Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival 2025

Established in 2016, Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival is the brainchild of Kevin Bland and Beth McGowan.

At nearly a decade young, the festival is building a name for itself on the comedy circuit as the place to be for up and coming comedians. Every year, alongside a line-up of bright young things, SIC Fest welcomes an established national act to compere the Gala Show.

The list of comperes in previous years has included major names like Joe Lycett, Russell Kane, Greg Davies, Dan Nightingale, Adam Rowe and Thanyia Moore.

The Gala Show 2025

In 2025, comedy fans can expect an evening of top-notch entertainment from six fantastic acts at the annual Gala Show, held at Theatre Severn on Sunday the 13th, compered by Scott Bennett.

About the MC

A stand-up comedian and writer who is ‘without doubt live comedy’s best kept secret’ according to The Evening Standard newspaper, Scott Bennett made his debut on Live at the Apollo in 2021 and has also appeared as a regular guest on BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, The Now Show, The Likely Dads and Elephant in the Room with Sarah Millican.

During the lockdown of 2020, Scott pioneered the viral hit Stand up from the Shed, a weekly topical live-streamed stand up show, from his actual garden shed. The show achieved national coverage in the press, Sky News, BBC News and Five Live. Scott’s tour dates sell out almost as soon as they go on sale and he is a firm favourite with audiences at SICF.

The Line-up

Lindsey Santoro

Birmingham-based Lindsey Santoro has emerged as one of the most original female voices to come out of the West Midlands. She enjoyed success at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023, winning Next Up’s Biggest Award in Comedy for the most outstanding show.

Naturally effusive and full of giddy joy, Lindsey made her TV debut on Mel Giedroyc’s: Unforgivable (Dave), Comedy Central Live and The Stand-Up Sketch Show (ITV2). Other credits include Channels 4’s The Joy of Missing Out and The Elephant in the Room with Sarah Millican on BBC Radio 4. Lindsey has been named on several ones-to-watch comedy lists.

Abandoman

Ireland’s finest hip hop musical comedian Rob Broderick, aka Abandoman, uses his trademark blend of audience interaction and razor-sharp improvisation to transform audience likes, loathes and daydreams into hit songs and captivating tales.

Abandoman has previously headlined comedy stages at Glastonbury, Latitude, Reading and Leeds festivals, been seen in Dictionary Corner in 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and toured with pop behemoth Ed Sheeran! The Stage magazine said of Abandoman: ‘Killer punch lines. Note-perfect, lyrically mind-blowing hip-hop. Improv genius!’

Cally Beaton

Cally Beaton is a keynote speaker, awards host, comedian, business leader, podcaster, writer and entrepreneur. Well-known for being a natural storyteller, full of intelligent, distinctive and insightful material, Cally is one of the UK’s most sought-after names for live comedy work.

Her television appearances to date include being a regular panellist on QI (BBC2), Live At The Apollo, Pointless Celebrities, Richard Osman’s House of Games and The Blame Game. Radio 4 appearances include The Now Show, The Unbelievable Truth, Saturday Live, Museum Of Curiosity, PM and Woman’s Hour.

Tez Ilyas

Described as ‘radiantly entertaining’ by The Times Tez Ilyas is one of the most celebrated entertainers in British comedy. Star of The Tez O’Clock show, he has appeared on Live at The Apollo (BBC Two), The Last Leg (C4), Mock the Week (BBC Two), Comedians Giving Lectures (Dave), Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled (Dave), Comic Relief’s Big Night In (BBC One), Live from the BBC (BBC Two), The Chris Ramsey Show (Comedy Central) and Live from the Comedy Store (Comedy Central).

He is also author of the 2022 Sunday Times Bestseller Secret Diary of a British Muslim Aged 13 3⁄4.

Troy Hawke

Described as ‘undeniably funny’ by Chortle, Troy Hawke is an erudite, home-schooled 1930s throwback, the Errol Flynn of the high street. Educated, but utterly clueless, he tackles modern issues head on in his unique, untimely manner.

Having gained popularity through viral social media videos, where he offers eccentric greetings and compliments to strangers on the street, the self-proclaimed founder of The Greeter’s Guild, which started with a non-consensual customer service shift outside TK MAXX, has led Troy all around the world, entertaining audiences at various comedy festivals and TV shows.

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More from Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival 2025

Comedians performing at the other festival venues around Shrewsbury over the weekend will include 90s legend Terry Christian, Ignacio Lopez, Mrs Smith, Nina Gilligan, Mick Miller, Cally Beaton, Stella Graham, Frankie Munroe, Dave Chawner, Michael Shafar, Josh Jones, and Sally-Anne Hayward.