The Oxford Comedy Festival 2022 is returning with the most ambitious and biggest line-up ever, and over 50 comedians taking part in multiple venues across the city.
Organised by QED Comedy Laboratory, it will run throughout July in venues including the Tap Social Brewery, the James Street Tavern, the White House by Tap Social, the Ultimate Picture Palace and their original home, the Jam Factory.
“Too often comedy festivals have a very straight, white, male face to them and, frankly, we find that boring”
The impressive line up so far includes TV stars such as Sophie Duker (Taskmaster), Esther Manito (Live at the Apollo), Glenn Moore (Mock the Week) and Tony Law (Never Mind the Buzzcocks), alongside up-and-comers like Sam Lake (Winner, New Comedian of the Year 2018), Michael Akadiri (Finalist, BBC New Comedy Awards 2021) and Lilly Philips (Pleasance Comedy Reserve 2019).
Podcast fans will also be thrilled to learn they can see Guilty Feminist regulars Athena Kugblenu, Jessica Fostekew and Sarah Keyworth, All Killa No Filla host Rachel Fairburn, The Blank Podcast’s Jim Daly, and Comedian’s Comedian creator Stuart Goldsmith all showcasing their talents.
Matthew Chadourne, Creative Director of QED Comedy Lab, said: “We are thrilled to bring Oxford’s residents world-class comedy on their doorstep.
“Some of our favourite acts return year after year, meaning that Oxford is becoming a destination spot for comedians on their way up to Edinburgh. After two years of pandemic-related misery, we are raring to go, to get our wonderful audiences smiling again.
“So our goal was always to book those acts that we loved as well as to highlight voices that other festivals may have overlooked.
“Too often comedy festivals (and comedy shows in general) have a very straight, white, male face to them and, frankly, we found that boring.
“We want to hear new voices and new perspectives in the hopes of making the kind of festival that we would want to see. Each act is hand selected by our team because we think that the people of Oxford will love them as much as we do,” Matthew adds.
“The festival began in 2018 and has seen some of the most exciting comedy performers in the UK bringing their latest shows to Oxford, and this year will be no different.”
Organisers QED Comedy Lab stage the festival as an opportunity for comedians to perform their previews; work-in-progress versions of the hour-long shows they will take to the Edinburgh Fringe in August.
To book any of the Oxford Comedy Festival gigs go to https://oxfordcomedyfestival.co.uk/ourshows
