Harrogate Comedy Festival 2025 by Harrogate Theatre

KNOCK KNOCK WHO’S THERE?

Welcome to the 16th Annual Harrogate Comedy Festival! This year, we’re not just bringing the laughs—we’re also celebrating a big milestone! As Harrogate Theatre marks an incredible 125 years in the heart of Harrogate, this year’s Comedy Festival is one to remember.

Get ready for an epic lineup of comedy gold—from legendary household names to the freshest rising stars on the circuit. Whether you're into razor-sharp wit, bellylaughing silliness, or side-splitting satire, we’ve got something to keep you giggling all autumn long.

O'HANLON: NOT HIMSELF

HENNING WEHN

Award-winning Henning Wehn will be delighting Harrogate audiences this November. Find out more on page 15 and book now before this highly anticipated show sells out.

And what’s better than comedy? Comedy and pizza. We’re thrilled to be teaming up once again with Pizza Social, so you can enjoy a delicious pizza delivered right to the theatre on selected shows. Just look for the pizza icon to see which

HARROGATE THEATRE TURNS 125! JOIN

US FOR A YEAR OF CELEBRATION AND FUNDRAISING!

In January, we launched our £125,000 fundraising campaign to mark an extraordinary milestone – 125 years of Harrogate Theatre. While audiences often see packed houses and standing ovations, what’s less visible is the financial reality behind the curtain. On average, only 20% of ticket sales actually comes back to the theatre. That 20% is all we have to cover the full cost of running a historic arts venue, from programming shows, marketing, and box office services, to keeping our bars open, hiring skilled technicians, replacing aging equipment, and delivering meaningful community outreach.

In today’s climate of rising costs and reduced funding for the arts, 20% isn't enough. That’s why your support is more important than ever. Raising £125,000 this year will help safeguard the future of Harrogate Theatre, ensuring we can continue to create unforgettable experiences for generations to come. We’re already partway through our

PLAY THE LOCAL LOTTO

For just £1 a week, you could win up to £25,000 AND support Harrogate Theatre. We receive 50p from every ticket you buy! Play now!

SHOP WITH EASY FUNDRAISING

Over 8,000 brands will donate to us when you shop with them - at no extra cost to you! Start shopping!

BECOME A MEMBER

Become a member and enjoy a range of perks from priority booking to season previews.

special anniversary year, and thanks to your incredible generosity, we’re on the path toward reaching our ambitious goal. But there’s still a way to go.

There’s no better way to celebrate than by experiencing the magic of live theatre firsthand. Keep an eye out for exciting ways to get involved — from our Harrogate Theatre Charity Ball in the new year, to fun-filled quizzes and events with Your Harrogate, and other fundraising opportunities listed below.

SPONSOR A SEAT

Have a gold plate affixed to your chosen seat, engraved with a name of your choice. The perfect way to mark a special occasion, anniversary, or just as a special treat.

LEAVE A LEGACY GIFT

Leaving a gift in your will to Harrogate Theatre is a wonderful way of ensuring your passion for theatre will be remembered.

JOIN OUR DEBENTURE SCHEME

Get exclusive advanced access to a box or seat(s) of your choice with a VIP personal booking service.

PAUL COULTER

HARROGATE THEATRE

P BURTON-MORGAN

explaining being pan to nan 5 mistakes that changed history 14+

TUE 30 SEP | 7:30PM | Price: £20

We all make mistakes, but rarely do they change the course of history. 5 Mistakes That Changed History is a hilarious historical storytelling show performed by historian and comedian Paul Coulter, about five people and how their mistakes (big and small!) changed the world.

Sexting in your 80s, knitting kinks and discovering Grandad’s penchant for a Sunday blow job - this no-holds-barred stand up / poetry show from Ledbury Poetry Slam winner P BurtonMorgan unpacks explaining your queer identity (non-binary, pansexual) to your 86 year old Nan.

HARROGATE STUDIO THEATRE

SUZI RUFFELL the juggle

MON 29 SEP | 7:30PM | P rice: £25 ........................................................... ........................................................... 16+ 14+

WED 01 OCT | 7:30PM | Price: £20/£18

It’s hard to be good all the time. A good mother, a good daughter, a good partner, a good friend, a good person. To be ambitious but not ruthless; a success but not a sell-out. A gentle parent but not a pushover. To be smashing life and make it look easy. The juggle. This is a support group in a show.

HARROGATE THEATRE

ROYAL HALL

‘Ilyas has a slickness more reminiscent of US comics, and the gags to back it up.’

–The Guardian

THU 02OCT| 7:30PM | 1 6 + Price: £18

Join Tez Ilyas, one of the most celebrated stars in British comedy, for his one-off show: Talk To Tez! An hour of his trademark, no-holds barred, hilarious, raucous crowd work and fun.

As seen on: Man Like Mobeen (BBC Three), Live at The Apollo (BBC Two), Mock the Week (BBC Two), Comedians Giving Lectures (Dave), Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled (Dave), Comic Relief’s Big Night In (BBC One), Live from the BBC (BBC Two) and The Chris Ramsey Show (Comedy Central).

PIZZA NIGHT

ODE TO JOYCE

FRI 03 OCT | 7:45PM |

Joyce Grenfell was one of the greatest female entertainers of the twentieth century, loved the world over for her hilarious and beautifully observed monologues and songs. This gem of nostalgia is truly a labour of love, bringing back to life an extraordinary entertainer.

