Lych Gate Tavern. 12.15pm. Pay-As-You-Feel
Rating: 12+

Queen of Spades is an entertaining, heartfelt one-woman comedy-poetry show exploring life as a neurodiverse asexual navigating a world built for couples and the dexterous. Expect a celebratory and thought-provoking journey through identity, existential musings, horrendously awkward first dates, and an eternal battle to be on time...

Lych Gate Tavern. 1.30pm. Pay-As-You-Feel
Rating: 18+

Bad Fatty is a sharp, unapologetic stand-up show that dives into life as a fat Welshman. Growing up on a sheep farm, Stuart Thomas fuses his working-class roots with a modern take on body positivity, grabbing diet culture by the scruff of the neck and calling out society's absurd expectations. Proudly embracing his body and bisexuality, he explores sexuality, body image and depression. Stuart flips fat-shaming on its head – turning everyday moments into hilarious defiance. He’s taking no prisoners. 

"A big fat star in the making" - Sofie Hagen

"Made me laugh a lot" - Scotsman

Lych Gate Tavern. 2.45pm. Pay-As-You-Feel
Rating: 12+

From Tower Blocks to Factory Gates takes us through the Black Country of the 1960s & ‘70s to modern day with humour, dialect and pathos.

Poetry and song run through the veins of this born and bred Black Country Mon. So, come on, have a listen to poems, stories and songs both short and tall!

Poet, playwright, singer-songwriter, author and comic compère, Brendan Hawthorne is a born and bred Black Countryman. He is widely published, has held several writing residencies and delivered many bespoke commissions throughout his career. He was one of Anthony Gormley’s ‘Fourth Plinthers’ where he performed his work in Trafalgar Square, London, atop the empty the plinth.

Brendan was made Wednesbury Poet Laureate in 2014, appeared on BBC The One Show with Shirley Bassey and held the ‘Bill o Bowes’ national award for best written dialect two years running and again in 2023. He has featured on Radio Three.

Photo credit: Garry Corbett

Brendan’s website: www.brendanhawthorne.org

The Qattery. 4.00pm. Pay-As-You-Feel
Rating: 12+

Join Autumn and Hannah as they use their encyclopaedic knowledge of the past to bring history to life right in front of you, entirely made up on the spot. No scripts, no rehearsals, just two performers and a selection of anachronistic hats. Bring your favourite date and watch with delight as history is made (up)!

Audience reviews:
"I laughed so much it hurt"
"I learnt something. Not sure what, but I learnt it"
"Chaos. Hilarious chaos!"
"Far more zombie dictator puppets than I expected”

Leicester Comedy Festival Best Improv Show nominees

The Qattery. 5.15pm. Pay-As-You-Feel
Rating: 12+

Blurring the lines between magic and immersive theatre, prepare for the world’s first whodunnit-howdidtheydoit!

DR BLACK IS DEAD - the killer is still at large

Detective Stannard - the globally renowned magician detective - has been brought in to lead the investigation.

In what has been called the “case of the century”, the public are invited to experience the Magical Murder Mystery.

Do you have what it takes to solve Dr Black’s murder, or will you end up a suspect yourself?

Packed with jaw-dropping magic, unexpected comedy, and spine-tingling tension, The Death of Dr Black is a must-see for fans of live performance, murder mysteries, and the deliciously macabre.

The Qattery. 6.30pm. Pay-As-You-Feel
Rating: 18+

Yes, I eat insects and arachnids. But a lunatic? Don't be absurd. I see the world far more clearly than you. After all, the Blood is the Life… 

Follow the descent into madness of Dracula's disciple. Corin Rhys Jones brings his dark and disturbing solo show to the Midlands Fringe. 

Winner, Best Performer, 2024 Spookies - Horror at the Edinburgh Fringe.

 Arena Theatre. £15 full price and £12 concessions. Tickets available here. 7.30pm.
Rating: 18+

Stephen K Amos has performed at Edinburgh Festival Fringe every year since 2003. He has appeared as a guest on TV shows such as Have I Got News For You and Mock The Week, has appeared in The Bill, and met the Pope in 2019.

How good’s a laugh? My joke book is overflowing, so let’s get talking about what gives me the ick and  that makes me tick. It’s time to get down to the nitty gritty. No filter, no limits. The gloves are off and I’m packing a punchline, so let’s speak easy and laugh freely. Join me for freestyling musings and merrymaking to get your belly aching! After all, in jokes we trust…

“You’ll laugh until you actually cry” ***** Sunday Express
“Effortless comedy from one of the country’s strongest stand-ups” Sunday Times
“Amos is dynamite” The Guardian
“A joy to behold” The Times
“A note perfect hour” ***** The Metro
“Unashamedly feel-good entertainment” **** The Evening Standard