Mark Forward is a Canadian stand-up comedian, actor, and writer known for his highly original blend of absurdist storytelling, character work, and offbeat observational comedy. Beyond stand-up, Forward is widely known for playing Coach in the hit Canadian comedy series Letterkenny. He won the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Stand-up Newcomer (2005) and the Homegrown Competition at the Just for Laughs Festival (2006). The inventive, whimsical style of Mark Forward Presents Safari Time won Best Show at the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards (2025) and was the funniest show I saw that whole year.
12th August, 2025
Mark Forward Presents Safari Time
Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose, Edinburgh
By far the funniest show I saw at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, I nominated Mark Forward for an ISH award and he went on to win, sharing that honour with Phil Ellis (also nominated by me). The unassuming Forward was stunned at his award and I assured him that of the 170 shows I saw that Fringe, nobody kept me laughing from start to finish like he did.
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