Aberdeen Comedy Festival Pairs the Strange With the Familiar
Two weeks of stand-up, sketch and surreal game shows take over the city.
Aberdeen’s getting its funny bone back next week. After a three-year break, the city-wide Comedy Festival returns from 22 September to 5 October, bringing two weeks of stand-up, sketches, and strange little shows. It feels bigger this year, not just in numbers, but in the way it leans into the full range of what funny can be.
You’ll find polished pros on the big stages, from Rory Bremner’s sharp political impressions to Bridget Christie’s latest work-in-progress about witches. But there’s a more chaotic streak running through the programme too. Marcel Lucont is hosting a children’s gameshow where bad behaviour wins prizes. One late-night lineup pairs a clown with a surrealist and a rising Tokyo stand-up. The Lemon Tree clubs pull it all together with scrappy, unpredictable sets that feel stitched together in the best way.
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Off the main stage
While names like Deirdre O’Kane and Daniel Sloss might be the draw for some, the in-between spaces feel the most alive. Connor Burns brings a show that’s been gathering momentum beyond Scotland. Sketch duo Shelf is making comedy for families that doesn’t talk down to anyone. Elf Lyons, part of the Saturday 27 September club night, has been touring a mix of clowning and stand-up that’s hard to pin down but undeniably funny.
There’s no single flavour of show running through the programme. If you like comedy when it’s polished, or when it falls apart in front of you, both versions are here. Sometimes on the same stage.
Comedy for all ages
There’s been a proper effort this year to include families. Comedy Club 4 Kids returns with a handpicked line-up doing grown-up stand-up for younger ears. Ignacio Lopez’s space-themed show looks completely daft in the best way. Marcel Lucont’s game show might be the one your kids talk about for weeks afterwards, depending on whether they win or lose.
Aberdeen already has a strong comedy scene, but this brings it together on a rare scale. If it’s been a while since you went to something that made you properly laugh, this might be a good time to try. It’s a local festival, but it doesn’t feel small. With shows spread across familiar venues like the Music Hall and the Lemon Tree, it feels part of the city’s rhythm rather than something separate from it.
Check out the full line-up below. Tickets are available from Aberdeen Performing Arts and the Box Office.
Full Aberdeen Comedy Festival 2025 Line-up
Monday 22 September
Chris McCausland: Yonks! – Music Hall
The Fashed and The Furious – His Majesty’s Theatre
Tuesday 23 September
The Fashed and The Furious – His Majesty’s Theatre
Wednesday 24 September
Gary Faulds: Panic at the Midlife Disco – Tivoli Theatre
Matt Richardson: Comedy Night – Cheerz
The Fashed and The Furious – His Majesty’s Theatre
Thursday 25 September
Chris McCausland: Yonks! – Music Hall
Lou Conran: Gooch – Lemon Tree Studio
The Fashed and The Furious – His Majesty’s Theatre
Friday 26 September
Connor Burns: Gallus – Music Hall
Stuart Mitchell: Tips Not Included – Tivoli Theatre
Elf Lyons: Horses – Lemon Tree Studio
Neil Skene: Seeing it the Doric Way – Breakneck Comedy
Rory O’Hanlon, Steve McLeod & Steve Johnson – Breakneck Comedy
The Fashed and The Furious – His Majesty’s Theatre
Saturday 27 September
Comedy Club 4 Kids – Lemon Tree Studio
Adam Kay: Undoctored – Music Hall
Kieran Hodgson: Voice of America – Lemon Tree Lounge
Dr Dave Wandless: Straight Outta Practice – Breakneck Comedy
Rory O’Hanlon, Steve McLeod & Steve Johnson – Breakneck Comedy
Late Night at the Lemon Tree – Lemon Tree Lounge
The Fashed and The Furious – His Majesty’s Theatre
Sunday 28 September
Stewart Lee: vs The Man-Wulf – His Majesty’s Theatre
Ignacio Lopez: Juan Solo’s Excellent Adventures in Space – Lemon Tree Studio
Ignacio Lopez: Nada! – Lemon Tree Studio
Thursday 2 October
Bridget Christie: Witch (WIP) – Music Hall
Sophie Duker: Work in Progress – Lemon Tree Studio
Friday 3 October
Daniel Sloss: Live – Music Hall
Mark Watson: Before It Overtakes Us – Lemon Tree Lounge
Marcel Lucont’s Whine List – Lemon Tree Studio
Robin Grainger – OGV Taproom
Scott Forbes: Live – Breakneck Comedy
Billy Kirkwood & Martin Bearne – Breakneck Comedy
Saturday 4 October
Marcel Lucont: Les Enfants Terribles – Lemon Tree Studio
Craig Hill: Wait ’Til You See My Entrance! – Lemon Tree Studio
Angela Barnes: Angst – Lemon Tree Studio
Deirdre O’Kane: O’Kaning It – Tivoli Theatre
Craig Campbell: Raging Gracelessly – Breakneck Comedy
Peter Wood: Back in the Day – Breakneck Comedy
Billy Kirkwood & Martin Bearne – Breakneck Comedy
Late Night at the Lemon Tree – Lemon Tree Lounge
Sunday 5 October
Shelf – Lemon Tree Studio
Rory Bremner: Making an Impression – His Majesty’s Theatre
