One show a night throughout July on NextUp

Comedy streaming service NextUp is staging a virtual comedy festival throughout July, with a new stand-up performing every night.

A total of 31 comedians will each deliver a 50-minute set over Zoom, with a new act each night.

Those involved include Josie Long, Mark Watson, Stuart Goldsmith, Daliso Chaponda, Sindhu Vee, Tiff Stevenon.

Tickets cost £9 to take part in a session with a maximum audience of 200 people, or £77 for a season pass to every show – which also includes an annual subscription to NextUp and six beers delivered to your door.

Sarah Henley, co-founder of the platform, said the shows would be interactive saying: ‘Our performers will be able to see everyone’s faces (and visa-versa) so they should take advantage of that and facilitate connection. 

‘To enable the audience interaction, during the ticket-buying process we may ask audience members customised questions and provide our performers with the answers to use as interactive comedy ammo.’ 

‘We’re billing this as the biggest comedy festival of 2020, mainly because everything else has been cancelled!’

Andrew Maxwell, who is also taking part, said: ‘These kids and their technology have given stand-up a new lease of life. It was weird and wonderful. It’s a totally unique way of interacting with an audience and I loved it! 

‘It was lovely to see everyone in their houses doing the same thing as me, and we were all having a laugh, and lord knows we all need a laugh right about now!’

The event kicks off on July 1 with Abandoman, followed by Stephen Bailey the following night.

Tickets go on sale today. For full listings and to book, visit: nextupcomedy.com/festival/

Published: 15 Jun 2020