Chloe Petts – If You Can’t Say Anything Nice

“one of our most compelling young comics… a first show that was worth waiting for”
Brian Logan, The Guardian ★★★★

Fresh from her smash hit Edinburgh Fringe and Soho Theatre sell-out debut, rising star Chloe Petts returns with her follow-up hour. Praised for her polite & well-mannered way of handling hot topics like gender and toxic masculinity in the last show, this year she’s returning with a newer, ruder approach to the big issues. Expect routines on weddings, men who like Millwall and calling you all a bunch of virgins. Co-founder of The LOL Word, an all women and non-binary queer comedy collective “transforming comedy” (The Guardian), on television and radio, Chloe has been a regular on The Frank Skinner Show (Absolute Radio), World Cup Breakfast (Sky Sports) for the most recent Men’s Football World Cup 2022 and previously for Good Morning Euros (Sky Sports) for the UEFA Women’s Euros, and has also appeared on Jonathan Ross’s Comedy Club (ITV), The Stand-Up Sketch Show (ITV2), Richard Osman’s House of Games (BBC Two), as well as winning Pointless Celebrities (BBC One). “hilarious… She’ll go far.” (Dominic Maxwell, The Times ★★★★). “clearly a rising star whose name will soon be in lights.” (Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard ★★★★).

Frank Skinner – 30 Years of Dirt

“King of stand-up… you know you are watching a master” 
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard  

A highly anticipated brand-new hour from comic legend Frank Skinner, following his sell-out hit Showbiz. “Real stand-up, real lightness of touch, real joy…”  (Dominic Maxwell, The Times) “…the gags just keep on coming. Stand-up’s coming home” (Mark Wareham, Mail on Sunday).

Glenn Moore – Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Feed Me, Glenn I’m Sixty Moore

“An absolute brilliantly crafted joy from start to finish”
Mark Wareham, The Mail on Sunday ★★★★★

Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Glenn Moore returns to the Fringe with his critical hit and sell-out Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022 show, Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Feed Me, Glenn I’m Sixty Moore, for two weeks only alongside a run of brand-new work in progress shows. One of the best-reviewed shows at the Fringe (British Comedy Guide), Glenn’s 2022 show has since enjoyed a sell-out national tour and week-long run at London’s Soho Theatre, along with a Chortle Awards, Best Show nomination. On television and radio Glenn is a regular on The Great American Joke Off (CW) and The Stand Up Sketch Show (ITV2), has appeared regularly on Mock The Week (BBC Two), with writing credits that include the new series of Fantasy Football League (Sky) and The Mash Report (BBC Two), as well as writing and performing in his own upcoming series Almanac (BBC Radio 4). Glenn can also be heard daily on The Dave Berry Breakfast Show on Absolute Radio. “a fast-paced comic, the audience barely allowed to catch breath after one guffaw before he’s launched into another one-liner.” (Dave Esson, The Daily Express ★★★★). “This is classy, gag-driven comedy at its most intense, and funniest.” (Steve Bennett, Chortle ★★★★★).

Luke Kempner – Gritty Police Drama: A One-Man Musical

“Kempner exudes a boosted confidence” 
Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph ★★★★ 

Star of Spitting Image the live musical and TV series (Britbox) and Steph’s Packed Lunch (Channel 4) with over 10 million views of his online videos, comedian and impressionist Luke Kempner brings his one-man British Police Drama to Edinburgh. It’s Line Of Duty meets Happy Valley meets Clarkson’s Farm, meets Match of the Day meets King Charles meets the Traitors. With around 60 impressions all played by one man. Whether you’re King Charles, Ian McKellen or even Claudia Winkleman, in GRITTY POLICE DRAMA… no-one is safe. As seen (and heard) on, The Last Leg (C4), The Stand-Up Sketch Show (ITV2), Love Island: Aftersun (ITV2) and The Now Show (BBCR4).”The man is stunning, his voice is divine, his comedy is sensational ★★★★★.”  (Ed Fringe Review).

