SATURDAY SHOWS
Marty Gleeson: Dog Ear (WIP)
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Marty Gleeson has the strange and unusual comedy brain, that makes you excited for what comes next’ Rolling Stone
What makes up the whole thing, the whole thing you’re watching right now, the thing you’re ‘reading’ right now, who we are? Does everything matter or only what we think is important?
Marty Gleeson (LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year, BBC & Channel 4 Sean Lock Awards Finalist, BBC radio 4,Pleasance reserve alumni, 40 million views online and tour support for Vittorio Angelone) is working on a new show and boy oh bah, it’s gonna be one helluva of a moment. One thing she can promise you is that it will be all of the following.
Dry, witty and real in the surreal.
‘So funny. Really Original’ Joe Wilkinson
'Joyous. Made my synapsis sing with delight. Absolutely brilliant' Zoe Lyons -
John Hegley: Biscuit of Destiny.
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Keats features quite strongly in the narrative of this show, and it is from him that the biscuit reference comes: he met a woman in Ireland being transported in some kind of kennel who the poet said seemed to be suffering from a "scarcity of biscuit".
The woman features in some of Hegley's poems—but it's a while before the biscuits reappear—but then the rest of the show is mostly autobiographical. He says the facts may not all be true facts, but they have a grain—or maybe a crumb—of truth.
Of course all this storytelling is interspersed with poems, some spoken and some sung, I assume by the negotiations between Hegley and his technician that there are variations between performances, but whichever bits you get, it's a lovely hour of stories, music, poetry and silliness, perfect for after lunch. Photo credit: Suzie Corker -
Phil Nichol: AREN’T WE LUCKY WIP
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Lou Reed. The Lottery. Ecstasy. Prince Andrew. Punk. Barenaked Ladies.
Crisps. Terry Jones. Leukemia. Butterflies. Dizzy Gillespie's Cheeks. Chance.
Scat. Sunshine on Leith. Boo-bee-dee-do. Wasps. Double helix. Comedy.
Dennis Hopper. Scrotums. Life.
Phil’s previous show ‘Your Wrong’ toured internationally, performing 130+ shows in 13 countries, ending with a 10-day sold-out SoHo Theatre run.
This is a new beginning...
From Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner, Phil Nichol.
‘You won’t see many comedy shows that actually exert g-force. But if you’re a
passion junkie like me, there is no better place to get your fix than from Phil
Nichol...exhilarating, incredibly funny and clever’★★★★★ The Scotsman
‘a simple hour with Phil Nichol is a veritable comedy goldmine...riotously
funny...the audience demand more of the crazed comedy majesty that is Phil Nichol’★★★★★ Fringe Guru -
Darryl Carrington: Tennish
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Tennish quickly goes off-court turning rackets, balls and towels
into instruments, obstacles and punchlines. It's playful, chaotic,
visual and all about ambition, performance and failure. Darryl J
Carrington is an award-winning physical comedian. -
Muttonbird and Pigeon: Interview with a Shark (WIP)
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Muttonbird and Pigeon are back but this time they're working on a show about a shark!
The shark, Mary Buzzard is on the UP! She’s just released a new album (of covers) and, on the heels of a successful album launch at Seaworld, will be appearing on Piper Terne’s late night chat show. There’s hidden agendas, wild scoops, and of course A SONG (or two).
Muttonbird and Pigeon are Emma Hughes and Daisy Williams. They write, produce and perform scrappy, groovy work and are from Bristol. -
Charlotte Evans: Sometimes it's more difficult to play against 10 men (WIP)
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I've yet to find my own voice, so I'm hiding behind football cliches.
A work-in-progress.
Come what June, it's all to play for.
As heard on BBC.
"batshit' Politico (but I promise I'm actually quite normal.) x Photo credit: Esme Buxton -
Dane Buckley: Work in Progress
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Dane Buckley is a fast-rising stand-up sensation and co-host of 'Welcome To Hell' podcast. Join him as he tries out some brand new jokes.The world’s only Irish, Indian, gay comedian… probably. Dane delivers his comedy effortlessly with cheeky charm and camp mischief.
He has supported Tom Allen and Rosie Jones on tour, performed on Comedy Central, BBC Three, BBC One and was a finalist for BBC New Comedy Awards (2024) and British Comedian of the Year (2024). -
The Best of Books, the Blurst of Books! at Exeter Library
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Join us for an evening of comedy and book based chat at Exeter Library, as part
of the Exeter Comedy Festival.
