Good Ship Comedy feat. Andrew O'Neill

ANDREW O'NEILL

Andrew O'Neill is an award-winning comedian,  musician and best-selling writer. A psychedelic non-binary whirlwind, they combine surrealism, polemic and good old-fashioned stagecraft to produce uniquely counter-cultural stand-up. Andrew has performed in over a dozen different countries, at over a hundred different festivals and is equally at home in rowdy comedy clubs as performing to their own cult following.

TV credits include Good Omens 2, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Spicks and Specks and Good News Week. Their own Radio 4 stand-up show Pharmacist Baffler won an award. A natural fit at music festivals, they have performed stand-up at Glastonbury, Download, Leeds and Reading, Bloodstock, Latitude, V-Fest and supported Amanda Palmer, Les Claypool and once even the Kaiser Chiefs at the London Palladium.

They are a founder member of the Victorian-obsessed punk band The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing, whose distinctive anachro-punk gained a cult following and besmirched the stages of music festivals worldwide. O'Neill has written and toured a shit-tonne of critically-acclaimed solo comedy shows, including Occult Comedian, Winston Churchill Was Jack The Ripper, MINDSPIDERS, Alternative, Andrew O'Neill is Easily Distracted and the current Andrew O'Neill's Black Magick Fun Hour.

“In their own extraordinary way, O’Neill is one of the most powerfully and radically political comics.” The Scotsman

“Their comedy shows are hilarious, wide-reaching affairs that have no peers.” Chortle

IAN SMITH

Ian Smith is a multi-award winning comedian, actor and writer as seen on Comedy Central Live - and heard on BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, The Now Show and his own comedy-documentary Girl Stuck in Basketball Hoop. He is the co-host of the Guardian-recommended Northern News podcast, alongside Amy Gledhill.

Ian’s seven Edinburgh Fringe shows have received critical acclaim, including a nomination for Best Show, an Amused Moose Comedy Award, ThreeWeeks Editors’ Award and transfers at Soho Theatre and international festivals. He has performed at New Zealand Comedy Festival twice, including a set at the prestigious New Zealand Comedy Gala TVNZ.

Ian is also a talented actor – starting off as a lead in BBC2 sitcom Popatron. He has gone on to star alongside Katherine Parkinson in Sky comedy Officially Special and have a leading role in BBC1 drama, The Ark– as well as a number of supporting roles including The Emily Atack Show, Siblings, Pls Like and BBC drama The Syndicate.

“A riot of sprightly silliness.” Chortle

“An effortlessly brilliant stand-up.” The Scotsman

DON BISWAS

Don Biswas is one of the gems of the circuit. A politically charged gag merchant who likes to cover a wide range of subjects including his Asian upbringing, his neurodiversity as someone with dyspraxia, ADHD, and ASD and even the most important of topics.. conspiracy theories. Don has gained huge admiration off all corners of the circuit.

Don is now a regular face in comedy clubs across the UK. Alongside that Don recently recorded a comedy special for BBC Radio 4 entitled ‘Neurotopical’ and has appeared on Radio 4’s 13 Million Club, Rosie Jones’s Boxticker as well as UKTV Digitals Rosie Jones’s Disabled Comedy Extravaganza and BBC Onlines Future Food Stars

“A phenomenal gag teller with an engaging stage persona.” Broadway Baby

AND YOUR RESIDENT HOST:

BEN VAN DER VELDE

One of the quickest wits around and a much-loved compere, he always brings a jam-packed back of nonsense, silliness and wisecracks to every gig he hosts.

"Wonderfully improvised riffs showcasing his impressive spontaneity and sharp tongue." Edinburgh Festivals Magazine

“The perfect comedy club host – he is a master of audience interaction. The audience weren’t just warmed up, but pretty hysterical even before the first act of the night hit the stage.”  Huffington Post