The Alternative Comedy Show
A night of experimental comedy that breaks with the mainstream, headlined by Lily Phillips.
Discover fresh comedic talent and indulge in a night of laughter at The Alternative Comedy Show, a celebration of comic ideas and originality featuring some of the country’s most experimental, innovative, and exciting comedians.
Headlining the show is Lily Phillips, one of the most exciting up-and-coming voices in comedy in the UK. She has been a finalist for many prestigious awards including Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian of the Year, Funny Women, and was a part of prestigious Pleasance Comedy Reserve at the 2019 Edinburgh and the BBC New Comedy Awards on BBC One. She is a series regular on The Stand Up Sketch Show, and her credits also include Period Dramas (BBC3), The Joy Of Missing Out (All4), and comedy shorts for Comedy Central Online.
Our MC for the night is Eli Matthewson, who has just arrived in London from New Zealand, where he has been working as a comedian and a writer for the last ten years. In 2021, Eli won the Fred Award, New Zealand’s most prestigious comedy award, for his hour show Daddy Short-Legs. He helped create the legendary improv show Snort and co-hosts the podcast The Male Gayz.
Opening is stand‑up comedian, writer, actor and producer Fathiya Saleh, whose charming, confident and refreshingly honest comedy has made her a fast‑rising presence on the UK circuit. She has performed at Latitude Festival and internationally in Belgium, Sweden and Riyadh. She was a Funny Women finalist and joined the BBC Comedy Asian Network in the same year, and has since featured in the Comedy Queen’s sold‑out UK tour, performing at major venues including Indigo at The O₂ Greenwich. Fathiya has been part of the writers’ rooms for the BBC Three reboot Bad Education and CBBC’s Horrible Science, and has been described as “one of the most underrated yet exciting performers on London’s live stand‑up scene”.
In the middle slot is writer and performer Theo Mason Wood. He took his debut show Legalise Kissing to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2025. Broadway Baby gave it 5 stars and said, “If you’re looking to see one of the most exciting new comics on the British and European comedy scene, look no further.” Theo recently co-wrote an episode of The Gentlemen for Netflix, alongside his brother Billy.
Please note that line-ups are subject to change.
May contain adult themes and language.
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