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The City Cafe

Laughing Horse Free Festival Venue

The City Cafe

Fringe Venue 85 - Click here for map
19 Blair Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1QR. Phone: 0131 220 0125
Food  Wifi  Licensed  Air Conditioned
Open from 10:00 to 02:00
All ages until 9pm, then 18+ only

Located on Blair Street, just off of the Royal mile and minutes from the Fringe show, The City Cafe is a fashionable 1950's style café bar right in the centre of town. It has benefited from a complete refurbishment in the last couple of years, and it is right on the doorstep of the hustle and bustle of the Royal mile . The venue serves a wide selection of meals and drinks all day, and there is also a great outdoor drinking area, and new for 2018 - three performance spaces for show downstairs!

This year we have two entry methods: Free & Unticketed or Pay What You Can
Free & Unticketed: Entry to a show is first-come, first served at the venue - just turn up and then donate to the show in the collection at the end.
Pay What You Can: For these shows you can book a ticket to guarantee entry and choose your price from the Fringe Box Office, up to 30 mins before a show. After that all remaining space is free at the venue on a first-come, first-served bases. Donations for walk-ins at the end of the show.

Shows sorted by Venue Room

Hollywood

200 Puns in One Hour with Roger Swift

200 Puns in One Hour with Roger Swift

Comedy

200 Puns in One Hour with Roger Swift

Comedy

The City Cafe / Hollywood
JUL 31, AUG 1-24 at 14:05 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £2.50

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

The 2024 sold-out show returns. The comedic prop pun lunatic, Roger Swift shoots out his infamous 200 puns in one hour! So come and enjoy his trademark crazy homemade props, audio cues and PowerPoint slides. Expect corny jokes and silliness with no theme besides wordplay. Do not expect someone taking himself seriously. Dave's Best Gag of the Fringe list 2016, 2023 and 2024....


50 Shades of Ty Gray

50 Shades of Ty Gray

Comedy

50 Shades of Ty Gray

Comedy

The City Cafe / Hollywood
JUL 31, AUG 1-24 at 22:50 (50 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £2.50

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

Ty contains multitudes. Comedian, teacher, traveller, friend, "party yogi" (Fringefeed, 2024). When he figures out what the other 45 shades are, he'll update this bio. Ty has spent the past year performing around the world, teaching to pay bills, dancing on tables, breaking up, making up, and most importantly, writing jokes. This is 50 minutes and 50 shades of the best he's got to offer you from this trip around the sun....


50 Ways to Succeed at a Pointless Job

50 Ways to Succeed at a Pointless Job

Comedy

50 Ways to Succeed at a Pointless Job

Comedy

The City Cafe / Hollywood
AUG 1-10, 12-17, 19-24 at 11:35 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £2.50

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

Is your job actually real? Clue: if your job title is mostly abbreviations, then probably not (sorry, CEO’s, PDF’s and SEO optimisation wizards). The faker the job the realer the money! In this show we will demystify how so many people make so much money from jobs that are thoroughly pointless. We’re beyond excited to humbly share these ground-breaking practical tips on curating your signature style for climbing the corporate ladder, finding your passion for paying your mortgage and turning every email into a meeting. See you on LinkedIn! ...


Alex Watson: Bad Decisions

Alex Watson: Bad Decisions

Comedy

Alex Watson: Bad Decisions

Comedy

The City Cafe / Hollywood
AUG 13-19 at 21:35 (45 min) - Free & Unticketed

Just turn up at the venue, entry is first-come, first-served for everyone. Donations at the end of the show

Victorian State Finalist RAW Comedy 2024 Damned if you do and damned if you don't. Up-and-coming stand-up, Alex Watson, has had some tough choices to make and would like to share them with you in this debut hour. Expect belly laughs, quirky tales and dark observational comedy from this self-effacing and cheeky comedian. 'Smart, fearless, dazzling – a rising star of the stand-up circuit!' Tim Ferguson (Doug Anthony All Stars) Tour support for Rudy-Lee Taurua and JJ Whitehead...


