Woolwich Works Unveils Autumn Comedy Lineup Featuring The Comedy Store Woolwich 2026

Key Points

• Woolwich Works launches its autumn comedy programme with two flagship stand-up events in September, bringing major comedy institutions and established headliners to south east London.
• The Comedy Store makes its venue debut at the Fireworks Factory on Friday 11 September, presented by Live Nation, with a second date scheduled for Friday 27 November.
• Inaugural Comedy Store line-up includes Dave Fulton, Markus Birdman, Lily Phillips, and Jimmy McGhie.
• Big Bill’s Comedy Night returns on Friday 18 September, headlined by award-winning comedian, writer, and broadcaster Shazia Mirza and hosted by Bilal Rashid.
• Subsequent Big Bill’s showcases are scheduled for Friday 23 October and Friday 20 November, featuring comics with credits on Live at the Apollo, QI, and Mock the Week.
• Family-friendly comedy events feature Darryl J Carrington’s Out of the Box on Sunday 25 October and Leicester Comedy Festival winner Olaf Falafel’s Stupidest Super Stupid Show So Far on Tuesday 27 October.
• Specialist and themed performances round out the season, including Brendan Murphy’s Buffy Revamped on Wednesday 28 October and the Scummy Mummies: Hot Mess show on Thursday 19 November.

Woolwich (South London News) August 15, 2026— Woolwich Works has announced a major expansion of its autumn entertainment schedule, positioning comedy at the centre of its cultural programming with two high-profile stand-up events taking place in south east London this September.

What Is Included in the New Woolwich Works Autumn Comedy Programme?

The cultural venue will initiate its seasonal lineup on Friday 11 September with the inaugural presentation of The Comedy Store at the venue’s Fireworks Factory space. Organised in partnership with Live Nation, the event marks the first time the established comedy brand has hosted a dedicated night at the Woolwich venue.

The initial performing roster for the opening night features four acts from the national and international touring circuit: Dave Fulton, Markus Birdman—who reached the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2023—Lily Phillips, and Jimmy McGhie.

A second edition of The Comedy Store featuring a revised roster of performers has been scheduled for Friday 27 November.

Following the opening night, Big Bill’s Comedy Night will return to the venue on Friday 18 September.

The evening is headlined by British comedian, writer, and broadcaster Shazia Mirza, whose television credentials include appearances on QI, Have I Got News for You, and The Jonathan Ross Show.

The performance will be hosted by comedian Bilal Rashid, with additional supporting acts expected to be confirmed.

How Will Emerging Stand-Up Talent Be Featured Throughout the Season?

The venue’s commitment to developing comedy talent continues across October and November through further editions of Big Bill’s Comedy Night. Monthly showcases are scheduled for Friday 23 October and Friday 20 November, with lineups selected by host Bilal Rashid.

The roster will comprise emerging performers alongside established acts whose broadcasting credits include Live at the Apollo, QI, and Mock the Week.

In addition to performing stand-up, Rashid has developed a reputation within the industry for curating comedy nights that highlight cutting-edge and darker comedic styles.

Which Family and Themed Shows Are Scheduled for October and November?

Beyond traditional stand-up formats, the autumn schedule incorporates specialized family programming and solo theatrical comedy shows.

On Sunday 25 October, performer Darryl J Carrington presents Out of the Box, a family-focused performance drawing on two decades of physical comedy and clowning experience. The production arrives in Woolwich following acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe, where it secured five-star reviews and was named Best Family Show.

During the school half-term break, performer Olaf Falafel—winner of Best Kids’ Show at the 2024 Leicester Comedy Festival—will present Olaf Falafel’s Stupidest Super Stupid Show So Far on Tuesday 27 October. The interactive children’s performance incorporates live illustration, prop comedy, and absurd narrative elements.

On Wednesday 28 October, actor and comedian Brendan Murphy presents Buffy Revamped, following its latest run at the Edinburgh Fringe. The award-winning one-man parodic performance encapsulates all 144 episodes of the 1990s television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer within a single evening performance.

The autumn comedy series concludes on Thursday 19 November with a performance by comedic duo Helen and Ellie, who bring their new live production, Scummy Mummies: Hot Mess, to the venue.

The show addresses topics ranging from menopause to contemporary social dynamics through stand-up and sketch formats.

Commenting on the expansion of the seasonal schedule, Nick Williams, Director of Woolwich Works, stated that comedy has consistently formed an essential element of the venue’s core mission, noting that the upcoming autumn season represents a notable step forward for the organisation.

Williams added that the objective of bringing a nationally recognised comedy brand to Woolwich, alongside established talent and emerging performers across various genres, is to ensure audiences can dependably access diverse comedic entertainment throughout the autumn months.

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Background of the Woolwich Works Cultural Development

Woolwich Works is a major multi-disciplinary arts center located within the historic Royal Arsenal district in Woolwich, South East London.

Formally opened as part of a multi-million-pound urban regeneration initiative led by the Royal Borough of Greenwich, the complex repurposed several Grade II and Grade II* listed historic military buildings—most notably the 18th-century Fireworks Factory—into modern performance spaces, rehearsal rooms, and community facilities.

Since its launch, the venue has operated as a key driver for cultural regeneration in South East London, designed to decentralise London’s arts infrastructure by offering West End-quality performances, music, theater, and comedy outside the traditional central London cultural hubs.

The integration of high-profile external partners, such as Live Nation and The Comedy Store, reflects the venue’s broader strategy to establish permanent regional homes for national artistic brands while providing space for local and emerging creative talent.

Prediction: How This Development Will Affect Audiences and the Local Area

The expansion of the Woolwich Works comedy programme is expected to impact several distinct groups across the regional cultural and economic ecosystem:

• Local Residents and Arts Audiences: Residents of Woolwich, Greenwich, and wider South East London gain direct access to premier comedy franchises and nationally recognized performers without needing to travel into Central London, reducing transport costs and improving local access to high-profile live entertainment.
• The Local Night-Time Economy: Increased footfall from evening shows—particularly high-capacity weekend events hosted at the Fireworks Factory—is likely to generate measurable secondary expenditure for local hospitality venues, including pubs, bars, restaurants, and transport links surrounding the Royal Arsenal precinct.
• Emerging Comedy Talent: The continuation of resident nights like Big Bill’s Comedy Night provides an essential platform and pipeline for up-and-coming comedians, allowing rising acts to perform alongside established TV personalities in front of larger, dedicated theater audiences.
• Families and Young Audiences: Dedicated half-term and weekend matinee programming ensures that local families have accessible, affordable artistic engagement options tailored to younger demographics during school holiday periods.