Ropery Hall News

Join Mark as he tries out some brand-new material!

Sony and Writers’ Guild Award-winning writer and comedian, Mark Steel is best known for his critically acclaimed BBC Radio 4 show Mark Steel’s in Town.

Mark has presented the BAFTA-nominated Mark Steel Lectures for BBC Two and is a regular on BBC One’s Have I Got News for You and BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz. He has also written several acclaimed books including Reasons To Be Cheerful and What’s Going On. He has also written an adaptation of his critically acclaimed stand-up show Who Do I Think I Am for Audible which was released in 2021.

Mark has recently recovered from throat cancer and has just released his book The Leopard in My House about his experiences over this rather tough time.

“He’s a man with a passionate desire to communicate his ideas, who is also very funny”  The Guardian

“Steel’s rapier wit cuts to the chase” The Observer

“Excellent standup” The Times

Patrick Monahan – I’m not a terrorist, I’m Freddie Mercury
Since coming to England from Iran in 1980, if I had a £1 for every time someone called me a terrorist, I’d have enough money to run my own terrorist organisation.

I’ve more in common with Freddie Mercury than Hezbollah.
I’ve had visas turned down, extra checks & restricted access.
I’ve 60mins to prove I’m not a terrorist.

“His kind of funny is an irresistible force” 4* Scotsman (Kate Copstick)
“has his audiences in stitches from the off.” 4.5* One4Review
“Patrick Monahan is clever, very funny and hugely likeable” 5* Scottish Field

Simon Evans is Back! Waaaay back…

With growing evidence that we are living in a Computer Simulation – and a pretty glitchy, off-brand simulation at that – and the approaching watershed of the AI Singularity looming like a weirdly pixelated cumulonimbus on the horizon, BBC Radio 4 stalwart and veteran of a quarter century of highly acclaimed stand-up comedy Simon Evans is squinting at an uncertain future, and revisiting the blue remembered hills of his youth.

The analogue world of hitch-hiking, pub bets and hedge porn. Of being able to get properly lost. And also pondering the great thinkers and mystics of the past who had, it seems, the same doubts and misgivings about “reality”, back when an adjustable sandal passed for cutting-edge tech.

NB Any similarity of Doll in package to Patrick Stewart is coincidental. No refunds.

”A masterclass” ***** (The Scotsman).
“Outstanding” –  ****½ (Chortle.co.uk).
“Dynamite” – **** (The Times).

Award-winning radio host, stand-up powerhouse and entertainment machine Charlie Baker returns to the stage with his brand new show: GO GET IT.

You may know him from his roles in Eastenders and Dr Who, or indeed from The Last Leg, Parenting Hell and winning on House of Games. He’s perhaps best known as a presenter on talkSPORT and Virgin Radio, but onstage Baker shifts into a different gear entirely. Expect a full-throttle entertainment experience, packed with sharp observations, infectious energy and a performance that barely pauses for breath.

You’ve heard the voice. Now see the chaos.

GO GET IT.

‘In a world that sometimes feels like it’s short on good-natured humour, Charlie Baker is a true master of his craft’ ★★★★★ (Reviews Hub)

14+ Strong Language

Mark Thomas celebrates 40 years at the mic. In that time he has changed laws on tax, jailed arms dealers, kick started a comedy circuit in Palestine, given evidence before three Parliamentary select committees and has taken the police to court three times and won. The world’s moving far too fast to predict what the content will be but it is the normal stuff of government and personal mayhem, expect jokes, rants, politics, swearing, staring into apocalypse and possible nudity as he emerges from large cake singing happy birthday mr president.*

*Cake correct at time of publication.

Join Mark as he tries to turn “what the fuck is going on” into a cogent hour of stand up.

Please note this is an Edinburgh warm-up show which lasts one hour. 14+ only

Join us for a wonderful night of comedy with our regular Barnstormers compere and three comedians from the national circuit