Angela Bra: Secret Diary of a Bingo Call Girl

Angela Bra: Secret Diary of a Bingo Call Girl

Comedy

Angela Bra: Secret Diary of a Bingo Call Girl

Comedy

The City Cafe / Hollywood
JUL 31, AUG 1-12 at 21:35 (50 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £5

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

The absolutely dabulous Miss Angela Bra invites you to a spectacular show of surreal stories, playful parodies and polished puns reflecting her life on the front line of the north-west party bingo circuit. Get your dabbers ready as Angela very much puts the house in house party! Critics Choice Award Winner at The Bay Fringe 2024 and Best Comedy Show Nominee at both the 2024 and 2023 Buxton Fringe. "a cheerily endearing persona...she will get you taking part, whatever your initial reluctance" - Chortle ...


Ben Ashurst: Three Cheese Straws For A Pound

Ben Ashurst: Three Cheese Straws For A Pound

Comedy

Ben Ashurst: Three Cheese Straws For A Pound

Comedy

The City Cafe / Hollywood
JUL 31, AUG 1-12 at 12:50 (45 min) - Free & Unticketed

Just turn up at the venue, entry is first-come, first-served for everyone. Donations at the end of the show

Ben Ashurst is struggling. Now in his thirties, he should be getting his act together, but it's hard when the world doesn't make any sense. What do you mean you can't walk through a drive-thru?! He's going back to a simpler time, back to when three cheese straws were a pound. This warm, light-hearted stand-up comedy show hilariously highlights the things in life that Ben thinks should be simple... but aren't. Whatever happens, we can laugh about it over some cheesy baked goods (vegan cheese straws available). Stand-Up For Cider Winner 2023 “Ben is so likeable, warm and most impo...


Elliot Wengler: I Hope This Whole Thing Didn't Frighten You

Elliot Wengler: I Hope This Whole Thing Didn't Frighten You

Comedy

Elliot Wengler: I Hope This Whole Thing Didn't Frighten You

Comedy

The City Cafe / Hollywood
JUL 31, AUG 1-10, 12-17, 19-24 at 19:05 (55 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £2.50

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

Elliot Wengler presents his second stand-up hour, about all the things that have been frightening him, whether he knew it or not. The medal-winning athlete (Fitness Xperts Gym member of the month medal), 16th Best Pokemon Player in the UK 2004 and Malcolm Hardee Comic Originality Award Nominated Comedian returns to the Fringe with a his personal story of romance, night terrors, and overcoming fears to live his best life. Come on in. Don't be frightened. Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@iwengle Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iwengle ● Malcolm Hardee Comedy Awards, Comic Origina...


Elliot Wengler: Jokémon

Elliot Wengler: Jokémon

Comedy

Elliot Wengler: Jokémon

Comedy

The City Cafe / Hollywood
JUL 31, AUG 1-10, 12-17, 19-24 at 16:35 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £2.50

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

Elliot Wengler presents a spectacular, explosive, and personal history of the world's biggest monster-fighting franchise. Finally, after years of failing to become a Pokémon Master, he has decided to become a Jokémon Master! With jokes for all 150 of them! In a show bristling with colours, costumes and utter chaos, this is THE show. Let's catch 'em all, all over again, in joke form. Malcolm Hardee Comic-Originality Award-Nominated 2024. "Likeable performer with nice ideas" - Broadway Baby ...


Liar, Liar Pants On Fire!

Liar, Liar Pants On Fire!

Comedy

Liar, Liar Pants On Fire!

Comedy

The City Cafe / Hollywood
JUL 31, AUG 1-24 at 15:20 (60 min) - Pay What You Can

After starting not one but two companies at the beginning of 2024, the only thing I have really learnt about the high-flying world of business and commerce, the only truth out there is that everyone is lying to you, constantly. A stand up show about my exploits in my first year of business with all it's lies and bulls*it from customers, to clients, to the general public, including myself now, just being full of sh*t!...


Like Kells Said...

Like Kells Said...

Theatre

Like Kells Said...

Theatre

The City Cafe / Hollywood
JUL 31, AUG 1-24 at 00:05 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £5

Why I Created Like Kells Said Like Kells Said is a one-woman show brought to you by charismatic performer and writer Caz Mason. Inspired by true events and lived experience, this is a raw, funny, and fearless look at survival, grief, and the chaotic beauty of life in Leith. Caz brings her unique comic outlook to the stage, creating a beautifully portrayed Kelly—sharp, vulnerable, and unforgettable. This story had to be told. I’ve lived through some of these moments, and I’ve seen first-hand how humour can carry us through the darkest times. That’s why Like Kells Said isn’t just a thriller—...


