**Important Update**
Unfortunately Esther Manito has dropped out of the festival this morning due to illness.
We are delighted to announce Matt Richardson will now be doing a solo show at Milk at 5pm and the middle spot at Double Barrelled Brewery this evening will be filled by the fantastic Nathan Caton.
Nathan Caton
Nathan Caton excels in combining both personal, confessional material with up-to-date social and political anecdotes. This has earned him numerous TV and radio credits over the years and has made him one of the hottest headliners on the UK stand up comedy scene.
He has featured on Live at the Apollo (BBC One), Mock the Week (BBC Two), Russell Howard’s Good News (BBC Two), Live at The Comedy Store (Comedy Central), Eurogeddon (BBC Three) and was a finalist on FHM’s Stand-Up Hero (ITV4).
Matt Richardson
Being loud, brazen and a little bit lairy was all Matt Richardson needed to propel himself onto the comedy circuit aged 18 and be presenting national telly by 22. But faster than you can say ‘Celebrity Coach Trip’ he suddenly finds himself in his 30s, so what’s next for the lad?
High wattage stand-up’
As seen on Dancing on Ice, The Stand Up Sketch Show, Love Island: Aftersun (ITV2), Comedy Central’s Roast Battle and many more.
The Guardian
'Hilarious and Charming'
The Mirror
★★★★★ ‘One of the top comedians in Edinburgh this year’
Theatreweekly.com
Comedy at the Taproom Sunday Showcase 2026 - Sun 17th May
Unfortunately, Sara Pascoe can no longer make our show at Double-Barrelled Brewery due to filming commitments that have over run.
The show will feature performances from Zoe Lyons as seen on Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News for You and Mock The Week.
We have added award winning comedian Esther Manito as seen on ITV2’s Stand Up Sketch Show and Live at the Apollo to the line.
We are also delighted to announce that the wonderful Adam Kay will be headlining the show. Adam Kay is a multi-award winning comedian and author of (This is going to Hurt).
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Adam Kay
Adam Kay is a BAFTA-winning author, TV writer, comedian and former junior doctor. His first book, This is Going to Hurt, spent over a year at number one in the Sunday Times bestseller list, was translated into 38 languages, won numerous awards and sold over three million copies. He is also one of the country’s bestselling children’s authors, with titles including Kay’s Anatomy, the fastest selling kids’ non-fiction book of the decade. His children’s books have been translated into 32 languages and sold over a million copies.
"Painfully funny. The pain and the funniness somehow add up to something entirely good, entirely noble and entirely loveable."
Stephen Fry
"Rip-roaringly comic and seriously passionate"
The Standard
Zoe Lyon
Zoe Lyons has just finished a UK tour of her most recent show ‘Werewolf.’
She’s hosted BBC2’s Lightning and Live at the Apollo, and guest co-hosted Sunday Morning Live (BBC1) and The Frank Skinner radio show (Absolute Radio). Zoe has also been a regular on Have I Got News for You (BBC1), QI (BBC2), and Mock the Week (BBC2).
“Zoe Lyons has what it takes to delight any crowd”
The Guardian
Esther Manito
Esther Manito is Lebanese-British stand up comedian and winner of Best Show at the Leicester Comedy Festival.
After reaching the finals of So You Think You’re Funny and the Funny Women awards, her debut solo show led to an appearance on Live at the Apollo (BBC Two).
Only 3 tickets left for Rachel Fairburn's show at Reading Indie Comedy Festival 2026!
“Fairburn delivers…with sadistic glee”
Guardian
“Bold, brilliant and bewitching…Fairburn’s presence is commanding, thrilling and utterly addictive” ★★★★★
Broadway World
“Huge presence in a pint-sized frame" ★★★★
Chortle
“Bright, brave and bitterly enjoyable" ★★★★
The Skinny
“Gag-heavy, opinionated and smart" ★★★★
Funny Women
Matt & Esther's show at Reading Indie Comedy Festival 2026 is now SOLD OUT. Limited tickets might be available on the door if you arrive early and are lucky!
Due to extreme demand we have added 30 more passes for Reading Indie Comedy Festival 2026!
Individual tickets are also available for all your favourite comedians if you don't want to commit to the whole weekend.
Book now to avoid disappointment. :)
Kicking off Reading Indie Comedy Festival is the Reading Comedy Showcase!
A compilation show of Reading's home grown comedy talent at Reading biscuit factory. 🙂😎🦁
Thursday 14 May.
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A selection of the best established and emerging comedians from the Reading area.
All Brought to you by Stand and Deliver + Reading Indi Comedy Festival.
Doors 7pm. Show 8pm.
Lineup subject to change
Please be advised that you will need id to get into Reading Biscuit Factory.
Festival pass: £50
Advance - Reading Comedy Showcase ONLY: (£13.20)
Lineup subject to change. Timings may changes slightly as we finalise the festival schedule.
#rdguk
Reading Indie Comedy Festival will return in 2026 between the 14 - 17 of May.
The festival will comprise of 4 days of hilarious shows across Reading's independent comedy circuit.
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Thursday 14 May
8pm - Reading Comedy Showcase
8:30pm - Blank Peng: Accidental Death of a Communist
Friday 15 May
7:30pm - Reading New Comedian of the Year Competition 2026
8pm - Reading Indie Comedy Festival presents: David Anthony
8:30pm - Reading Indie Comedy Festival presents: Robert Moriarty
10:30pm - The Late Show: Abi Mohanty Tough Titties
Saturday 16 May
12pm - Reading Indie Comedy Festival presents: The Hat and The Tash Reloaded
1:30pm - Reading Indie Comedy Festival presents: Rachel Fairburn
3pm - Reading Indie Comedy Festival present: Harriet Kemsley
4:30pm - Reading Indie Comedy Festival present: TBC
6pm - Reading Indie Comedy Festival presents: Darius Davies
8pm - Special Saturday Show at The Pentahotel
10:30pm - The Haters Ball
Sunday 17 May
12:30pm - What's The Game Improv Reading Comedy Festival Showcase 2026
2pm - What's The Game Improv Reading Comedy Festival Showcase 2026
3:30pm - Reading Indie Comedy Festival present: TBC
5pm - Reading Indie Comedy Festival present: Esther Manito & Matt Richardson
8pm - Comedy at the Taproom Sunday Showcase 2026 with Headliner Sara Pascoe
#rdguk
We are so excited to announce the Blank Peng is attached to Reading Indie Comedy Festival 2026!
Her show will take place at Pentahotel on Thursday 14 May.
Book individual tickets for £5 or attend every show at the festival with a festival pass. :)
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History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as stand-up comedy.
When a communist falls, China calls it shame, Britain writes it into fame, and a comedian is taking the opportunity to make her name.
A hour show that outlived a revolution, one country's loss is another country's joke.
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Blank Peng is making her mark as one of the UK's most distinctive and compelling new comedy talents. She began her comedy journey performing stand-up in Mandarin before moving to London in 2022, committing herself to mastering comedy in English.
Her sharp observations on culture, identity, and everyday life have quickly garnered her industry recognition.
"Fresh and fiery"- BRITISH COMEDY GUIDE
"Lots of Love, she's brilliant"- JO BRAND
"A delightful presence with a cherry innocence that conceals a cutting edge" - CHORTLE
#rdguk
