Oxford Festival Fringe Preview Comedy festival
The UK’s most awkwardly named comedy festival, since 2018.
The Oxford Festival Fringe Preview Comedy Festival (Oxford Comedy Festival for short) is a month-long comedy festival happening throughout July created and curated by QED Comedy Lab. We bring the best comedians headed to Edinburgh and other large festivals to the Oxford community. We have a particular interest in amplifying traditionally underrepresented voices, such as women, global majority, and LGBTQ+ comedians, as well as giving a stage to more experimental shows. Our ultimate goal is to bring the talent we love to our home town to share with as many people as possible - and this year we have over 50 amazing shows planned at three different venues around town. We hope that you will join us!
Press
“This month-long Edinburgh preview includes many of the same acts as the fringe, making it a great alternative to the Scottish extravaganza.” The Guardian, 25 June 2022
“Nothing quite says that our city is ambling back to normality by this sensational month of travelling stand ups bringing their WIP sets to Oxford for an hour of chuckles.” Daily Info Oxford. 3 July 2022
“The Oxford Comedy Festival, now in its second year, is a rare chance to see Edinburgh Fringe performances before they reach Scotland.…Comprising over 50 shows across six venues, the festival is an organisational feat, and a real credit to its organisers, the QED Comedy Lab.“ The Morning Star, 9 August 2019
“QED Comedy must also be applauded for putting together a wonderfully diverse line-up, something that other providers of comedy are often unable to do. The comedy I saw was simply better because it elevated voices that in the past have not received such a platform. Oxford Comedy Festival is a bonkers undertaking but one enhanced by an ability to be one of the most modern, exciting arts festivals on the Oxford scene.“ Daily Info Oxford, 30 July 2019
“Swooping in to rescue all Oxford-based stand-up fans from Edinburgh Fringe-induced FOMO blues” Daily Info Oxford, 2 July 2019
Media
Here is a collage of some of our great shows and audiences from our 2019 Festival. Hoo boy, doesn’t it look fun.
All photos by Lucy Judson Photography
Past Line-Ups
2018:
Adam Hess
Adele Cliff
Chelsea Birkby
Daphna Baram
Ed Patrick
Gareth Richards
Glenn Moore
Hayley Ellis
Jack Barry
Jacob Hawley
Jenny Collier
Julian Deane
Kate Smurthwaite
Lou Sanders
Matt Forde
Matt Hobs
Matt Winning
Moon
Njambi McGrath
Rob Auton
Sophie Duker
Steve Bugeja
Tania Edwards
2019:
Adam Hess
Adele Cliff
Cally Beaton
Catherine Bohart
Chris Norton Walker
Daphna Baram
Desiree Burch
Esther Manito
Gabby Best
Glenn Moore
Hayley Ellis
Heidi Regan
Jen Brister
Jen Ives
Jess Fostekew
Joz Norris
Kate Smurthwaite
Laura Davis
Lorna Shaw
Lou Sanders
Maddie Campion
Maria Shehata
Matt Winning
Njambi McGrath
Rachel Creeger
Rachel Fairburn
Sameena Zehra
Sara Barron
Sarah Kendall
Sonia Aste
Sophie Duker
Susan Ridell
Tania Edwards
Tara Newton Wordsworth
Tom Houghton
Tom Taylor
Tony Law
Travis Jay
William Stone
2022:
Adele Cliff
Alastair Becket King
Alison Spittle
Andrew O'Neill
Angela Barnes
Athena Kugblenu
Caitriona Dowden
Celya AB
Chloe Petts
Crizards
Ed Patrick
Eleanor Morton
Eleanor Tiernan
Elf Lyons
Erika Ehler
Esther Manito
Glenn Moore
Heidi Regan
Helen Bauer
Isa Bonachera
Jacob Hawley
Jamie D'Souza
Jamie Mykaela
Jayde Adams
Jen Ives
Jess Fostekew
Jim Daly
Kathryn Mather
Katie Pritchard
Lara Ricote
Laura Davis
Leo Reich
Lily Phillips
Matt Hobbs
Michael Akadiri
Micky Overman
Morgan Rees
Njambi McGrath
Pierre Novellie
Richard Todd
Sam Lake
Sara Barron
Sarah Keyworth
Sasha Ellen
Sopie Duker
Stuart Goldsmith
Yuriko Kotani
2023:
Adele Cliff
Alex Burgar
Alison Spittle
Ania Magliano
Annie Mcgrath
Bella Hull
Bilal Zafar
Caitriona Dowden
Caroline Mabey
Celya AB
Charlie George
Chloe Petts
Derek Mitchell
Ed Patrick
Elf Lyons and Duffy
Erika Ehler
Fatiha El-Ghorri
Heidi Regan
Huge Davies
Ian Smith
Ivo Graham
Jamie Mykaela
Jen Ives
Jenny Collier
Jessica Fostekew
Kate Smurthwaite
Kathy Maniura
Kuan-wen Huang
Lindsey Santoro
Louise Atkinson
Louise Young
Lulu Popplewell
Mamoun Elagab
Matt Forde
Matt Hobes
Matty Hutson
Micky Overman
Myq Kaplan
Nabil Abdulrashid
Nathan D'Arcy Roberts
Olga Koch
Patrick Spicer
Rachel Fairburn
Rob Auton
Sarah Keyworth
Sarah Roberts
Sasha Ellen
Sikisa
Stuart Goldsmith
Stuart Laws
Tadiwa Mahlunge
Tatty Macleod
Tom Little
William Stone