Lord of the Zings: A Kiwi Comedy Showcase

Lord of the Zings: A Kiwi Comedy Showcase

Comedy

Lord of the Zings: A Kiwi Comedy Showcase

Comedy

The City Cafe / Hollywood
JUL 31, AUG 1-24 at 20:20 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £2.50

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

You shall not pass!... up this opportunity to see some great Kiwi comedy! The last Lord of the Rings movie came out in 2003 and these NZ comedians are still riding that wave. They don't have a single joke about hobbits or any opinions on the works of Peter Jackson, they're just using this as a marketing ploy. Although, they're travelling all the way to Edinburgh so, in a way, their journey is like Frodo and Sam taking the ring to Mordor - we assume, we haven't actually seen the movies. 'These are some essential people to know about.' Theatreview (NZ) Winner Breakthrough Com...


Love Less Life by Jay Sodagar

Love Less Life by Jay Sodagar

Comedy

Love Less Life by Jay Sodagar

Comedy

The City Cafe / Hollywood
JUL 31, AUG 1-17 at 17:50 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £5

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

Jay Sodagar intelligent comedy returns, but this time he talks about Love of all kinds. Getting a dog reframes how you approach and love others. But what about the others?? Half politics and topical commentary the other half social commentary on Love. Don't bring tissues it's not that kind of show. ...


Muck

Muck

Comedy

Muck

Comedy

The City Cafe / Hollywood
JUL 31, AUG 1-24 at 10:20 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £2.50

Jake Patrick is panning through Muck in an effort to feel just a little bit better. Expect stories of silliness, optimism and generosity. (Hello reader of this, I will change this once I have a more cogent idea of what this needs to say)...


Ray Fordyce: Quincunx

Ray Fordyce: Quincunx

Comedy

Ray Fordyce: Quincunx

Comedy

The City Cafe / Hollywood
AUG 20-24 at 21:35 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £5

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

Ray Fordyce has been through a lot in his life. Quincunx, as well as being one of his favourite words, is a pattern of five and Ray explores five areas of his life and how they all interconnect. ...


Sam Michael: The World's Oldest Man

Sam Michael: The World's Oldest Man

Comedy

Sam Michael: The World's Oldest Man

Comedy

The City Cafe / Hollywood
AUG 13-24 at 12:50 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £2.50

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

What advice did the Guinness World Record's Oldest Man have for Sam Michael and how did it change his outlook on life? Sam Michael's debut solo hour show 'World's Oldest Man' explores feeling older than your years (even in childhood!) and nostalgically looks back on those just-missed adventures of 'youff' whilst trying to relive them before it's too late! But what happened when Sam actually met the Guinness World Records' world's oldest man and what was the "life changing" advice did he gave him..? The perfect comical balance of excitable lad and exhausted dad, Sam Michael is "real dry ...


The Nutella Wars

The Nutella Wars

Comedy

The Nutella Wars

Comedy

The City Cafe / Hollywood
AUG 18-24 at 17:50 (50 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £5

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

Hey, did your mum ever hide sweets from you when you were a kid? Mine too! All types of sweets, but Nutella especially. We were immigrants and we were poor, and Nutella was for rich kids. But when my mum could spare that couple of extra bucks for the smallest jar – watch out! Which one of my four brothers and sisters would be the first to find it? It was all out war! Not like the actual civil war we had just escaped mind you. The Nutella Wars is choc full of stories about growing up in war (hilarious, I promise) and moving to Australia. Stories about the joy of discovering a tub of ice crea...


Las Vegas

#1 Mexican in Estonia

#1 Mexican in Estonia

Comedy

#1 Mexican in Estonia

Comedy

The City Cafe / Las Vegas
JUL 31, AUG 1-24 at 23:45 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £2.50

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

In her first solo stand-up, Ana Falcon reveals what life is like when you are the #1 Mexican in Estonia (not counting the good taco lady, the guy that speaks Estonian or the girl on TV!). The show examines Ana's obsession with being #1, an unachievable quest that took her to move to a tiny country sandwiched between Finland (yay!) and Russia (oh-no!). "#1 Mexican in Estonia" premiered at the 2024 Tallinn Fringe Festival to rave reviews: "A deliberate, meticulous storyteller, Falcon models what comedy can look like when identity is not a punchline or a source of division, but a perspective ...