4 comedians will take to the stage to talk about their favourite (and least
favourite) books...
By the end of the night the audience will decide on the Best Book of All Time.
(And the Blurst.*) The Best will be paraded round the streets on a satin cushion,
and dog-eared by the Mayor. And the Blurst will be banished from the Library
forever!!! (but probably not really... we need all the books we can get)
The full line up TBA very soon. The night will be hosted by Edward Tripp & Chris
White.
* “Blurst” is a very old and probably overly obscure Simpsons reference. If you
don’t get it, look it up... you silly chimp.
Edward Tripp’s an award-winning, surreal stand-up poet, who has appeared
(materialized) at Just the Tonic in Edinburgh, the London Museum of Comedy
and countless other stages. Whether screaming about spatulas or putting
pandas in headlocks, Ed is a prop-heavy and provocative performer.
“A roaring fire of absurd wit” - Corr Blimey
Chris White is a performer, poet and the Events Guy at Exeter Central Library. The
founder of Spork! Poetry, a multiple slam winner, and the first Riddler in
Residence at Exeter Cathedral, who often writes about love, ducks, and other wet
things.
“A knack for humour that can make you sigh in embarrassment, while also
crying with laughter.” - Bristol 24/7 -
Joz Norris Is Hugh Jackman Is The Phantom Of The Opera (WIP)
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20 years ago Hugh Jackman was offered the role of the Phantom of the Opera, a role Joz Norris has dreamed about his entire life. He turned it down. Now, an artist known for taking himself too seriously despite his creative output consisting of utter nonsense will play another one in this musical extravaganza that will reset the course of history.
Nominated for Best Show at the Leicester Comedy Festival 2026
Winner of the Comedians’ Choice Award for Best Show 2019
Runner-up for the NextUp Biggest Award in Comedy 2025
Malcolm Hardee Award for Comic Originality Nominee 2019 and 2025
Creator and star of BBC Radio 4’s The Dream Factory and A Small Talk On Small Talk
“Captures the spirit of creative Fringe comedy” Guardian
“Thoughtful purpose underpinning laughs upon ridiculous laughs” Chortle -
Louise Leigh: Octopus (WIP)
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A show about mental load, what to do when you’ve completed parenting and living with a brain of many parts.
Things you can expect:
- “a lorry-load of laugh-out-loud stories, observations and metaphors” (**** Chortle).
- “the honed ability to extract nuance from wide-reaching well-observed issues that are both unique and very relatable.” (**** Entertainment Focus)
and if you’re really lucky, you might witness my signature move:
“rubs off onto everybody around her.” (**** Funny Women).
Things you cannot expect: I will not be bringing a live octopus on stage. Nor a dead one.
Mostly it will just be me trying to make you laugh for an hour. Doesn’t that sound fun? I think so. Join me, as we explore this magnificent beast together (and the octopus). -
Mark Watson (WIP)
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The Bristolian Taskmaster runner-up and No More Jockeys luminary returns to Exeter with a work-in-progress show.
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Alex Kitson: Now Look Here (WIP)
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It’s nice to do things in real life isn’t it? After two critically acclaimed shows in 2024 and 2025, multi-award winning comedian/Tiverton boy Alex Kitson has a brand new hour of stand-up comedy to show you. He's talking about attention – so if you could direct yours his way for a moment he'd be very grateful.
Best Reviewed Shows of the Edinburgh Fringe 2025
ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer Nominee
Dave’s Funniest Joke of the Edinburgh Fringe Nominee
“The future of British comedy ” - ★★★★★ ThreeWeeks
“The audience laughter is non-stop” - ★★★★★ The Phoenix Remix
“Expertly constructed punchlines… Insanely original” - ★★★★★ The European Comedy Review
"Hilarious. Properly, effortlessly, hilarious." - ★★★★★ EdFringe Review
“a natural comic... Robin Williams level” - Chortle
“Proper funny bones… He’s going to be a huge star.” - On the Mic
Tour support for Fin Taylor and Vittorio Angelone -
David Hoare: How To Live to 100
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Musical-One-Liner-Stand-Up Comedian David Hoare (aged 37) is going to teach you how to live to 100!
The award winning Hoare brings his rude songs, stupid jokes and insightful expertise to Exeter Comedy Festival. Winner of Musical Comedy Awards 2021 Audience Favourite Award, Sold Out Run Fringe 2022 and was tour support for Alison Spittle, Mark Nelson, Lauren Pattison & Dr Ed Patrick!
