BANANA CABARET BALHAM COMEDY FESTIVAL

BEST OF BANANA CABARET

KERRY GODLIMAN, KAE KURD, ANDY ASKINS, KELLY CONVEY, FINLAY CHRISTIE, JOHN MOLONEY – compere*

PICTURED: Kerry Godliman

KERRY GODLIMAN Perhaps best known for her superb performances as an actor, Kerry Godliman is also an phenomenal stand-up comedian, her onstage persona a mix of next-door-neighbour, busy mum, and that friend from uni who knew how to live it large. She always leaves the audience wanting more. Charmingly straight-talking and quick-witted Kerry Godliman is simply one of the country’s best performers. Kerry’s acting talents have seen her receive critical acclaim for her roles in After Life, Whitstable Pearl, Call the Midwife, Derek and more. She is all over the TV and BBC Radio 4. She has been touring recently with her stand-up show, BOSH.

“Forthright of opinion but always happy to chuck herself under the bus. Vigour, charm and plenty of good gags.” – THE GUARDIAN

KAE KURD Smart, sharp and brilliantly astute, Kae Kurd is a young British-Kurdish standup, and one of the UK’s fastest rising stars. Onstage it’s clear he’s enjoying himself, and that’s contagious. Irresistibly playful and assured, he can wind an audience around his little finger. Kae creates and curates content across a range of platforms. His debut special, “Kurd Your Enthusiasm” was an overwhelming success receiving over 100k views when released on YouTube, and praised for “championing the alternative voice”. His tour “The Spoken Kurd” sold out in record time. This man’s going places, and we get him on the Banana Cabaret stage as often as we can.

“Joke after rapid joke… your stomach will hurt from laughing.” – BROADWAY BABY

ANDY ASKINS Andy Askins is a distinctive, original talent, a highly sought-after headliner. And comics love him! A diminutive figure exuding vulnerability, he steps up to the mic armed with a guitar and a cheeky grin – an overwhelmingly misleading demeanour which heightens the impact of the killer lines he delivers. A talented musician with a captivating voice, Andy has an expertly crafted routine littered with an eclectic mix of tremendously funny offbeat original comic songs and parodies. With impeccable timing, and material as strong as the songs, Andy has audiences in the palm of his hands. Andy is also one of a very select group to be awarded the Afghanistan campaign medal for his contributions which included several tours to soldiers operating on the frontline.

“Brilliant and unique.” – JOHN BISHOP

KELLY CONVEY Kelly Convey is a comedian who is not one to mince her words when giving audiences an insight into what modern women really think. With her outspoken and forward-thinking musings, Kelly is real, refreshing and relatable. She has no filter when it comes to her opinions on sex and society, sharing these generously in her hilarious wholehearted performance. You feel like you’ve known her for years. With a face like butter wouldn’t melt and a mouth like a white van man, Kelly brings a side-splitting mix of feminine and ladette style to subjects women rarely talk about in public. Without a doubt, one to watch.

“One of the most rapidly-rising new comics on the circuit.” – BRITISH COMEDY GUIDE

FINLAY CHRISTIE With elegant, well-crafted routines, witty wordplay and skilful comic timing, Finlay Christie uses his youthful looks and background of privilege to lampoon himself and his generation with utterly charming effect. He never fails to win over an audience. He has appeared on ITV2’s Stand-up Sketch Show, the BBC New Comedy Awards and has amassed over 100 million views across YouTube and TikTok for his stand-up and sketches. He also won the prestigious So You Think You’re Funny competition in 2019 while still a student, and was nominated for NextUp’s “Best Show” award in 2022 for his solo show OK Zoomer. The boy’s going places.

“Delivering a hugely impressive show that could legitimately see him labelled as the voice of his
generation.” – CHORTLE

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: £18 plus booking fee

BALHAM COMEDY FESTIVAL – FULL LISTINGS & TICKETS

Banana Cabaret is delighted to bring you our 11th critically acclaimed Balham Comedy Festival from Friday 7th – Saturday 15th July.

It’s 9 nights of choice standup comedy – celebrity and household name acts, rising stars and comedians’ comedians, first-timers and festival favourites, solo shows and special guest appearance – there are shows 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, and a special guest will join the bill to make six comics in total on closing night.

Balham Comedy Festival 2023 spans nine nights and features an amazing twenty-eight comedians, performing in our home of almost 40 years, the Bedford’s iconic round Club Room where Banana Cabaret has hosted the likes of Eddie Izzard, Michael McIntyre, Sarah Millican, Jack Whitehall, Sara Pascoe and Joe Lycett.

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.

BEST OF BANANA CABARET – Doors: 6.30pm / Show: 9pm – 11pm. 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