1290.5 Steps to Autistic Success – Kittenageddon (Sidequests and Buffering)

1290.5 Steps to Autistic Success – Kittenageddon (Sidequests and Buffering)

Comedy

1290.5 Steps to Autistic Success – Kittenageddon (Sidequests and Buffering)

Comedy

The City Cafe / Las Vegas
JUL 31, AUG 1-10, 12-17, 19-24 at 13:45 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £5

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

Time for Stags to stop fighting his neurodiverse impulses & dive headlong into embracing his endless side-quests. After three months of following his focus, where will he find himself? Come hear his brand-new tale of Boxy (his cat) & their delightful digressions. Few things more charming... With nothing but a microphone and rain sound machine, Stags brings his audience into his memories. Audience doubled up in laughter' - Margaret Hall, Playbill...


3's Comedy: Mornings

3's Comedy: Mornings

Comedy

3's Comedy: Mornings

Comedy

The City Cafe / Las Vegas
JUL 31, AUG 1-24 at 11:15 (60 min) - Free & Unticketed

Just turn up at the venue, entry is first-come, first-served for everyone. Donations at the end of the show

Start your day off with a laugh at 3's Comedy: Mornings. 3's Comedy brings together three of the rising stars of the new wave of Australian comedy for a whole new hour of hilarious stand-up. They've been seen on TV, they've been heard on the radio and they've been bumped into on public transport on the way to gigs all across the world. 3's Comedy is guaranteed to make you laugh. 'You'll laugh 'til it hurts' (TheWest.com.au)....


3's Comedy: Nights

3's Comedy: Nights

Comedy

3's Comedy: Nights

Comedy

The City Cafe / Las Vegas
JUL 31, AUG 1-24 at 21:15 (60 min) - Free & Unticketed

Just turn up at the venue, entry is first-come, first-served for everyone. Donations at the end of the show

The sun has gone down and the lights have come up so that means it’s time for comedy. 3’s Comedy: Nights brings together three of the best young acts of the new wave of Australian comedy for an hour jam packed with laughter. These comedians have done it all – they’ve been on TV, they’ve been on radio, they’ve performed all over the world and now they’re at the Fringe ready to make you laugh....


Beat the Comic - Quiz Show

Beat the Comic - Quiz Show

Comedy

Beat the Comic - Quiz Show

Comedy

The City Cafe / Las Vegas
AUG 1-24 at 20:00 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £5

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

Your chance to get thrown into a hilarious head-to-head with top comics. Test your wits and general knowledge as you battle for crown glory in this quiz show. Laugher guaranteed, victory uncertain....


Best Of Canada

Best Of Canada

Comedy

Best Of Canada

Comedy

The City Cafe / Las Vegas
AUG 1-24 at 18:45 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £5

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

There are some great Canadian comedians out there Jim Carey, Norm Macdonald and Russel Peters. None of them will be on this show, but the new wave of Canadian stand-up will be. Make your way to the "Best Of Canada" and see Stand-up at its Canadian greatness, With Resident Compere David Tsonos bringing you the best of his countrymen on this fantastic Compilation show. Sit back and get transported to what life is like in a Canadian Stand-up comedy club....


Cheekykita – Batshit

Cheekykita – Batshit

Comedy

Cheekykita – Batshit

Comedy

The City Cafe / Las Vegas
JUL 31, AUG 1-11, 13-18, 21-24 at 15:00 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £5

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

Cheekykita is Batshit! Set in some woods in Manchester theres a bat called Batshit with songs, dance .. Batshit the musical?could be! Killer squirrels and daftness .Batshit is mad about Oasis so come and join us for singalongs whether yiou got an Oasis ticket or not! Come meet The Batshit! It will be cheaper ! what they said about cheekykita.. ‘It’s Brilliant’ (BBC Radio 4) ★★★★★ 'hilarious, bizarre and endearing all rolled into one absolute delight of a show. I laughed A LOT' ★★★★ 'We are left (perhaps) with a feeling of the ...