“An annoyingly funny young man” -Gary Delaney
“David has that magic combination of quick wit and observational insight” -EdFringeReview.com
“With some slick one-liners and aggression akin to Bo Burnham, James Acaster or Tim Vine” -Deadline News -
Joe Capper: "Normal" (WIP)
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“Normal" (workin progress)
Normal is a show about transformation, second chances, and discovering what normal really looks like when the old version of it no longer exists.
“Mr Capper's comedy feels like the lovechild of Brassic and Mike Skinner — streetwise, chaotic, and full of charm — with a distinctly Devonian potential shining through.”
— The People's Comedy -
Squawkers
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Squawkers is the home of new comedy in Exeter — maybe not the home, but at least the AirBnB of new comedy in Exeter. The monthly Sunday New Material nights, hosted by Exeter’s second‑favourite bearded, bald, and bespectacled MC, Sam Coleslaw, have earned a reputation for their warm atmosphere and delightful creative chaos. And now, like a Sunday league side improbably making the quarter‑finals of the FA Cup, the Squawkers A‑team are stepping up, bringing a slew of local talent to a Saturday night slot at the festival. Guaranteed not to disappoint as long as your expectations are reasonable!
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Marcel Lucont: Liberté
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Remember liberty? Marcel Lucont (Comedy Central, Sky Atlantic, BBC1 etc.) delves into this antiquated concept popularised by the French., with his trademark deadpan wit and exquisite poetry. And who better to guide you through the downfall of society than a French miserablist? "Uniquely funny" ★★★★★ The Scotsman. "Comedy at its best" ★★★★★ Fringe Review. "Excellently dry... superb" - The Times. Previous winner: Best Comedy Show - Fringe World Awards. www.marcellucont.com
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Amy Matthews: Definitions of Toast (WiP)
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Amy doesn’t get angry and she’s starting to feel left out, so she’s on a quest to feel fury; from what she can discern from the world around her, it appears to be all the rage… literally.
Amy is navigating the joy of her first queer relationship whilst dusting herself off from a string of several alcoholic partners. You’d think she’d have plenty to be cross about, and yet, whilst everyone seems to be more furious than ever, she just can’t seem to tap into her own anger - so she’s challenged herself to learn.
This lack of wrath may also have something to do with a processing lag that is becoming increasingly disruptive - and comical - in her life. Her emotions seemed to be delivered by carrier pigeon, if they arrive at all.
This is a show about being awarded Best Supporting Actor in your own life, the beauty of fully embracing queerness in your 30s, and the fact that anger may sometimes look more like nursery rhymes and crying on a bike than punching walls and shouting. It’s worth mentioning that alongside all this soul-searching, this show also tries to fathom why Amy’s Mum has started keeping milk in the boot of her car, how a potion from 2002 may have cursed the world, and how a pavement stand-off with a bird became a wake-up call.
“Drily funny and giddily quirky.” (The Scotsman)
“Combining a relaxed charm with a searing wit, she makes the deeply personal feel like a universal truth.” (Rolling Stone)
“Technically flawless.” (British Comedy Guide)
“Matthews treads the line between stand-up and troubadour.” (Manchester Wire)
“The whimsy, the tales, the cleverness.” (Punchline)
★★★★★ “Immaculately delivered and written.” (One4Review)
★★★★★ “Insanely original.” (Broadway Baby)
★★★★ “Like Lily Allen.” (Broadway World)
★★★★ (The Skinny)
★★★★ (The List)
★★★★ (The Wee Review)
★★★★ (Ed Review)
Tour Support for:
Ed Byrne, Josh Widdicombe, Suzi Ruffell, Tom Allen, Sarah Keyworth, Jason Manford, Tom Davis & Jessica Fostekew.
As seen in:
Her 5-star special, ‘I Feel Like I’m Made of Spiders’, ITVx.
Several episodes of ‘Comedy Central Live’.
BBC’s ‘Gifted’ and the BAFTA award winning ‘Scot Squad’.
Co-founder and host of ‘Comedians Do Poems’.
As heard on:
Off Menu
Radio 4, BBC 5Live, ‘Breaking the News’.
Host of the official ‘English Heritage Podcast’.
Her vinyl release of her show, ‘Commute with the Foxes’.
R4 Sitcom, ‘Dan Does Dating’.
Written for:
Have I Got News For You?
