Good Ship Comedy

Before becoming a comedian, Angela worked in health and social care. In 2011, she won the BBC New Comedy Award and became a finalist at the 2011 Latitude Festival New Act of the Year competition. Since then Angela has become a regular on BBC’s The News Quiz, Newsjack and Mock The Week.

She has also appeared on BBC Three’s Russell Howard’s Good News, Russell Kane’s Whistle Stop Tour (BBC Radio 2), and BBC Radio 4’s The Now Show.

“Feels like a sure-fire bet the instant she utters her opening lines.” (The Scotsman).

“The pace is fast, the material strong and the delivery perfect” (Chortle).

“She’s just a gloriously down-to-earth, straight-talking and extremely funny comic” (The Guardian).

Angela Barnes was #8 in Ents24's Hardest Working Comedians of 2018 list.

A comedian, host and podcaster born and raised in Harlow, to Jamaican parents, he has a blend of Caribbean confidence and Essex irreverence Not only a new voice, but an alternative voice.

A natural showman and motormouth, who comes from a creative and performing family, his presence in the entertainment world was destined.

Alexander Bennett is a ​Chortle and Leicester Comedy Festival Award nominated comedian. His solo shows have received rave 5 star reviews, been recommended by the British Comedy Guide, featured in The Times Top Jokes of the Edinburgh Fringe and performed on the West End at London's prestigious Soho Theatre. He has been featured in the Guardian, Metro and IPaper and has been heard on BBC Radio 4 and 5 Live.

★★★★★

“Surprisingly powerful - will leave you in tears of laughter"

BROADWAY WORLD

★★★★★

"Take a risk. See this show"

BROADWAY BABY

★★★★★

"I am speechless... hugely talented with a captivating stage presence"

THREE WEEKS

★★★★★

"A courageous and powerful hour of comedy"

ED FRINGE REVIEW

★★★★

"A testament to the power of comedy to illuminate the human experience - Bennett clearly knows what he's doing"

THE REVIEWS HUB

★★★★

"Balances hilarity with poignant themes, often taking unexpected turns"

EDINBURGH FESTIVALS MAGAZINE

★★★★

"Brilliantly moving, hilarious and singular - There’s no getting away from Bennett’s sheer charm, wit, and intrepid courageousness"

ENTERTAINMENT NOW

Ben Van der Velde is a stand-up comedian, actor, improviser and presenter, who, over the past few years, has spread joy and nonsense to all four corners of the British Isles, as well as Greece, Switzerland, Estonia, Latvia, Finland and Norway.

He is a regular host and act for respected British comedy clubs such as The Comedy Store, The Stand, Komedia, The Backyard, Covent Garden Comedy Club, Outside the Box, the Frog & Bucket, Comedy Club 4 Kids, Off the Kerb and The Comedy Café, as well as hosting stages for Bestival, Festival No.6 and Sunday Papers Live. He has also founded the Church of the Holy Kazoo with comedy legend Mark Thomas, walked the entire London Underground network to raise money for The Refugee Council and even took part in experiments at The Royal Society that revealed him to have the most infectious laugh of any human, rat or monkey.

Ben is a regular performer at the Edinburgh Festival, where he has performed four critically-acclaimed shows: Chain Letter, Strudelhead, Barbarians and Sidekick. In 2016 his most recent show received 5 and 4 star reviews, whilst several of jokes made it into lists of ‘Best Joke at the Fringe’ compiled by The Scotsman, i-News and The Huffington Post.

Ben has amassed a few residencies as an MC; most notably at Really Lovely Comedy and the legendary Free Beer Show, where he has featured alongside acts such as Omid Djalili, Reginald D. Hunter, Sarah Millican, Jim Jefferies and Andrew Maxwell . Ben is currently helmsman of the Chortle Award-winning Good Ship Comedy Club in Camden Town, where he can be seen spinning webs of nonsense and good humour every Monday from 8pm. (http://www.goodshipcomedy.com)

“A sharp and crafty gagsmith, with wittily obtuse takes on…an impressively wide range of topics…bringing flair and confidence to them all.” Steve Bennett, Chortle

“Highly promising…an accomplished comic.” Time Out

“Wonderfully improvised riffs showcasing his impressive spontaneity and sharp tongue.” Edinburgh Festivals Magazine

“The perfect comedy club host – he is a master of audience interaction. The audience weren’t just warmed up, but pretty hysterical even before the first act of the night hit the stage.” Huffington Post

“On flights of fancy, he pushes ideas to extremes and displays a crackling, spontaneous energy in which we’re swept up.” Fest