Edinbra Fringe Comedy

Edinbra Fringe Comedy

Comedy

Edinbra Fringe Comedy

Comedy

The City Cafe / Las Vegas
JUL 31, AUG 1-24 at 17:30 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £2.50

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

Following on from it's success in previous years, this delightful, funny show returns with a revolving line-up of the best and up-and-coming female comedians from around Edinburgh and the Fringe. ...


Freedom Camp (Work in Progress)

Freedom Camp (Work in Progress)

Theatre

Freedom Camp (Work in Progress)

Theatre

The City Cafe / Las Vegas
AUG 13-18, 20-24 at 10:00 (60 min) - Pay What You Can

FREEDOM CAMP A dark comedy about being American— whether you want to be or not. What happens when your lifelong dream of serving your country turns into an on-again, off-again relationship with a nation that feels more like a toxic ex? Freedom Camp is an autobiographical solo show that takes you from Washington, D.C., to the world beyond, tracing one American’s uneasy love affair with the land of the free. From surviving high school bullying to working as a Congressional Page, from unsettling chats with grandma’s maybe-spy boyfriend to clocking in at a billionaire’s tech empire— this ...


Katie Mitchell: Spine Hygiene

Katie Mitchell: Spine Hygiene

Comedy

Katie Mitchell: Spine Hygiene

Comedy

The City Cafe / Las Vegas
JUL 31, AUG 1-11, 13-24 at 16:15 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £2.50

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

A very silly show about a serious pain in the back. Katie has become obsessed with spines, how they work and why they hurt. Marvel as she accepts that things dropped on the floor no longer exist! Watch her beloved yoga mat gather dust FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT. A show riddled with scientists, rats, odd bathroom-encounters, and 90s girl-groups. NO LAUGHTER. NO SUDDEN MOVEMENTS. YOU MUST SNEEZE UPWARDS. Best in Class 2023, BBC New Comedy Award Shortlist 2023. “Very inventive and very funny” WeeReview Please bring own lumbar support. ...


Late John with Tonight Spillane!

Late John with Tonight Spillane!

Comedy

Late John with Tonight Spillane!

Comedy

The City Cafe / Las Vegas
JUL 31, AUG 1-3, 5-10, 12-17, 19-24 at 22:30 (55 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £5

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

Join host John Spillane for the ultimate Fringe after party! Featuring games, guests and a healthy dose of chaos, every night will feature a completely different line up of Irelands best comedians! John has multiple TV credits including Comedy Central, RTE, WWE, Virgin Media, Now TV and is the host of Ladbible Ireland. ...


Magic Mic

Magic Mic

Comedy

Magic Mic

Comedy

The City Cafe / Las Vegas
JUL 31, AUG 1-24 at 12:30 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £2.50

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

Irish comedy magician Alex J. Byrne brings his show Magic Mic back to Edinburgh Fringe following a successful run at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe! Magic Mic is a comedy magic show that is suitable for all ages and has been toured around Europe to great fanfare over the last couple of years. If you like clean comedy, silly observations and a lot of magic tricks, this is the show for you! ...


The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club

Comedy

The Breakfast Club

Comedy

The City Cafe / Las Vegas
JUL 31, AUG 1-12 at 10:00 (60 min) - Free & Unticketed

Just turn up at the venue, entry is first-come, first-served for everyone. Donations at the end of the show

The Breakfast Club is a free stand-up comedy compilation show featuring 3 fantastic comedians. It’s the most important show of the day, right? Hosted by Ben Ashurst (featured on BBC Radio, Stand-Up For Cider Winner 2023), The Breakfast Club will feature the very best comedy the Fringe has to offer. Every day, our menu of acts will be refreshed so whatever your comedy palette, the Breakfast Club will have something for you. Get your day at the Fringe off to the best possible start with some award-winning stand-up comedy, and join The Breakfast Club!...


Nineties

100% Badgers with Matt Hobs

100% Badgers with Matt Hobs

Comedy

100% Badgers with Matt Hobs

Comedy

The City Cafe / Nineties
JUL 31, AUG 1-3, 5-10, 12-17, 19-24 at 15:40 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £2.50

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

Love stand-up comedy? Love badgers? If so, this is the show for you. This show explores how the worlds of humans and badgers collide using jokes, PowerPoint, and West Country charm. We’ll learn about European badger and its dachshund nemesis, the presidential American badger, the world-famous internet sensation that is the honey badger, and many more. Matt Hobs has been performing on the comedy circuit since 2012; a proud Bristolian, scientist, and silly sausage. He is also the host of Free Fringe regular Stand-Up Science (2022-2024). Drawing on his background as a scientist, Matt explains ...