HARROGATE STUDIO THEATRE

HYENA LOUNGE COMEDY CLUB

SAT 04 OCT | 8PM |

Price: £20

The Hyena Lounge Comedy Club has always been a highlight of the Comedy Festival, and this year is just as daft and laugh-out-loud funny as ever! Starring Ian Stone, Carl Hutchinson Nina Gilligan, and hosted by the effortlessly funny Dave Twentyman.

HARROGATE THEATRE

DINNER! DARLINGS! DINNER!

SAT 04 OCT | 7:45PM |

Price: £19 ........................................................... ........................................................... 10+ 16+ 16+

Price: £16

Welcome to the wonderful world of glamorous dining with ex showgirl Sindy. It’s time to don your Kaftan and delve into the 1970s, when being a hostess really did mean the mostest. Will this dinner party be a dream come true for aspirational Sindy? Or will it descend into chaos?

HARROGATE STUDIO THEATRE

ROYAL HALL

Price: £25/£20

NIGEL PLANER

young once, live

MON 06 OCT | 7:30PM |

Price: £33–£48

Nigel Planer, beloved as Neil the hippy from The Young Ones and a founding figure of the 80s alternative comedy scene, brings his memoir

Young Once to life in a warm, sharply funny live show of storytelling.

ROYAL HALL

HARROGATE THEATRE

JOHN SHUTTLEWORTH

raise the oof

TUE 07 OCT | 7:30PM |

Price: £28

Radio 4 favourite, comedy legend and ‘the 42nd best reason to love Britain’ (The Telegraph) John Shuttleworth is back, celebrating 40 years in showbiz with more hilarious stories and songs performed on his trusty Yamaha organ.

HARROGATE THEATRE

sam kruger & s.e. grummett are...

CREEPY BOYS

WED 08 OCT | 7:45PM | Price: £16

The Creepy Boys are throwing their 13th birthday party. It will have everything. Games. Gifts. Probably Cake. Combining 2000s sexy songs, satanic rituals and Willem Dafoe, these twins will do whatever it takes to make their birthday dreams come true.

HARROGATE STUDIO THEATRE

Price: £33

HARRO G ATE THEATRE

PIZZA NIGHT

PIZZA NIGHT PIZZA NIGHT

EDY HURST

wonderfull discoverie of witches in the countie of himself

THU 09 OCT | 7:45PM |

P rice: £16

Grab your broomsticks and join Edy Hurst on a wyrd and wonderfull journey of self-discoverie through the realms of the Lancashire Witch Trials, The Venga boys and absolutely “nothing else”.

Combining comedy, clowning, live music and a giant cauldron, this new magical and mystical comedy offers a humorous, heartfelt and unique insight into the shifting and sometimes mysterious world of latestage ADHD diagnosis.

HARROGATE THEATRE

STUDIO THEATRE

JASON BYRNE

THU 09 OCT | 7:30PM |

Price: £31.50 head in the clouds

Where does he get it all from? A common phrase heard outside Jason Byrne’s show as the crowd leave with utter joy in their hearts. Jason literally has his Head in the Clouds most of the time, but thankfully, mainly when he’s on stage!

It’s laughter at its highest, as we watch Jason pull magic from his cloudy head down onto the stage. Be it stormy stand up, calm fun or audience members with clouds literally on their heads. Come and join Jason in the clouds for a night of beautiful unpredictable, fluffy, mayhem.

HARROGATE THEATRE 14+ 14+

Price: £16

fiercest night of burlesque, drag and comedy the Middle Ages can muster. Stealing from the rich to give to the poor has never been so sexy!

HARROGATE STUDIO THEATRE

Harrogate. What are you going to tell your grandkids? That you were busy? Get ready for your grandkids to stare at you with a complete lack of comprehension. You’ll be considered, locally, an idiot.

STEWART LEE

FRI 31 OCT–SUN 02 NOV | 7:30PM |

Price: £31.50

In this brand new show, Lee shares his stage with a tough-talking werewolf comedian from the dark forests of the subconscious who hates humanity. The Man-Wulf lays down a ferocious comedy challenge to the culturally irrelevant and physically enfeebled Lee.

ROSS NOBLE

SAT 08 NOV | 8PM |

Price: £33

Roll up, roll up! Or use a more conventional form of transport to get to the show. It’s entirely your choice. Unless you accidentally become trapped in a barrel. Should that happen, then just find an incline and start rolling to see the one and only Ross Noble!

THU 27 NOV | 7:30PM | Price: £30.50

Join Michael and Hilary for an exclusive show as they bring their hit podcast to the stage. Take a comfy(ish) seat and garner their thoughts on everything from workouts to weddings, seaside towns to social media and everything in between! Warning: Rants are a strong possibility.

ROYAL HALL

Price: £27.50–£29.50

Following an unbiased look at charity, an unbiased look at immigration, an unbiased look at Brexit and an unbiased look at the Covid crisis, awarddeserving German comedy ambassador Henning Wehn returns with Acid Wehn, which takes an unbiased look at climate change.

A topic sure to delight audiences and no surprise. After all, everyone loves talking about the weather. Rain or shine, all will be fine. Or maybe it won’t. Who knows?!