Idler Magazine
The Metro -
Bec Hill’s Work in Progress
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Because seeing how the sausage gets made is arguably more interesting than seeing a sausage.
(Please bring a "show-and-tell" item (a trinket/something you made/your favourite childhood joke/etc) in case of emergency.)
★★★★★ "Just put her on Taskmaster already." – BroadwayBaby -
Jess Lo - A good girl's guide to rebellion (WIP)
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Coming from Hong Kong, Jess explores her identity and questions the political landscape — all with love, understanding, and wit.
Bristol Comedy Festival Competition 2026 Finalist
British Comedy Guide Stand Up & Deliver 2025 Finalist
Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian Quarter Finalist (2024 &2025)
“Unique voice” Jayde Adams
“Endearing presence” Chortle
“Understated delight” One4review
“That will be a perfect set for Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala” John Robertson (Dark Room) -
Hedluv & Passman: You may well laugh
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Despite being serious musicians, this duo from Cornwall keep getting booked for comedy festivals! The Edinburgh Fringe, the New Zealand International Comedy Festival, the Sydney Comedy Festival, the Happyness Inverness Comedy Festival, Machynlleth Comedy Festival, and now the Exeter Comedy Festival. ‘Why?’ you may ask. Well… it’s really something that needs to be experienced. A hot ticket.
‘Rather wonderful’ - The Times
‘Freakily funny’ - The Guardian
‘Surpasses anything you can imagine’ - Three Weeks
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John-Luke Roberts: What I Talk About When I Run About, Talking
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Hilarious stand-up about the human condition, about how little we know about what’s going on inside our bodies and our minds, and about what it’s like to have an endoscopy on Remembrance Sunday at exactly 11 a.m. Some poems too. Maybe a few songs. Five-to-six-laughs-a-minute, so at least three hundred total which is pretty good actually. Good quality laughs, too, real marrow-shakers.
Fringe Legend Award Winner
***** List ***** Fest **** Guardian **** Telegraph **** Times -
Josie Long (WIP)
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Josie returns with a WIP. Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and Gold ARIA winner Josie Long is a comedian, writer, podcaster, and filmmaker who is a trailblazer in the UK comedy industry. As the first woman to be nominated 3 times for the Edinburgh Comedy Award (2010-2012), Josie is a pioneer in every facet of her work. Josie’s 9 critically acclaimed tours each showcase her unique and powerful original voice, selling out venues around the world. In addition to stand-up, Josie’s various podcasts and original radio shows have garnered a global audience, earning Josie the Gold ARIA in Speech Entertainment for her BBC Radio 4 show Short Cuts.
Alongside comedy, Josie is an avid filmmaker who has written and performed in 2 short films, and most recently her full-length feature film Super November. Josie has appeared on 8 Out of 10 Cats, Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled, Have I Got News For You, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Frankie Boyle’s New World Order. -
Robin Ince: Let the Quiet Ones Rise
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Let the Quiet Ones Rise is about standing up and standing out - stories and poetry from Robin Ince about being a shy child into horror movies and Doctor Who and the middle aged person who finally became strong enough to resign from the job he loved (The Infinite Monkey Cage) because he needed to speak out.
Robin is author books such as Bibliomaniac and Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal
and two collections of poetry .
He is the two time winner of author of the year from booksellers association and winner of House of Games (which means Josie Long and him now have matching luggage) and Celebrity Mastermind (which means he owns a trophy that is also a weapon) -
The Joke Clinic [LIVE]
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Charlie Bowers and Walter Jack are The Joke Clinic, bringing the success of their critically-acclaimed YouTube series to the stage. In the show, the clinicians host guest comedians – transforming their tired and limp material into comedy gold!
We’ll help you, the audience, to find your funny. We can workshop your own jokes, or if you don't have a sense of humour then we’ll give you jokes so that you can pretend you do!
We’ll also explore our own fascinating comedy journeys. Between Walter's eye-watering history working with the comedy stars of yesteryear, and Charlie’s forensic assessment of industry minutiae - it's sure to be jam-packed with laughs.