Alvin Liu: Love Letter to a Sandwich

Alvin Liu: Love Letter to a Sandwich

Comedy

Alvin Liu: Love Letter to a Sandwich

Comedy

The City Cafe / Nineties
JUL 31, AUG 1-24 at 16:55 (45 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £5

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

Would you sacrifice good food for freedom? Join Alvin Liu, a Chinese comedian who was once arrested, as he navigates the hilarities of starting anew in the UK. If you have a first-world passport, this comedy show is made just for you. If you don't, this is an instruction on how to get a first-world passport. Nominated for BBC New Comedy Awards "Potent in its imagery, authenticity, perverse logic and volatility" - British Comedy Guide "Hilarious... one to watch" - Chortle ★★★★★ - Morning Star...


An Hour of Controlling the Dead with Alec Crane

An Hour of Controlling the Dead with Alec Crane

Comedy

An Hour of Controlling the Dead with Alec Crane

Comedy

The City Cafe / Nineties
AUG 11 at 23:10 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £2.50

After 10 years away from the spotlight, Alec Crane returns with his gift. Join him as he communicates with the world beyond, which, with the right guidance, can be controlled. Jump into the character comedy world created by Alec Crane - An ex-TV medium has come back for the first time in 10 years. Find out what the allegations made against him were, why he is back, and where exactly he got his powers....


And How Does That Make Me Feel?

And How Does That Make Me Feel?

Comedy

And How Does That Make Me Feel?

Comedy

The City Cafe / Nineties
JUL 31, AUG 1-3, 5-10, 12-17, 19-24 at 23:10 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £2.50

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

Eoghan has lost a friend and he’s not dealing with it well. Mostly as a byproduct of being Irish. A breed that isn’t exactly considered even novices when it comes to addressing emotions head on. Following a two year dance with insomnia, he decides to go to therapy for the first time in his life, but unsurprisingly he has a lot more things to unearth and get his big Irish head around before he can deal with grief. And How Does That Make Me Feel? is a musical stand up comedy show that delves into the deluded pursuit of dreams that end up causing you more stress than joy. All this leads to com...


Anime-Zing!

Anime-Zing!

Comedy

Anime-Zing!

Comedy

The City Cafe / Nineties
JUL 31, AUG 1-10, 12-24 at 18:10 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £5

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

Voice actors bring anime to life through games, challenges, and live dubbing! New show every day with special guests, so no two performances are the same! Hosted by former Hello Kitty voice, Tokyo-based voice-artist, Soness Stevens. www.animezing.games...


Bread Wars

Bread Wars

Comedy

Bread Wars

Comedy

The City Cafe / Nineties
JUL 31, AUG 1-10 at 00:25 (60 min) - Pay What You Can

Two comedians in the ultimate sourdough split bill smackdown. In the brown corner: Vish Lal, one man on a mission to work out whether he’s an absolute geezer or an absolute virgin. In the white corner: Genny Edwards (Timeout Red Hot Comedy Finalist) who just wants to know where Manic Pixie Dream Girls go when they grow up. ‘They win the audience over with their natural charm and chemistry.’ — Dec Munro, founder of the Bill Murray...


Caroline Madds: Buzzin' (Work in Progress)

Caroline Madds: Buzzin' (Work in Progress)

Comedy

Caroline Madds: Buzzin' (Work in Progress)

Comedy

The City Cafe / Nineties
AUG 12-24 at 10:40 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £2.50

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

Clear comic talent' (Beyond the Joke) Caroline Madds gets a birthday present she wasn’t expecting: Tinnitus, it took her silence, so she took her cochlea into her own hands, with chaotic results. An East Midlands,award-entering comedian, finalist - So You Think You're Funny?, New Act of the Year (NATYS) Bath New Act & Reading New Comedian & Funny Women Awards Semi-Finalist. Crashing into her mid-thirties and missing every box: Put a deposit down on a small house… white, sauvignon blanc. Made some bad investments in ASOS and when every woman around her was trying to find their authentic sel...


