PRESS RELEASE for immediate release June 2026
Audiences will be spoilt for comedy choice this year as Den of Laughs launches its comedy weekends at the Lee Wood Hotel. Alongside Underground existing venues at Spring Gardens and the Working Men’s Club, Den of Laughs offers two full weekends of back-to-back comedy. Den of Laughs is also presenting its own version of Barrel of Laughs entitled Fringe Flavour.
Jesters has brought five shows to the Lee Wood: AComedyTapas, A Political Brunch, Telling Tinder Tales, panel show Idiomocy and 55 Minutes of Adequately Amusing Jokes and Stories told by Chris O’Neil, whilst the man behind the comedy weekends’ idea - Denzil de Cristo - brings his Artificially Intelligent Procrastinating Pundit back to Buxton along with Den of Fools, his improv panel show. No shortage of comedians for the panel then.
Staying with the Lee Wood’s packed programme, Kevin O’Brien is back with Absolutely! His entire show features only one-liner jokes. Achtung! The Germans are coming is Jürgen Strack’s surreal and mischievous show. No stereotypes here. Unfettered by logic, Nicky Vere-Compton and Marigold Lately unsettle the audience’s universe with Dark Claude and Marigold - stand up and songs featuring a special guest. Meanwhile Devin Gray brings Golden Retriever Energy to his deeply personal show.
There is a flavour of cabaret with Enrico Touché’s Hot Knees featuring that good old favourite, slapstick comedy. Stand up comic Kevin Hudson Talks The Walk along Offa’s Dyke. More stand up is on offer from Roland Gent in Rock n Roland WiP with ‘straight in your face’ comedy. Clown or Fish? Water or air? Stephen Catling’s Clownfish Out of Water explores this dichotomy.
Meanwhile at The Springs and Buxton Working Men’s Club, Underground cements its comedy reputation with a raft of shows including bargain of the Fringe, Barrel of Laughs. Among other treats, award-winning Bennet Kavanagh “cranks up the volume” with a musical comedy hour inspired by 2006 film Crank and Edy Hurst returns with Pick Up Thy Bow and Swim, O Mighty King of Ithaca, the lo-fi version featuring cyclops, giants and an electropunk soundtrack.
Also at Underground, Will BF’s Moon Team IIIV provides surreal sci-fi multimedia havoc through sketch, song and video games contrasting nicely with Jacob Nussey’s deadpan delivery in Table For One. Hayley Ellis, respected by the likes of Sarah Millican and Jason Manford, brings a new show with fresh jokes in Work In Progress. Multiple Fringe Award winner Nathan Cassidy rises From The Ashes with a story of love, loss and a Christmas Day miracle, and globetrotter Nik Coppin returns with jovial banter and new material in All New Nik Coppin. It does what it says on the tin. By contrast David Hoskin takes audiences on a tour of a haunted house.
Staying with all things creepy, audiences should prepare to be terrified as at the historic, allegedly haunted Scrivener’s Bookshop, as Billy Bones embarks on a whistlestop tour of Every Ghost Story Ever. In more of the town’s smaller venues, Beer and Bean hosts John Hobson’s Funny Onion - A Stand-Up Performance Poetry Show featuring plant-based verse, plus Tim Biglow’s Plonka with stories about fame and a golden ticket, and Vietnamese Australian comedian Thao Cao offering a new perspective on life and survival in What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Funnier proving that even near-death experiences can be turned into razor-sharp comedy. Meanwhile Phil and Jake are properly Menkle with their stand up show on homelessness, getting to know Jesus and the “menkle” bits of being alive.
Comedy fans can book a table at the Old Clubhouse for Danny Matinee’s 199 Jokes Before Lunchtime where they can also check out clownish Jan Brennan as Chef Bertrand in Have You Seen This Man? - a story of intrigue and that well known French delicacy, haggis. There is also a chance to grab a cocktail at the Sock and Buskin and enjoy Ian Winter's new stand up show - Revolution! He comes with pre-main event support from a host of fellow comedians.
The fun continues in other locations too. Dreamshed Theatre’s Dancing With Auntie at St Anne’s Centre features two teenagers and a memorable New Year’s Eve. Laughs and surprises are promised! At the Conservative Club, linguist Erica Jean shares language bloopers in Mistranslated, while up at the Burbage Institute, The Pheasant, The Peasant and the Pilgrim from Fabulous Pheasant Theatre is a late entry to the Fringe promising a “bonkers comedy” about a lonely man’s magical journey to find the meaning of love.
Fringe Marketing Officer Stephanie Billen says: “Comedy in Buxton is just unstoppable! 2026 is clearly a bumper year involving both major entertainment hubs and venues all over the town.”
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.
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