching perspectives on the world at large.

His last tours have sold out shows across the globe, playing the UK, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. He is a regular on Sky's Nevermind the Buzzcocks and was one of the most anarchic Taskmaster contestants the show has ever seen. Alongside this he was a regular contributor for BBC2's Frankie Boyle's New World Order and has been seen on BBC2's Live at the Apollo, More4's 8 Out of 10 Cats, CBS's The Late Late Show with James Corden as well as many others.

Courtyard Theatre
£22

This event goes on sale to Members on Thursday 29 August and on general sale on Friday 30 August. Find out more about becoming a Member by clicking here. Members can click here to login for priority booking.

Jamali's website

X Jamali
Insta jamalimaddix
Fb Jamali Maddix
Tiktok jamalimaddix

•  24 May LIMITED

Joe and his wife are having a baby. He's autistic so statistically it's quite likely the baby will be too.

In this new show, critically acclaimed comedian Joe Wells explores fatherhood through the lens of neurodiversity. Plus, there’s a really good joke about a parrot.

As seen on Rosie Jones’ Disability Comedy Extravaganza, BBC Two’s Ouch Storytelling Live and Channel 4’s Jokes Only a Neurodivergent Can Tell.

Over 20 million online views.

'Some of the most surprising and thought-provoking material coming from any comedian' Guardian

'One of my favourite comics' Frankie Boyle

★★★★★ NeurodiverseReview.co.uk

★★★★ Chortle.co.uk

Studio
£16.50

Additional accessibility information about this show

- Audience members can use phones during the show (as long as they don’t record the performance)
- Audience members are allowed to step outside during the show for any reason
- Audience members are allowed to stim (move about) during the show
- There is no unwanted audience interaction in this show
- The show does not have any flashing lights but there are some loud noises
- There are very small amounts of visual humour in the show (written text and pictures on a screen). If you attend with someone who is visually impaired, then you are welcome to explain those elements of the show
- The show is an adult stand up show with swearing and inappropriate jokes, this is not a relaxed performance for children. The style of comedy may not be accessible to everyone so check it out online if you are unsure (www.joewells.org.uk)
- If there is anything else we can do to make the show accessible for you please either phone 01628 788997 or email boxoffice@nordenfarm.org

Joe's website

X joewellscomic
Fb joewellscomic

•   3 Oct from £1650

Presented by Little Wander.

Following her killer debut tour, Riawakening ('Top Ten Best Stand-up Shows of 2024' Telegraph), the wickedly funny Ria Lina realised she wasn’t just awake, she was ready to rebel. Expect a relentless stream of hilarity as Ria explores the state of the world, the eternal battle of the sexes, and the delight of throwing life up in the air after years of following the rules.

Much loved in the industry, this multi-award winner commands the stage with a whirlwind of energy and leaves audiences breathless with laughter. Her extensive list of credits includes Live At The Apollo, Have I Got News For You?, Mock the Week, cohosting Pointless, Lovestruck High, Richard Osman’s House of Games, The Last Leg and Celebrity Mastermind.

Ria Lina is a highly accomplished comedian, writer and actor. After a critically acclaimed stand-out debut on Mock The Week (BBC), Ria has quickly become a household name. A hugely admired act on the UK comedy circuit, this multi-award-winning artist commands respect from the moment she walks onstage and delivers with natural ease, energy and fierceness. Ria is the most prominent Filipina comedian in British stand-up.

She has a BSc in Experimental Pathology, an MSc in Forensic Science and a PhD in Virology under her belt, so it’s not only Ria’s comedy that’s highly intelligent.

'There isn’t a comedy venue in the country that shouldn’t be fighting for her' The Scotsman

'Ridiculously gifted' The Evening Standard

'Engaging, endearing and eye-opening' Time Out

'I have no doubt she will hold her own so easily that she’ll have a hand free to hold someone else’s too' The Guardian

Photo credit: Rachel Berkowitz

Age guidance
16+ years

Courtyard Theatre
£19

Ria's website
Fb rialina

Little Wander website
Insta littlewanderevents
Fb littlewandercomedy

•  30 Oct from £19

An energetic and creative music and movement class for babies and children under 5.

This fun and funky session uses lights, puppets, parachute, instruments and music to get your little ones moving!

Suitable for ages 9 months - 5 years.