Everything I've Learned About Heterosexual Men – WIP

Everything I've Learned About Heterosexual Men – WIP

Comedy

Everything I've Learned About Heterosexual Men – WIP

Comedy

The City Cafe / Nineties
JUL 31, AUG 1-10, 12-24 at 21:55 (50 min) - Free & Unticketed

Just turn up at the venue, entry is first-come, first-served for everyone. Donations at the end of the show

"Everything I Learned About Heterosexual Men" If you're unlucky enough to be a heterosexual woman, you are faced with the grim reality of having to deal with men to fulfil your sexual reproductive and companionship needs. It's tough out there they are weird, and complicatedly uncomplicated, but fear not! with over 20 years of exerience in the dating pool Aideen McQueen will teach you the best manipulation tips, comping skills and general man life hacks to get you through if you are a woman who sleeps with men, a woman who needs to work with them, a gay man who just wants to pitch in or a str...


Freedom Camp (Work in Progress)

Freedom Camp (Work in Progress)

Theatre

Freedom Camp (Work in Progress)

Theatre

The City Cafe / Nineties
JUL 31, AUG 1-4, 6-11 at 10:40 (60 min) - Pay What You Can

FREEDOM CAMP A dark comedy about being American— whether you want to be or not. What happens when your lifelong dream of serving your country turns into an on-again, off-again relationship with a nation that feels more like a toxic ex? Freedom Camp is an autobiographical solo show that takes you from Washington, D.C., to the world beyond, tracing one American’s uneasy love affair with the land of the free. From surviving high school bullying to working as a Congressional Page, from unsettling chats with grandma’s maybe-spy boyfriend to clocking in at a billionaire’s tech empire— this ...


Jake Donaldson Is The Fifth Weezer

Jake Donaldson Is The Fifth Weezer

Comedy

Jake Donaldson Is The Fifth Weezer

Comedy

The City Cafe / Nineties
JUL 31, AUG 1-13, 15-24 at 11:55 (55 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £5

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

What happens when a small-town kid dreams of big things while growing up on a diet of indie and alternative rock? Jake Donaldson takes you on a hilarious journey through his love of guitar bands, the ups and downs of teenage ambition, and the awkward but heartwarming realities of chasing your dreams. This brand-new stand-up comedy hour from 2024 BBC New Comedy Award Finalist Jake Donaldson is packed with nostalgia, punchy jokes, and stories about finding your place in the world—all set to the soundtrack of the 2000s. Whether you’re a fan of indie rock, a 2000s kid, or just someone who’s eve...


June Tuesday: Comic Trans (plus Friend)

June Tuesday: Comic Trans (plus Friend)

Comedy

June Tuesday: Comic Trans (plus Friend)

Comedy

The City Cafe / Nineties
JUL 31, AUG 1-24 at 14:25 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £5

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

June Helen Tuesday is a toxic trans mess, and she’s trying to get away with it. Her parents don’t accept her, her friends have gone to prison, and she’s not turned into the sort of woman she wished she’d be. This is a show about taking HRT from the gutter. Leicester Comedian of the year Nominee 2025 Welsh New Act Finalist 2024 Writer for What Just Happened, BBC Radio Wales As heard on Kiri’s Comedy Club, BBC Radio Wales ...


Leo Mahr is a Seasoned Whore. Spicy Tales of a Swiss Village Gay

Leo Mahr is a Seasoned Whore. Spicy Tales of a Swiss Village Gay

Comedy

Leo Mahr is a Seasoned Whore. Spicy Tales of a Swiss Village Gay

Comedy

The City Cafe / Nineties
AUG 11-24 at 00:25 (60 min) - Free & Unticketed

Just turn up at the venue, entry is first-come, first-served for everyone. Donations at the end of the show

“Gasp, gossip, and giggle”, an hour of (too) honest confessions of a Swiss village gay parading into the big city scene. Growing up in the Swiss mountains surrounded by lonely men looking after sheep, Leo Mahr saw the lights and heard the thumping of the distant gay clubs calling and oh boy did he follow that call. What does Swiss German gay dirty talk sound like? What is the gay flu and where do jock straps come from? What happens in a dark room stays in a dark room? No longer! Lock up your twinks, a new jock is in town. Queer, straight or incorporeal, it's for everyone. Aft...


