comedy

An evening with John Lloyd and Steve Pemberton

Tonight was an End of the Pier show – not in the traditional sense, but these talks with comedy greats did take place at Horatio’s, the old karaoke bar at the end of Brighton pier. It was an interesting place to be on a dark and stormy night, and the waves looked garish in the Read more

January 16, 2026

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by

jamesofwalsh

in

Acting, art, comedy, Diary, science fiction, Sketch Comedy

Brighton, comedy, John Lloyd, League of Gentlemen, Steve Pemberton
Bad Luck: Void Show, Aces & Eights, Camden

Laurie Black’s beautiful and sporadic Bad Luck Cabaret is one of the most consistently excellent nights out in London, or Brighton, or wherever it is Black decides to pitch her tent filled with alternative music, comedy, performance art, and other wonderful strangeness. Tonight [1], the big top is a seedy basement in Tufnell Park, and Read more

January 4, 2026

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by

jamesofwalsh

in

art, comedy, Diary, music, Reviews

Bad Luck Cabaret, comedy, Jamie Mykaela, John Robertson, Laurie Black
The Highchurches Do Totally Acoustic and Next Level Sketch, The Highchurches, and Robin Ince do This Machine Kills Wasps

Hello! I’ve been Not Updating my blog lately, as I’ve reached the limit of my plan data wise, and have been weighing up whether to move to a new blogging platform or not. It’s a tricky decision, as on the one hand I’m very annoyed with WordPress for their brazen and very stupid embrace of Read more

December 11, 2025

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by

jamesofwalsh

in

Brighton Folk Choir, comedy, Diary, folk, Sketch Comedy, The Highchurches, This Machine Kills Wasps

Brighton, comedy, Jo Burke, Next Level Sketch, Robin Ince, Sketch Comedy, The Highchurches, This Machine Kills Wasps
South London by Thameslink

In Croydon there are towers high, lean, and empty. At the station, an older woman with a natty blue rinse limps for the front carriage, and passes a human-shaped package in a pushchair. This is topped with a hat with bear ears, poking out from the swaddled layers below. High visibility clothing must be worn Read more

November 2, 2025

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by

jamesofwalsh

in

cities, Diary, London, Places, Trains, travel

comedy, London, non fiction, Thameslink, Trains
Next Level Sketch with Siblings, Joz Norris, Stephen Catling, Mikey Bligh-Smith – and not me!

Due to a fatality on the line, myself and fellow cast member Kat couldn’t make it up to Brighton for the show last night. I spent a weird hour at the station, surrounded by sad Arsenal fans, one crying about missing their match in the Littlewoods Cup (as I think it’s still called). Annabel Edmonds Read more

October 30, 2025

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by

jamesofwalsh

in

comedy, Diary, Next Level Sketch, Sketch Comedy

comedy, Hoopla Impro, Joz Norris, London, Next Level Sketch, Siblings, Sketch Comedy
Eric Idle live at The Royal Albert Hall

There’s a kind of person who loves Terry Pratchett. A hoopy frood who always knows where his towel is. They could be neurodivergent, or maybe not – it doesn’t matter. They respect Brian May, as an astronomer. They’ve dabbled in steam punk, know Alan Moore better than he knows himself, and could quote any scene Read more

October 11, 2025

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by

jamesofwalsh

in

art, comedy, Diary, London, music, Places, Sketch Comedy

Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life, comedy, Eric Idle, London, Royal Albert Hall
Special guest appearance at Boast In Show: Ultimate Champion, Komedia Brighton

Surprises stress me out. If anyone out there was plotting a surprise birthday for me, with all my friends popping out of various cakes, I would probably look stunned for a few minutes and then leave without a word. So it was with a degree of trepidation that I agreed to be the special guest Read more

September 11, 2025

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by

jamesofwalsh

in

Brighton, comedy, Diary, The Highchurches

Brighton, comedy, The Highchurches
This Machine Kils Wasps with MJ Hibbett and Chris Thorpe-Tracey / The Highchurches do a gig on a barge in Shoreham

Tickets are now on sale for a special This Machine Kills Wasps in Brighton on Friday 15th August. MJ Hibbett and Chris Thorpe-Treacy have both been massive influences on my life, my music, and my philosophy. Hibbett writes amazing songs and taught me you don’t need anyone’s permission to make music; Chris writes amazing songs Read more

July 21, 2025

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by

jamesofwalsh

in

Brighton, Diary, folk, music, songwriting, Sussex, The Highchurches, This Machine Kills Wasps

Brighton, Chris Thorpe-Treacy, comedy, folk, MJ Hibbett, Sweet Brighton, The Highchurches, The Yellow Book, This Machine Kills Wasps
Next Level Sketch Pride Month Special with Sam Nicoresti, Baba, Han Whyte, The Mayor & His Daughter, Dian Cathal, and Kit Loyd

Eeeee that was a very fun show. I was also very anxious during it. Lots to ponder there, especially the you-would-think contradictory nature of those opening sentences. I wasn’t hosting the show, or performing in any sketches. So why was it so stressful? My friend (and debut NLS cast member) Kat, as revealed in a Read more

June 27, 2025

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by

jamesofwalsh

in

art, comedy, Diary, Next Level Sketch, Sketch Comedy

comedy, Hoopla Impro, London, Next Level Sketch, Sketch Comedy
BRIGHTON FRINGE: QUERTY (Jen Zheng and Beck Walker)

One split bill, two queer, neurodivergent comedians, sweaty back room of a pub: what’s not to like? Here on an early Friday evening, the weekend still a whirlpool of possibilities, we see two of the best young stand-ups working their way towards a debut hour (or, indeed, two debut hours). In football parlance, this is Read more

June 7, 2025

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jamesofwalsh

in

Brighton, Brighton Fringe, comedy, Diary, Reviews

Brighton, Brighton Fringe, comedy, Jen Zheng, QUERTY