PRESS RELEASE for immediate release June 2026
In the strongest comedy showing the Buxton Fringe has ever seen, more than 90 acts will be aiming to tickle audiences’ fancies this year.
Many comedians will be turning to their own lives for inspiration, finding comedy in the mundane, the unexpected, the tragic and the quite frankly surreal.
Back for a second outing, and after his (to him) unexpected success last year culminating in a colourful Radio 4 documentary, Buxton-born Andy Mycock digs deeper into the joy and the pain of his surname in The Joy of Mycock. Another Fringe returnee, Jodi Kamali delves through the belongings of his late father discovering the man he thought he knew with This is My Dad, whilst in 2 Dad or Not 2 Dad, new father Jim Bob is discovering parenting chaos and reflecting on his own childhood pain.
In Life is a Mistry, Amit Mistry navigates the chaos of being a dad, husband and son. It’s all great, apart from the in-laws! Andrew White shares his imperfect guide to life and death in What a Life. Live well and die happy just about sums it up. Philip Carter’s Awkward Re-Entry explores what it is to be human and why aliens don’t visit us anymore. Meanwhile former professional wrestler Balthazar Dark reflects on why a pot plant has become his support network.
Thao Cao is questioning her life choices in Bound and Gags, whilst hopeless romantic Maria Ansdell hilariously brings her exes on stage in Closure Cabaret. Dawn Bailey reminds us that life doesn’t (sadly) follow a script in Bailey’s on Ice and Nina Gilligan reflects on an empty nest, quietly losing her mind in Lemon Cake. Witchcraft or flirting with priests - how will she fill her days?
Jess Carrivick, whose fans include Dawn French, mines old home movies for inspiration in For Your Consideration, and Samantha Day, applauded by Arthur Smith, returns with I’ve Started So I’ll Finish, her wry take on life’s big decisions.
With his Laugh For Life comedy, Henry Churney teaches stand up comedy for mental wellbeing. Graduates can be seen performing their own material in two shows at the Conservative Club. Another circuit newbie is Charlie Lewis with Hungry! his debut show dealing with his childhood, his sexuality and as the title reflects, his eating disorder.
Iranian born Kimia Eternadi explores cancer and being bisexual in Hello, Good Bi! Fatphobia and bisexual joy feature in Welshman Stuart Thomas’s Bad Fatty. And for the brave, full frontal nudity will be on display in a new stand up show from Fringe stalwart Nathan Cassidy in Ewwww! (as he puts it). Also figuring out if she can be naughty is comedian Bex Turner with her stand up show of weirdness - Momma’s Got A Brand New Toy Kitchen.
Stand up Richard Pulsford plays with words in Gold Fashioned Jokes and In Yorkshire Dad, Immigrant Mum, he peers into his parents’ past to better understand himself. Award-winning newcomer Sam Coade is pretty offbeat in his debut hour-long show Birth Of The Fool. There be creepy agents afoot in Selina Mosinski’s Puss in Boots: A Working Class Fairy Tale as she explores life in the Noughties’ strip club boom. And the Unlikely Weightlifters return in the form of Rob Rouse (Upstart Crow) and Radio 4’s Tom Wrigglesworth as they celebrate their friendship; their shows have sold out at recent Buxton Fringes.
AI gets everywhere now and can help performers write their perfect stand up show. Who knew? This is explored by Tom Short in his show I Get ChatGPT to Write My Edinburgh Show. What about the Buxton one, Tom? The audience can help here. Another Tom - Stade, this time - talks us through his rules for tackling the absurdities of modern life in Tom Stade Rules. Audiences may well have seen him on Live At The Apollo.
Dave Chawner reflects on getting older and more sober in Dry Humour. “Is he just boring now?”, he wonders. Certainly never boring is Dom Hutchins as he navigates political and social norms and stereotypes whilst living with cerebral palsy. Audiences might think differently after this. Someone else challenging stereotypes is Jewish comedian Rachel Creeger whose Edinburgh show was cancelled rather dramatically last year. Are people being racist or just Rachist? Find out in Rachel Creeger, Queen Of The Jews!
Can spiders ever be funny? Former entomologist Matt Wheelwright finds comedy in insect life in Bug Boy. In an equally extraordinary show, Great British Sewing Bee’s breakout star, handmade ventriloquist dummy Terry Pastry, explores real life tales of UFOs and aliens in Terry’s Terrifying Tales. Come prepared.
Fringe Marketing Officer Stephanie Billen says: “I can’t wait to witness some of these shows - these talented performers are going to be sharing their extraordinary lives with us and making us laugh all at the same time.”
There is plenty more comedy on offer at Buxton Fringe. Fringe-goers can just pick up a programme, see www.buxtonfringe.org.uk or download the free Buxton Fringe App.
The Fringe wishes to thank High Peak Borough Council, its Fringe Friends and the town’s many Fringe supporters and venues.
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