Pernille Haaland: Running with the Wolves

Pernille Haaland: Running with the Wolves

Comedy

Pernille Haaland: Running with the Wolves

Comedy

The City Cafe / Nineties
JUL 31, AUG 1-17 at 20:40 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - £5, £7.50, £10, £12.50

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

After a life in the UK, Pernille Haaland (Netflix, HBO, NRK, Discovery) flipped her world upside down during lockdown, trading London’s gritty streets, sewers, and foxes for the cold, dark fjords of Norway. She’s settled in surprisingly well—made friends with the wolves—and seems to be thriving, which is great timing, given that the world seems to be unraveling. With far-right extremism on the rise, wars erupting, and women’s rights under attack, it’s truly a golden age for a single, independent dog owner who has run out of f*cks to give....


Should Statements: A Show Brought To You By (a little) Inherited Wealth

Should Statements: A Show Brought To You By (a little) Inherited Wealth

Comedy

Should Statements: A Show Brought To You By (a little) Inherited Wealth

Comedy

The City Cafe / Nineties
JUL 31, AUG 1-12 at 13:10 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £2.50

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

'In 2023, like a Dickensian protagonist, Lizzie Simpson lost her beloved uncle aged 69 to ass cancer. Leaving behind many a spicy VHS and a flat on the outskirts of the capital, Lizzie found herself with £20,000 and a dream. SHOULD she invest in her future? Absolutely not! A fringe show it is! After years of toiling the London open mic scene, finally with the means to bring her vision to the unsuspecting public, this chronic oversharer with a dry yet likeable edge asks whether her uncle''s retirement fund is being put to good use. Exploring heritage, catholic guilt (without the Catholicism...


Simon Kay: Sad Boi, Funny Guy

Simon Kay: Sad Boi, Funny Guy

Comedy

Simon Kay: Sad Boi, Funny Guy

Comedy

The City Cafe / Nineties
JUL 31, AUG 1-11, 13-24 at 19:25 (45 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £2.50

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

The world’s a mess and Simon doesn’t know what to do. Surely telling some jokes will help, right? Join Simon for his Edinburgh debut and get ready for clever, quirky, and really original stand-up comedy. His antics probably won’t save the world, but they just might save your night. Don’t miss this fresh act all the way from New Zealand, just like Hobbits, splitting the atom and women getting the right to vote....


Stuart Thomas: Bad Fatty

Stuart Thomas: Bad Fatty

Comedy

Stuart Thomas: Bad Fatty

Comedy

The City Cafe / Nineties
AUG 18-24 at 20:40 (45 min) - Free & Unticketed

Just turn up at the venue, entry is first-come, first-served for everyone. Donations at the end of the show

Stuart Thomas delivers a sharp, unapologetic standup show with "Bad Fatty," diving into life as a fat Welshman. Raised on a sheep farm in Wales, Stuart blends his working-class roots with a modern, no-nonsense take on body positivity. He grabs diet culture by the scruff of the neck, calling out society's absurd expectations of fat people while hilariously jabbing at our thin-obsessed world. Stuart doesn’t just talk about being fat—he owns it, celebrating the freedom of rejecting conformity. Bisexual and candid about mental health, he explores the intersections of sexuality, body image, and ...


Tristan Wolfe – Break:Out

Tristan Wolfe – Break:Out

Comedy

Tristan Wolfe – Break:Out

Comedy

The City Cafe / Nineties
AUG 13-24 at 13:10 (60 min) - Pay What You Can Tickets - from £2.50

Book a PWYC Ticket in advance for this show to guarantee entry, or turn up at the venue for free with the option of donating at the end of the show

Prepare to laugh, cry, and question the thin line between tragedy and comedy in Break:Out—a raw, queer, and uplifting one-person show that journeys from the brink of despair to the bright lights of self-discovery. Tristan Wolfe brings a blend of sharp wit, heartfelt storytelling, and sharp comedic timing to the stage, unearthing tales of rejection, resilience, and finding peace in chaos. Anchored by a single chair and a mysterious scoreboard named BOB, Break:Out is a rollercoaster of absurd comedy, deeply personal reflections, and unexpected moments of joy. It’s a bold reminder that breakin...