BALHAM COMEDY FESTIVAL 2025

BEST of BANANA CABARET

DAVE FULTON, RACHEL FAIRBURN, PETER BRUSH, PAUL F. TAYLOR, COMPERE – JOHN MOLONEY*

PICTURED: Peter Brush

DAVE FULTON A highly sought-after comedian, Dave started making a living in standup Stateside back in the day, never envisioning that it would lead to living in London and performing the world over. His fast-paced, no holds barred, deceptively laid-back manner pulls an audience into his orbit, whirls them into (sometimes horrified) delight, as often as not taking the roof off. TV credits include Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Live At The Comedy Store, They Think It’s All Over and more, as well as guest appearances on BBC TV and radio news programmes. There are acting credits too, like the character ‘Vinny’ in the UK Comedy Central 8 part sitcom I Live With Models. A series of dark comedy short films, Bad Times5, written and directed by Dave, is available on iTunes. When nothing else is going on he’s building motorcycles, climbing frozen waterfalls and looking after his son.

“Tough talking, risk taking, intelligent, relaxed, and clearly out to create a bit of mischief.” – TIME OUT

RACHEL FAIRBURN Described by Rolling Stone as “very much the Rock ‘n’ Roll star of British comedy”, adjectives abound in any review of Rachel Fairburn’s comedy. Her stage presence is commanding, even thrilling, her attitude bold, brilliant and bewitching, her gag-laden standup bright, brave and bitterly enjoyable. With 6 critically acclaimed solo shows under her belt, the strength of Rachel’s joke writing is regularly acknowledged in such lists as the Daily Telegraph’s ‘40 jokes of the fringe’ and The Times’ ‘Best Jokes from Edinburgh Fringe’. This is one thoroughly experienced and skilled performer. As seen on Live at the Apollo, Comedy Central Live and more, Rachel is also a popular podcaster, co-hosting and co-writing the worldwide smash hit podcast All Killa No Filla. With a huge international following of over a quarter of a million listeners and growing, she has taken the podcast on several sell-out UK tours and a tour of the USA.

“Fairburn delivers…with sadistic glee.” – GUARDIAN

PETER BRUSH A highly distinctive performer and deft writer of finely crafted jokes, Peter Brush unassumingly takes to the stage with his slight bespectacled frame and scruffy hair, before consummately conquering it with an arsenal of razor sharp quirky one-liners and peerlessly original routines, all delivered in an amusingly awkward fashion. He is one of the UK’s most unexpectedly unique and delightful rising stars, a comedian’s comedian, a comedy buff’s must-see. If you haven’t already seen him then you’re in for a real treat! Peter performs at all the major clubs across the UK, many of its biggest festivals, as well as in Switzerland, Norway and Hungary. Formerly a BBC New Comedy Award finalist, he has written for several BBC Radio 4 shows. He has been the support act for an array of stellar names, most recently for Alexei Sayle on tour.

“Killer gags, tripping from his mind one after another with no let up in quality” – FEST MAGAZINE

PAUL F. TAYLOR The very funny award winning Paul F Taylor is a one of the UK’s most exciting and distinctive stand-up performers, required viewing for all true comedy buffs and wannabe surrealists. His impressively unique brand of humour fuses quirky offbeat one liners with surreal observational flights of fancy to fantastical effect. Paul’s persona of a lost bewildered fool sits perfectly alongside his gleefully madcap ideas. He’s enticing, dizzying and both physically and intellectually agile. Appearing regularly at major festivals, together with his solo standup Paul is also half of the double act “Short and Curly” (with Rebecca Shorrocks), and one half of “Helm and Taylor” (with Nick Helm). He has also achieved notable success as a screen writer and performer.

“Relentlessly daft absurdism.” – THE LIST

JOHN MOLONEY – compere & co-producer – Industry legend and esteemed co-producer of the Balham Comedy Festival, John Moloney has been a professional comedian for more years than he’d care to mention. John epitomises dry, dispassionate delivery and is master of the droll one-liner. He entertains audiences across the globe with his crafted, intelligent and original standup. Twice winner of the Best Live Performer award at the London Comedy Festival, John is one of Britain’s most in-demand comedians and also highly sought-after on the corporate circuit.

“It is good to know that there is still room for a stand-up comedian as gifted and unpretentious as John Moloney.” – THE TIMES

TICKETS: £20 plus booking fee

BALHAM COMEDY FESTIVAL – FULL LISTINGS & TICKETS

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Banana Cabaret is delighted to bring you our 13th critically acclaimed Balham Comedy Festival from Friday 4th – Saturday 12th July.

It’s 8 nights of choice standup comedy – celebrity and household name acts, rising stars and comedians’ comedians, first-timers and festival favourites, and solo shows  – there are comedians to satisfy every comic taste, all wrapped cosily in the round at our beautiful venue.

There are two acts on each of the solo show dates. The rip-roaring Best of Banana Cabaret shows each feature four superb comedians plus compere.  

Balham Comedy Festival 2025 spans eight nights and features an amazing twenty-five comedians, performing in our home of  41 years, the Bedford’s iconic round Club Room where Banana Cabaret has hosted the likes of Eddie Izzard, Michael McIntyre, Sarah Millican, Jack Whitehall, Kerry Godliman and Romesh Ranganathan.

The festival is presented by Banana Cabaret – one of London’s longest-running premier comedy clubs – loved by comics and audiences alike and always one of the best lineups in town – and is co-produced by Banana Cabaret’s Dave Vickers and award-winning comedian John Moloney. Balham Comedy Festival alumni include Lee Mack, Sara Pascoe, Rhod Gilbert, Zoe Lyons, Joe Lycett and more.

BEST OF BANANA CABARET – Doors: 6.30pm / Show: 8.30pm – 10.45pm. Guests to be seated by 8.00pm. Food orders until 7.30pm. Standing tickets available online when seated tickets are sold out, and from 6.30pm at the ticket desk. Bars and DJs until 2am.

*Acts subject to change

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