Rob Beckett, Russell Kane, Al Murray, Shappi Khorsandi, Andrew Maxwell, Simon Evans, Phill Jupitus, Ivo Graham, Suzi Ruffell, Andrew Ryan, Mark Watson, Iain Stirling

Edinburgh Festival Fringe - Waverley Care Comedy Gala

2017 marks a the tenth year of partnership between Off The Kerb Productions and Waverley Care, Scotland’s biggest charity providing care and support to those living with HIV and Hepatitis C. All proceeds raised from the Edinburgh Comedy Gala go straight to supporting the life changing work of the charity. Since it’s launch in 2003, the now annual event has raised almost £450,000, with this year’s event looking set to topple the £500,000 mark, helping to make a positive difference to the lives of people affected by HIV and Hepatitis C in Scotland.

Grant Sugden, Chief Executive of Waverley Care said, “We continue to be immensely grateful to the many comedians who are willing to give of their time to help Waverley Care. Off The Kerb’s continued support of Waverley Care helps us make an enormous difference to the lives of many people across Scotland who are living with HIV or Hepatitis C. And what better way to make that difference than through laughter!”

Showcasing some of the finest comedic talent at this year’s Fringe, this year’s Edinburgh Comedy Gala is set to be the must-see event for all comedy fans at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Please note that the artists appearing may be subject to change.

Featuring

Rob Beckett

Rob grew up in south east London in a large extended family of taxi drivers where it was a fight to be heard. As a middle child desperate for attention he needed to be funny so was in awe of his Grandad's jokes, but only until he saw a Tommy Cooper video and realised Grandad Cook was a massive plagiarist. 'A little short of a revelation (The Scotsman) 'Relentlessly smiley, perpetually grinning Londoner whose unshowy, unpretentious but thoroughly funny shtick has every chance of winning him a big audience' (The Guardian). 'He already has the confidence of a veteran' (The Times). 'Joyous, cheek aching and touching stand up' (Shortlist). Rob Beckett was placed in Ents24's top 10 hardest-working comedians 2016.

See Rob Beckett tour dates

Russell Kane

Multi-award winning comedian, presenter, actor, author and scriptwriter Russell Kane is best known as the host of three series of BBC3's Live At The Electric, regular appearances on BBC1's Live At Apollo, BBC3's Unzipped, ITV2's Celebrity Juice and I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! Now! Russell was nominated four times for prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Awards before winning Best Show in 2010. He then went onto make history as the first comedian to win both the Edinburgh Award and Melbourne Comedy Festival's Barry Award in one year. 'An exceptional comedian, his pace is relentless and his material beautifully observed and exquisitely crafted... inspiring and brilliant' (Chortle). 'A seriously good comedian' (The Times) 'Russell Kane delivers magic in spades' (The Scotsman) 'A smart, probing brain lurks below the vertiginous quiff' (The Evening Standard). Russell Kane was named in Ents24's top 5 hardest-working comedians of 2016.

See Russell Kane tour dates

Al Murray

Once a humble publican, the multi-award winning Al Murray – The Pub Landlord - has risen to the honourable position of British comedy royalty, following the continuing success of his hit prime time ITV1 show Happy Hour and A Second Audience With Al Murray The Pub Landlord (ITV1). 'A national treasure' (The Daily Telegraph) 'Al Murray has become a bona fide British institution' (The Independent) 'Murray's interaction with the crowd remains one of the wonders of the comedy world' (The Times).

See Al Murray tour dates

Shaparak Khorsandi

As seen as on Live At The Apollo, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, 8/10 Cats and Have I Got News For You, Shappi Khorsandi is an Iranian female stand-up comic who established herself on the London circuit back in the early 2000's. Feisty, flirty and effortlessly funny, she handles every subject with razor sharp wit. She is also the best-selling author of A Beginners Guide to Acting English and her fantastic debut novel ‘Nina is not OK’ was published by Ebury in 2016. Shappi was also elected president of the British Humanist society in 2017. 'Makes live comedy thrilling' (Evening Standard). 'Shappi is an endearing presence and possesses a charming self-awareness that ensures consistent laughter from start to finish' (Huffington Post). 'Seriously funny and surprisingly filthy' (The New Statesman). Shappi Khorsandi was named in Ents24's top 20 hardest-working comedians of 2016.

See Shaparak Khorsandi tour dates

Also Appearing

Andrew Maxwell, Simon Evans, Phill Jupitus, Ivo Graham, Suzi Ruffell, Andrew Ryan, Mark Watson, Iain Stirling

•  > Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre