Welcome to Leith Comedy Festival!

Comedy for good. Laughter for all.

Hello and welcome!

Leith Comedy Festival is a social enterprise with a mission. We exist to inspire and create opportunities for the community of Leith through the universal language of laughter.

We are interested in laughter in all its forms. From side-splitting stand-up to family-friendly shows and interactive workshops, our varied programme of events is a celebration of the different types of laughter.

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Throughout the year, we produce individual comedy gigs that showcase the funniest comedians around, with a spotlight on the incredible talent in Scotland. In June, we love being involved with Leith Festival. In August, we handpick the finest visiting comedians so you can see the best of The Edinburgh Fringe right here in Leith. Shows feature TV names, global sensations and emerging local talents.

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In collaboration with other local social enterprises and charities, we host events that go beyond the stage. From comedy performance workshops with the Citadel Youth Centre to designing comedy shows and looking at the benefits of laughter with young people at The Junction, we believe in using laughter as a catalyst for positive change.

The story so far...

Our journey has not been smooth. The original plan for a weekend festival in October 2020 faced the unforeseen obstacle of a global pandemic. Undeterred, Leith Comedy Festival navigated through the challenges and ever-changing restrictions, creating one event at a time, using perseverance and a massive dose of creative thinking.

The pandemic meant that normal rules didn’t apply, and it was necessary to reinvent the plan to get people laughing, at a time when people needed it most. A Beer Yoga class with Projekt 42 connected people online with a drink and a stretch. Once restrictions were lifted, a comedy tour with Invisible Cities guided us through the streets of Leith as we cautiously ventured outside. This was also filmed and live-streamed for those who were unable to join us on the live tour.

Once indoor events became legal, Leith Comedy Festival staged what most people thing of first for comedy, standups with a microphone on a stage. "Leith Comedy Festival Presents..." was headlined by the likes of Christopher Macarthur-Boyd, Josie Long, and Larry Dean. Those shows have continued throughout the year ever since.

In October 2023, we eventually got to put all the events together into one fantastic weekend. At the moment, we have taken a step back from production to work out the best way forward in a world that looks very different to when Leith Comedy Festival was planned. One thing we can promise is laughter in Leith soon.

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Looking forward to seeing you soon!