Here is what some of their clients have had to say:
"My material is completely unrecognisable" - Jordan Brookes
"Made my audience question themselves" - Spencer Jones
"What's this for?" - Paul Hilleard, BBC New Comedian Of The Year 2025
And the critics:
"Pointless meta-comedy" – Chortle
"Sucked the life out of the room" - Beyond The Joke -
Olaf Falafel Presents: I Used to Work in a Helium Balloon Factory Until they Let Me Go
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Shortlisted for the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Best Show Award in 2025. The best-joke-list-bothering, holey-cheese-flinging Falafel is back with another thickly-sliced slab of stupid. Including but not limited to: mind reading mic stands, sausage-based nonsense and art-related buffoonery. It won’t be sensible. 'On course to become an Edinburgh Fringe legend' ***** (GetYourCoatsOn.com). 'This is a must-see show' ***** (ThePhoenixRemix.com). 'One of the most creative shows I've seen at the Fringe' **** (EdFringeReview.com).
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Daniel Kitson – Work In Progress.
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Daniel Kitson is working on a new show.
He’s hoping, once again, to make something better than before: Really funny, maybe a bit
sad, intermittently thought provoking, slightly audacious and, ideally, completely
unfathomable.
He started properly thinking about it in the middle of January and it needs to be finished by
August. So. That should give you a sense of how far through the process, these particular
shows are likely to be – a lot of marble and not much sculpture, essentially.
On the upside, they’ve been priced accordingly and will last no more than 90 minutes.
Please note: All copy provided by Daniel Kitson. -
Time: 06/06/26 @19:30-21:00
Also on at 04/06/26 @22:30-00:00 AND 05/06/26 @21:00-22:30
Venue: The Bootlegger
£9 incl. booking fee
Clementine 2 WIP
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Cult-hit Lady Clementine returns for her second chapter (threat).
With neither sense nor sensibility, history’s most helpless heroine is back by popularish demand. And this time, dear reader, she’s more delusional than ever.
“Fantasia of Feminism”★★★★, The Guardian
“Barnstorming” ★★★★, Telegraph
Clementine is BACK. Run. -
John-Luke Roberts: Terrible Wonderful Adaptations
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John-Luke Roberts wrangles an all-star cast of the best comedians and worst idiots into creating a one-time-only, never-before-seen adaptation of an unadaptable text. Previous catastrophic attempts include: Francis Fukuyama’s political treatise The End of History, post-structuralist Roland Barthes’ A Lover’s Discourse, the iTunes Terms and Conditions, Susan Sontag’s Against Interpretation and Á la Recherche du Temps Perdu. What will it be this time? Bafflingly entertaining late-night comedy extravaganza.
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Rob Auton – Jupiter (Work in Progress)
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Rob Auton – Jupiter (Work in Progress)
Following on from his 2025 Edinburgh hit show CAN- The story of a man called Can, writer and performer, Rob Auton is writing his second story for the stage, it is called JUPITER. JUPITER is a story about Rob being an estate agent on the planet Jupiter. One day a couple come into the estate agents and ask Rob what Earth is like to live on.
'A genuine original' Guardian
'We need him' Scotsman
'Very hilarious' David Shrigley -
James Trickey – Work in Progress
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James Trickey – Work in Progress
Fresh from his highly rated debut hour, James Trickey brings a work in progress of his brand new show.
'An impressive level of performance' ★★★★ Fest
‘A very funny comedian’ ★★★★ Beyond The Joke
‘Trickey’s command of the stage is absolute, his timing flawless’ ★★★★ List
‘Trickey has certainly got it’ Guardian -
Flo & Joan: Work in Progress
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Musical comedy duo Flo & Joan have stolen a "real band"'s setlist and are using it to write their new show. This work-in-progress is one of many steps in that venture.
As seen on Comic Relief (BBC1), Live at the Apollo (BBC1), The Royal Variety Performance (ITV), The Russell Howard Hour (Sky), some of your favourite nightmares (UK Bronze), The Last Leg (Channel 4), and their live comedy specials Sweet Release (Sky), and Alive on Stage (Amazon Prime). -
Erika Ehler: Work In Progress
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Emmy-nominated Canadian comedian and writer Erika Ehler is bringing you a new work-in-progress hour, showcasing her dark, incisive comedy and sharp delivery. Erika has appeared on Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, Comedians Giving Lectures, and Comedy Central Live. Erika is a Chortle Student Comedy Award winner, and has written for Have I Got News for You, Roast Battle, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and Netflix, establishing her as one of the UK’s most distinctive comedy voices.
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Ben Treloar: Really Gives It A Go This Time
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Former Cornish Comedian of the Year Ben Treloar brings a new work-in-progress hour to Exeter. Expect sharp observations, awkward stories and laidback vibes, in an hour from one of the West Country’s most exciting comedians.
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