12 Must-see acts putting on their first hour at Fringe 2024.
With over 3700 shows vying for attention, the cream of this year’s crop of new comedians may be lost in the melee. However, the Comedy Nerd is here to highlight some unmissable acts putting on their first full hour for your viewing pleasure this year.
Hannah Platt: Defence Mechanism
Hannah Platt fearlessly tackles the topic of body dysmorphia and questions our tendency to keep others at a distance. Her material is often sharp and does not shy away from sensitive subjects. (Nominated for Best Debut Show at the Leicester Comedy Festival BBC New Comedy Awards finalist).
Joe Kent-Walters is Frankie Monroe LIVE!!!
Owner/MC of a Rotherham working men’s club/portal to hell, Kent-Walters alter-ego is an outlandish and hilarious act putting alternative character comedy firmly on the map.(Winner of BBC New Comedy Award 2023 and Best Show Leicester Comedy Festival 2024).
Jack Skipper: Skint
Jack Skipper delivers a show about how he went from carpet-fitter to comedian, offering insights into the endeavours of a working-class father struggling to navigate his way through life. Over 15 million likes on TikTok. (Winner of Best Debut Show at Leicester Comedy Festival 2024. SYTYF 2022 runner-up).
Dee Allum: Deadname
Dee is a transgender comedian from a small village. She discusses societal expectations and coming out to friends and family, offering a fresh perspective on self-discovery, resilience, and the power of laughter.
Katie Green: ¡Ay Mija!
Latina rising star Katie Green finds humour in the contrasts between her Salvadoran roots and her upbringing in California, as well as her current life in Britain. (Funny Women Finalist in 2020 and Pleasance Comedy Reserve 2022).
Metroland Live: The Box
Following a sell-out tour of the North-east, cult online sketch group Metroland bring some of their bizarre and hilarious characters to the Edinburgh stage in what promises to be an impactful debut.
Abi Clarke: (Role) Model
Abi Clarke’s rise to fame was swift: from an unknown to a social media sensation with 2 million followers. After making appearances on various channels, she is now ready to showcase her stand-up skills.
Joshua Bethania: Coming Home
A debut from the 2022 So You Think You’re Funny? winner, featuring an Indian immigrant’s experiences with England, including childhood, adulthood, religion, relationships, and the topic of colonialism, with subtle political views.
Bella Humphries: Square Peg
Rising star Bella Humphries confessional debut explores her move to rural Wales and her battle with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, in a search for identity when being yourself is hard work.
Ruby Carr: eBae
Carr is fascinated by eBay auctions, leading her to acquire a wide variety of items and seeking validation with each purchase. She is drawn in by the attraction of a good deal, the story behind each item, and the interplay of her obsessive-compulsive tendencies and ADHD. (Winner of Funny Women Writing Award 2022)
Freya Mallard: The Bounce Back
With 10 million likes on TikTok and 100K+ followers, the 25-year-old new mother is resolute in pursuing her ambition to have it all despite concerns from her loved ones.
A Chip Off the Gold Block
A middle-aged Jewish divorcee walks into a bar and chooses to combine a show about identity with one about her late father. Gold delivers family drama, bold storytelling, and some really good rants.
THE COMEDY NERD 