Comedy and Theatre in Brighton: Where to Book

For comedy and theatre in Brighton, start with Komedia on Gardner Street for weekend stand up, the Theatre Royal for touring plays and musicals, Brighton Dome for big name comedians and festive shows, The Old Market in Hove for the clever, odd and brilliant, and Brighton Little Theatre for proper community theatre. In October the Brighton Dome Comedy Festival, run this year with Komedia, takes over both venues. Listings here were checked in October 2026; shows sell out, so book early for anything at the weekend.

Komedia, Gardner Street

The city's home of stand up, in the middle of North Laine at 44 to 47 Gardner Street. Komedia runs the Komedia Comedy Club every Friday and Saturday at 8pm, doors at 7pm, with a mixed bill that is the most reliable good night out in town. Around it you will find cabaret, drag, kids' shows and music. In December it runs Komedia Christmas Parties on 3, 4 and 5 December if your office needs somewhere to misbehave. Duke's at Komedia, the younger sister of the Duke of York's cinema, is part of the same operation, so a film and a show can share an evening.

Brighton Dome Comedy Festival

From 16 to 25 October 2026 the Brighton Dome Comedy Festival is back, and for the first time it is working with Komedia, so shows run across both. Friday 23 October alone has Nish Kumar in the Concert Hall from £29.50, Katherine Ryan in the Corn Exchange from £44 and Dan Tiernan in the Studio Theatre from £19. Big names, three rooms, one weekend: plan your evening like a festival.

Theatre Royal Brighton

Grade II* listed and entertaining the city for more than 218 years, the Theatre Royal is the place for touring plays, musicals and talks. The Haunting of Hill House plays until 24 October, Lenny Henry brings Still At Large on 26 October, Elif Shafak talks on 27 October and Horrible Histories takes over from 29 to 31 October for half term. Six arrives from 1 to 5 December. Backstage tours run from 24 October 2026 to 27 March 2027 if you want to see the building with the lights up. Book through ATG Tickets.

Brighton Dome

Outside festival time, Brighton Dome runs theatre, circus and performance across the Concert Hall, Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre. December is especially good: Circa's Duck Pond, for ages 5 and up, runs from 23 to 28 December; Ceilidh the Musical is in the Corn Exchange from 15 to 20 December; and Brighton's Big Drag Pageant (18 plus) is on 10 December. The Brighton Gay Men's Chorus puts on A Merry Christmas Murder in the Concert Hall on 12 December.

The Old Market, Hove

On Upper Market Street, The Old Market programmes comedy, theatre, cabaret and music, and its taste runs smart and a little left field. This week has Michael Spicer bringing his show Hope All's Well on 24 October, with limited tickets left when we checked. It is the kind of venue where you book for one show and end up on the mailing list for life.

Brighton Little Theatre

Brighton Little Theatre makes its own productions and runs training and bursaries alongside them. Its Christmas show this year is Peter Pan, J M Barrie's story adapted by Evan Placey with songs by Vikki Stone, from 12 to 19 December 2026. Cheap, cosy and a lovely alternative to a big panto.

A note on Christmas pantos

Brighton is not the panto town it once was. We could not find a 2026 panto listed at the Theatre Royal, which has Six in early December instead, so families after a Christmas show should look at the Dome's December programme and Peter Pan at Brighton Little Theatre.

How to plan a comedy or theatre night

• Friday and Saturday comedy at Komedia sells out: book on the Monday.
• The Theatre Royal, the Dome and Komedia are all within a few minutes' walk of each other, so dinner in North Laine works for any of them.
• The Old Market is in Hove, a short bus ride west along the coast, so allow for travel.
• Prefer a screen to a stage? CINECITY, the Brighton Film Festival, runs from 6 to 15 November 2026 across the city.
• Pre show drinks: the Hope & Ruin on Queens Road is on the way from the station.