Matt Forde – Inside No. 10

“our foremost satirical stand-up…Whatever your politics, you’ll find excellence here”
The Sunday Times ★★★★

The UK’s leading political comedian Matt Forde (Spitting Image, HIGNFY, British Scandal, The Last Leg, The Royal Variety Performance) returns with his brand-new show exploring the dark comedy horror that is British politics, ahead of the next election. “Possibly the best political comedy show on the Fringe” (The Telegraph ★★★★★), “Forde is as gratifyingly sane as comedians come… smart, funny ideas” (The Times ★★★★), “Is there a better political comic than Matt Forde currently working in the UK? I can’t think of another to touch him” (Chortle ★★★★½).

Matt Forde – The Political Party

“Matt Forde’s podcast is like Top of the Pops for Westminster…phenomenally popular fortnightly show…refreshingly positive”
Patricia Nicol, The Sunday Times

Following a third Political Party West End residency extension, Matt Forde (Spitting Image, HIGNFY, British Scandal, The Last Leg, The Royal Variety Performance) returns to Edinburgh for two live podcasts, with the guests to be announced. The UK’s leading political podcast has over 9 million downloads and is regularly included in iTunes’ Top 10 comedy podcasts. Recently listed by The i newspaper as one of the 50 Greatest Podcasts. Previous guests include: Keir Starmer, Nicola Sturgeon, Tony Blair, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Angela Rayner, Michael Heseltine, Anthony Scaramucci, Alastair Campbell, Gordon Brown and Gary Neville. “Is there a better political comic than Matt Forde currently working in the UK? I can’t think of another to touch him” (Chortle ★★★★½), “our foremost satirical stand-up” (The Sunday Times ★★★★), “smart, funny ideas” (The Times ★★★★).

Paul Chowdhry – Family Friendly Comedian

“It’s a rare and joyous thing to see a stand up so vibrant and imperiously on top of his game”
Mark Wareham, The Mail on Sunday ★★★★★

Award winning comedian and PudCast host Paul Chowdhry returns to the Fringe after 9 years with his hit show Family Friendly Comedian (*No Children) following a sold-out and extended tour. Paul is out to save his reputation and become a family friendly staple – like Ant & Dec (but not the one that drinks and drives). Family Friendly Comedian follows Live Innit, his hit Amazon Prime stand-up special and record-breaking international live tour show, which had a thrice extended nationwide tour, seeing Paul perform five nights at the Hammersmith Apollo and become the first British-Asian stand-up to sell out the 10,000-seater Wembley Arena. “the greatest British Asian comedian of all time” (Asjad Nazir, Eastern Eye).

Pierre Novellie – Why Are You Laughing?

“the laughs keep coming… Novellie is every inch the assured, smart-jacketed storyteller”
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard ★★★★

Following last year’s celebrated Fringe run, critically acclaimed comedian Pierre Novellie is back for round 2. Having found the answer to the age old question and title of his 2022 show, ‘Why Can’t I Just Enjoy Things?’, Pierre now asks the audience ‘Why Are You Laughing?’ with his signature intellectual wit and inquisitive nature – why do you enjoy this stuff and is there something wrong with him? Who knows! Life is about uncertainty now. Co-host of the hit BudPod podcast with fellow comedian Phil Wang, Pierre features as the regular co-host of The Frank Skinner Radio Show (Absolute Radio), BBC Sounds’ Obsessed with SAS alongside Spencer Matthews, and can be seen and heard on World’s Most Dangerous Roads (Dave), Stand Up Central (Comedy Central), The Now Show (BBC Radio 4) and more. “packed full of belly laughs” (Sharon Lougher, Metro ★★★★★), “Exceptional” (Jay Richardson, The Scotsman ★★★★), “Hilarious” (Dominic Maxwell, The Times ★★★★).