Summer
Fri 9 May - 25 Jul (excluding 28 May)

11am - 11.45am

£8.50 | Siblings (9 months +) £4 | £45 for 6 sessions a term (this offer doesn't include the sibling ticket)

If you would like to book the offer price for 6 sessions, please enter a ticket for each date you would like to attend into your basket and the offer will apply automatically.

•   9 May from £4
•  16 May from £4
• 10 more dates...

Led by Julie Potter

This class is suited to those who have been practising for at least 6. My intention for this class is to move our practise forward, explore different avenues and approaches to the traditional postures. We will be aiming to be going deeper into awareness and noticing.

The yoga I teach is an evolution of over 20 years of practice and study, perhaps moving away from external evaluation of the postures and moving towards an internal sense of the postures, moving away from the more used traditional approach of systemised yoga to a more experiential approach. Whilst looking at traditional Hatha Yoga postures and pranayamas, I will be encouraging fun and freedom within the traditional structure, whilst taking into our awareness fundamental anatomical and functional aspects required by our bodies for maximum wellbeing benefits.

Please bring a blanket, a Yoga / Pilates mat, and wear loose comfortable clothing.

Spring
Fri 10 Jan - 7 Feb (5 weeks)
Fri 14 Feb - 14 Mar (5 weeks)
Fri 21 Mar - 25 Apr (5 weeks)

Summer
Fri 2 May - 6 Jun (6 weeks)
Fri 13 Jun - 25 Jul (6 weeks) (excl 4 Jul)

Please note that the sessions on Fri 6 and 13 Jun will be covered by a different teacher.

11am - 12.15pm
£12 per session | £50 per 5 week course

This class will take place both in person and online via Zoom.

You will find the link to access the session in your booking confirmation email.

•   9 May from £12
•  16 May from £12
• 9 more dates...

It’s the summer of 2005, England prepare to win the Ashes and Ismail (Smiley to his friends), a British south Asian schoolboy, is about to become the youngest-ever player in his elite public school’s First XI cricket team.

He sets his sights on immortality, breaking the school batting record and getting his name into Wisden. But things are about to heat up.

From award-winning playwright maatin, Duck is about adolescence, the pressures of sporting competition and finding your identity in an environment that doesn’t cater for difference.

Performances are captioned with projected text and illustrations onto the set making it accessible to d/Deaf audiences.

Recipient of the Pleasance's Charlie Hartill Fund 2024.

'It could not feel more topical' ★★★★ Guardian

★★★★ Everything Theatre I ★★★★ Broadway World I ★★★★ Theatre Weekly I ★★★★ SpyintheStalls I ★★★★ First Night Magazine I ★★★★ AllThatDazzles I ★★★★ Asian Culture Vulture

Credits
Produced by Broccoli Arts
Writer - maatin
Director - Imy Wyatt-Corner
Original Design - Maariyah Shaarjil
Original Lighting Design - Jonathan Chan
Sound Design - Holly Khan
Caption Design - Rachel Sampley
Image design - Alice Gorman
Production photographs - Isha Shah

DUCK was originally produced by Two Magpies Productions.

Age guidance
12+ years

Content warning
 This show contains distressing or potentially triggering themes of racism and islamophobia.

Creative captioning
Performances are captioned with projected text and illustrations onto the set.

Studio
£16.50

Two Magpies Productions website

•   9 May from £1650

The World’s Biggest Disco hits! 

Step into the glittering time machine and journey back to the dazzling 1970s, as we turn back the clock and bring the disco inferno back to life, LIVE on stage!

Get ready to boogie the night away as we take you on a magical journey delivering non-stop, chart-topping disco hits alongside our world class live band! We're talkin' Donna Summer's sultry vibes, Earth, Wind & Fire's cosmic funk, the Bee Gees' silky harmonies, and Gloria Gaynor's fierce diva power – all in one mind-blowing show!

So, dust off your bell-bottoms, slip into your shiniest platforms, and join us in the heart of Funkytown for a disco extravaganza that'll make your heart race, your hips shake, and your soul boogie all night long!

'A real disco inferno on stage! Left us craving more!'

Courtyard Theatre
£23

Ahh...Freak Out!'s website

Insta Ahh...FREAK OUT!
Fb Ahh Freak Out - The World’s Biggest Disco Hits

•   9 May SOLD OUT