Barnes Fringe Festival Returns for Third Year Next Month, Line Up Announced

The Barnes Fringe is back on 9-15 July for its third year, featuring a stellar line-up of household names and rising stars, previewing their material before they head up to the Edinburgh Fringe. This year, we are thrilled to welcome Lee Nelson to Barnes to headline our Fringe. Lee is one of Britain's best-loved comedians, known in equal measure for his razor-sharp stand-up and elaborate pranks on public figures including Sepp Blatter, Kayne West and Donald Trump.

He'll be joined by a wide variety of hilarious comics, including Lynn Ruth Miller, Ed Gamble, Matt Forde and Phil Wang. Gather your friends, grab a few drinks and prepare to laugh yourself silly. Why head up to Edinburgh when you can watch Britain's best comedy right on your doorstep?

Line-up

Lee Nelson

Lynn Ruth Miller

Ed Gamble

Matt Forde

Phil Wang

Rachel Creeger

Ahir Shah

Bilal Zafar

Jack Barry

For the Family:

Really Big Pants: Wonky

Hemlock Bones and the Case of the Missing Marsupial

Prices

Opening night with Lee Nelson: £15

Double bills: £14 adult / £12 concessions

Family events: £10 adult / £8 children

For more information visit www.osoarts.org.uk/barnes-fringe-2017/.

9th July | 8:30pm

Lee Nelson

You've seen Lee sneaking into places he shouldn't be, now come and see him where he most definitely should be: live, on stage, at his hilarious best. A rare opportunity to see Lee perform in such an intimate venue ahead of his return to the Edinburgh Festival.

Start the Barnes Fringe in style with a special performance from one Britain's best-loved comedians.

"Comedy legend" - The Sun

"You should be ashamed of yourself" - Sepp Blatter

"Comedy genius" - The Mirror

"GET HIM OUT!" - Donald Trump

10th July | 8pm

Lynn Ruth Miller

Lynn Ruth Miller is the poster girl for growing old. She's 83 years old and the only thing that frightens her is her own reflection. She's feisty though and can tell some tales about dating octogenarians, what it's like being the oldest stand up in the business (RIP Joan Rivers). Young people of the world, come and see your future.

"One of the best female stand-ups on the comedy circuit" - Elizabeth Semmel

Supported by

Rachel Creeger

With a face that shouts "Xmas" but a soul that screams "Hanukkah", Rachel has always felt like she has a foot in two worlds. This show explores the drive to fit in, with a little bit about being a pop star.

'Creeger's signature move is all about drawing the audience into the production' - Views From The Gods

11th July | 8pm

Ed Gamble

The gobby little toerag Ed Gamble is back with a brand new lumbering beast of a comedy show. You've seen him on Mock the Week, Drunk History, Conan, Almost Royal, Russell Howard's Stand Up Central and Man Down. Don't miss him live at the Barnes Fringe.

"... he is on irresistible form" - The Telegraph

"creative and clever humour that leaves the audience in stitches" - Edinburgh Festivals Magazine

Supported by

Ahir Shah

Winner of the 2014 award for Best Show at the Leicester Comedy Festival, Ahir Shah is, at the time of writing, a funny and extant comedian. His sharp, intellectual brand of stand-up features a blend of emotional frankness, poetic language, and jokes.

"Passionate, poetic and powerfully funny" - The List

12th July

Matt Forde

Matt is one of the country's most in-demand satirists appearing on Have I Got News For You, Rory Bremner's Coalition Report, 8 out of 10 Cats, Question Time, This Week and Russell Howard's Good News. He also starred alongside Jon Richardson in Channel 4's Jon Richardson Grows Up. Matt's monthly residency in London, The Political Party, sells-out Westminster's St James' Theatre, and features interviews with some of the most notorious figures in politics, including Alastair Campbell, Nigel Farage and Michael Portillo.

"Thank goodness for Matt Forde... combining spot-on impressions with up-to-the-minute observations" - Mail on Sunday

Supported by

Bilal Zafar

Bilal Zafar was nominated for the Lastminute.com Best Newcomer Award for his debut show at the Edinburgh Fringe 2016. Earlier the same year Bilal won the New Act of the Year award joining the company of previous winners such as Stewart Lee, Ardal O'Hanlon, Joe Wilkinson and Linda Smith.

"Witty and absorbing... highly entertaining" - The Times

13th July | 8pm

Phil Wang

Phil Wang is a son of the British Empire. But in a world suddenly intent on building walls and bolstering borders, what's a Commonwealth man to do? A blistering hour of comedy gold - that's what.

Phil is a laidback Eurasian stand-up comic with cerebral charm and a dorky swagger. He has been on Have I Got News For You, Live At The Apollo, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and the short-lived but much-loved sit-com Top Coppers.

"Brilliant... His technique is flawless, his observations astute" - Chortle

Supported by

Jack Barry

Jack is probably the only stand up on the circuit with a degree in Chinese. What a waste. After excitedly stumbling his way around the stand up and sketch circuits, Jack then went on to support James Acaster on the UK tours of Edinburgh Award-nominated shows Prompt and Lawnmower.

"An inventive flourish behind his likeable banter... a distinctive wit that should make him one to watch" - Chortle

Family Shows

9th July | 3pm

Really Big Pants: Wonky

Written by Joe Bromley and Willow Nash

Can you help Olive and Messy Jesse save the day as they encounter top chef Monsieur Nincompoop, cool rapper Rapper Cool Yo, and the enigmatic pop star Solar Pa'nelle - as Olive's so-called best friend Trixie tries to thwart them at every turn?

Two girls. One trunk. And some really big pants.

Suitable for age 7+

14th & 15th July | 4pm & 7pm

Hemlock Bones and the Case of the Missing Marsupial

The OSO Panto Players return, but there will be no giant- slaying or lamp-rubbing this time. No, the group have turned their attention to solving crime, in Hemlock Bones and the Case of the Missing Marsupial.

When a beloved pet goes missing, it's up to Detective Hemlock Bones and his trusty assistant John Johnson to retrieve the helpless animal. However, what seems at first to be an ordinary case proves to be anything but, with our heroes plunged in to all sorts of outlandish situations in pursuit of the AWOL animal. Will our razor sharp detective and his not-so-sharp sidekick be able to solve the mystery?

Suitable for age 5+