Rob Auton – The Rob Auton Show

“A genuine original. Poetical, philosophical, humane, completely charming and funny to boot”’
The Guardian

Marking his 10th hour at the Edinburgh Fringe, this year award-winning comedian and podcaster Rob Auton turns the pen on himself in The Rob Auton Show, a show about Rob Auton. Exploring the memories and feelings that create his life on a daily basis, Rob’s tenth show follows on from his previous nine hit Fringe comedy/theatre/spoken word shows on specific themes that have earnt him a cult Fringe following, including yellow in The Yellow Show, sleep in The Sleep Show, and time in The Time Show.  Rob’s daily podcast, The Rob Auton Daily Podcast, won Best Daily Podcast at the British Podcast Awards. “Poetic, pithy and profound piece about what makes us human” (Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard ★★★★). “He romantically seeks wonder and amazement in the everyday…an engaging, thoughtful show” (Steve Bennett, Chortle ★★★★). “Brilliant” (Stewart Lee). “One of my absolute favourites.” (Daniel Kitson).

Ruby McCollister – Tragedy

“a downtown legend”
Time Out

Fringe 2023 sees New York comedian Ruby McCollister make her highly anticipated UK debut, bringing her one woman show, Tragedy, to Edinburgh. A critical hit across the pond, this show sees Ruby explore her life long addiction to making her life as tragic as possible. A lover of all things macabre, the hopelessly tragic comic talks all things fame, glamour, obsession, drug addiction, and dead actresses in Los Angeles – all while belting lavishly gothic songs. Having supported SNL comedian Sarah Sherman on tour, Ruby’s acting credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Deuce and Search Party as well as the beloved cult web series Zhe Zhe. Ruby has also been written about in Vogue, Cultured Magazine, and Vulture.

Simon Brodkin – Xavier

“No show has made me laugh more than this one…. Time, on this evidence, for Simon Brodkin to be a big name in his own right”
Dominic Maxwell, The Times ★★★★

Following two sold-out, critically-acclaimed Fringe shows and a 120-date international tour that was extended to meet huge demand, the TikTok record-breaker, Lee Nelson creator and world-famous prankster returns to Edinburgh with his third stand-up show performing as himself. This brand-new show sees Simon contemplate God, guns, Matt Hancock, Ayatollah Khamenei and a man called Xavier. Last year “the world’s most famous blagger” (The Daily Telegraph) whose pranks on Donald Trump, Sepp Blatter, Theresa May and Kanye West grabbed headlines around the world, broke records on TikTok with clips of his stand-up routines, one reached more than 40 million views, making him the most-viewed British comedian ever on the platform. His previous stand-up hour was a smash hit, described by Mark Wareham as “a full-on rat-a-tat gag fest” (The Mail on Sunday ★★★★), with Jay Richardson calling Simon “a relentless gag machine” (Chortle ★★★★).

SHOW DETAILS

The full list of artists represented by Avalon performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023 include:

Ahir Shah – Ends
Ania Magliano – I Can’t Believe You’ve Done This
Bilal Zafar – Imposter
Chloe Petts – If You Can’t Say Anything Nice
Ed Gamble – Work In Progress
Frank Skinner – 30 Years of Dirt
Garrett Millerick – Never Had It So Good
Glenn Moore – Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Feed Me, Glenn I’m Sixty Moore? and WIP
Heidi Regan – Finding an Inner Peace That All Your Friends Will Envy
Huge Davies – Whodunnit
John Kearns – The Varnishing Days
Jonny Pelham – Optimism Over Despair
Jonny & The Baptists – Ten Thankless Years
Josh Weller – Age Against The Machine
Luke Kempner – Gritty Police Drama: A One-Man Musical
Matt Forde – Inside No. 10
Matt Forde – The Political Party
Paul Chowdhry – Family Friendly Comedian
Phil Ellis – Phil Ellis’s Excellent Comedy Show
Pierre Novellie – Why Are You Laughing?
Rob Auton – The Rob Auton Show
Rose Matafeo – Work In Progress
Ruby McCollister – Tragedy
Simon Brodkin – Xavier
Susan Riddell – Wonder Woman
Vittorio Angelone – Who Do You Think I Am? I Am!

Follow @AvalonComedy for news and ticket info. For further information, interview requests or images please contact the Edinburgh press team at [email protected] or phone Florrie Sheehan or Perrine Davari on 020 7598 8000.