Brighton Open Air Theatre is a relaxed and fully accessible venue.There are toilet facilities on site and a full bar (with ice creams!), or pack your own picnics and drinks to enjoy a magical Summer’s evening with us.
Brighton’s first, best and ONLY homegrown outdoor comedy festival returns to the beautiful Brighton Open Air Theatre in Dyke Road Park to host the best in stand up comedy this Summer.
Alongside solo shows from Mark Watson and multi award-winning hip hop, improvised freestyle rap comedian MC Hammersmith
PLUS family events with kid friendly shows from the hilarious author, illustrator and super stupid Olaf Falafel, and the best stand up without any rude bits from Comedy Club 4 Kids
Brighton Open Air Theatre now has brand new onsite facilities and full bar, or you’re welcome to BYO and bring a picnic.
Simon Evans’ last show, Genius 2.0 ( “A Masterclass” ***** The Scotsman) provided an hilarious analysis of the departure of any visible sign of intelligence from modern life. But his new show raises the stakes, with his usual excoriating views of a world on fire given a perspective shift from personal revelations that turned his world upside down this year.
“A gripping and, ultimately heart-warming tale… rich with Evans’ wit and caustic observation.” ★★★★ The Scotsman
“When he gets stuck into his show in earnest he guides us to a terrifically tender conclusion that he handles intelligently, informatively, amusingly and unsentimentally… Dynamite” ★★★★ The Times
“You expect a high standard of stand-up from this veteran performer. But in sharing something so deeply personal, he’s exceeded what seemed to be his full potential… I’d expect it to get even better when it goes out on tour. Outstanding stuff.” ★★★★ ½ Chortle
A Brighton comedy club has won the prestigious Best Pro Comedy Club Award for the South of England at the comedy industry’s version of the Oscars, the Chortle Awards. What makes it even more amazing is that The Forge Comedy Club has only just celebrated it’s first birthday!
The brainchild of local comedy legend, Stephen Grant, and his promotion company, Funny That, Forge Comedy Club is based at Ironworks Studios, near Brighton train station. Using the superb, state of the art performance space they have created a comedy club that is truly next generation.
The venue has also made a splash with customers, surging to be the most highly rated comedy club in Brighton on Trip Advisor, and with a host of gushing reviews across social media.
In fact, at the moment, getting a ticket can be the biggest challenge with every show since September being a complete sell out, as people rush to check out the hottest comedy show in town. Two new material nights, featuring Russell Howard, went on sale last week and both sold out in a matter of minutes.
“We hate it when people are disappointed, but I guess it’s a good problem to have” said a representative for the company “We recommend everyone join our mailing list and follow our socials to be first to hear of special guests popping in and new tour announcements.”
If you want to see what all the fuss is about you can see footage of what goes on at Funny That’s youtube channel, and across their various social media outlets.
Local Comedian and Promoter Stephen Grant receives prestigious award
Local comedian and comedy promoter Stephen Grant has won the highly prestigious Independent Comedy Promoter of the Year award for 2022 at this year’s Comic’s Comic awards.
The award which is voted for exclusively by the comedy industry is a huge recognition of the achievements which Stephen and his company “Funny That Comedy” have made this year.
Stephen Grant at The Forge Comedy Club, Brighton
Having previously ran the hugely popular multi-award winning Krater Comedy Club at Komedia Brighton for 23 years, he was a key promoter of Covid safe comedy throughout the pandemic when all the main venues reamined shut down, and when Komedia surprisingly changed direction at the end of 2021, Stephen and his team formed a partnership with the Pride organization to start the Forge Comedy Club at Ironworks Studios, bringing the very best names in stand up to Brighton.
In just 12 months names such as Romesh Ranganathan, John Bishop, Russell Kane, Sara Pascoe and Joel Dommett have come to the Forge and other Funny That venues across Sussex, alongside rising stars who Stephen continues to nurture due to his long term commitment to stand up comedy, with touring shows across 2023 from emerging names such as Suzi Ruffell, Charlie Baker, Paul Smith, Dan Nightingale, and Vittorio Angelone.
John Bishop at Funny That’s Forge Comedy Club
Additionally, 2023 sees Stephen bring Funny That Comedy to shows throughout Sussex, with regular gigs in Haywards Heath, Lindfield, Hassocks, Alfriston, and Peacehaven and their new venue in Kingston on the outskirts of Lewes, which launches in March.
Stephen Grant at Funny That Comedy, Hassocks
The award recognises that the team is made up of event professionals entirely drawn from the comedy world, to provide a passion and focus unmatched in the South, and special attention was made to the Summer comedy festival Funny That curates at Brighton Open Air Theatre, which is a regular sell out and a much vaunted highlight of the comedy calender.
Business Manager Dave Fensome from Funny That, a key part of this success, said “Financially times have never been tougher, people need a laugh more than ever. Not everyone wants to add the expense of a trip into a metropolitan centre to their night out. So using our expertise and bringing absolutely cracking line up’s to unexpected places is a real passion”,
When asked about what winning the award means Stephen had the following to say “Absolutely made up to have won this award and honoured to be recognised like this – breathtaking when you consider how good everyone else is out there. No exaggeration to say the only reason I could do this was the people I work with – especially Lucy MacDonald, who is thoroughly deserving of this award also, and critically the incredible support of the industry itself, who have made The Forge something really quite spectacular indeed.”
Brighton Open Air Theatre is a relaxed and fully accessible venue.There are toilet facilities on site and a full bar (with ice creams!), or pack your own picnics and drinks to enjoy a magical Summer’s evening with us.
Brighton’s first, best and ONLY homegrown outdoor comedy festival returns to the beautiful 
