Following an election year – with the country in turmoil – there’s only one comedian who can kill the mood even further… Nish Kumar – one of The Guardian and The Telegraph’s 50 Best Comedians of the 21st Century – is back on tour with his brand new politically-charged stand-up show, Nish, Don’t Kill My Vibe, with extra dates now added due to phenomenal demand. Expect jokes about climate collapse, income inequality and the emotional sensation of being a British Indian man who didn’t vote for a British Indian Prime Minister. Sweet, sweet vibe killing. As seen and heard on The Mash Report, Taskmaster, Pod Save the UK, Live at the Apollo, Hold the Front Page and your favourite tabloid newspaper. Presented by Plosive Live in association with PBJ Management.

Culture wars, the environment, British foreign policy and social justice: these are just a few of the topics that Jack spectacularly fails to address (or even mention for that matter) in his brand new show. Instead, for reasons known only to him, he doubles down on his fascination with the meaningless small things of life like Zoom protocol, what’s new in the world of radiators and the worst careers advice office in the world. Join Jack as he guides you through his varied life and career with his customary charm and well known gift for talking absolute rubbish on any given subject.

Through puppetry and animation, Handspring Puppet Company reimagine Faust's downfall and reframe the classic tale to confront colonialism and the climate emergency. Would you strike a reckless deal with the devil for power, pleasure or profit? Faustus in Africa! reimagines the timeless tale of Faust’s downfall, reframing it to confront the catastrophic costs of colonialism and the climate emergency. Directed by William Kentridge, this bold re-working of the Handspring Puppet Company’s multi-award-winning 1995 production combines puppetry with Kentridge’s celebrated animations. It follows Faustus on a reckless journey through greed and excess, set on an African safari. The haunting score, featuring Warrick Sony and the late James Phillips, ramps up the drama, while Handspring’s extraordinary puppetry (of War Horse fame) brings a surreal quality to the stage. Eleven years on from Ubu and the Truth Commission - praised for confounding all kinds of expectations’ (The Times) - Kentridge and Handspring return to the International Festival. With enduring relevance, 30 years after its original premiere, Faustus in Africa! explores the moral trade-offs and compromises that shape our world. Handspring Puppet Company William Kentridge Director, Designer & Animation Lara Foot Associate Director Adrian Kohler & Basil Jones Puppetry Directors from Handspring Puppet Company Enrico Dau Yang Wey Associate Puppetry Director Adrian Kohler Puppets & Set Designer Hazel Maree, Hiltrud von Seidlitz & Phyllis Midlane Puppet Costume Designers Simon Dunckley Special Effects Designer Robert David Macdonald Translator Lesego Rampolokeng Additional text James Phillips & Warrick Sony Music Wesley France Lighting Designer Tebogo Laaka Sound Engineer Cast Eben Genis, Atandwa Kani, Mongi Mthombeni, Wessel Pretorius, Asanda Rilityana, Buhle Stefane & Jennifer Steyn The 2025 version is produced by Quaternaire/Paris and restaged with support from co-commissioner Théâtre de la Ville/Festival d'Automne (Paris). Co-producers: The Baxter Theatre Centre at the University of Cape Town (Cape Town), Centre d'art Battat (Montreal), Cité européenne du théâtre - Domaine d’O - Montpellier / PCM2025 (Montpellier), Fondazione Campania dei Festival - Campania Teatro Festival (Naples), Grec Festival (Barcelona), Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brussels), Thalia Theater (Hamburg). There will be a post-show talk on 21 Aug. Post-show talks are an informal opportunity for you to connect further with artists. It will begin 10 minutes after the performance ends and is expected to last no more than 30 minutes. You are welcome to stay for as little or as long as suits you.

UK premiere Ancient Chinese myths inspire Huang Ruo's opera, confronting humanity's complex relationship with nature. A giant tries to capture the sun. A drowned princess seeks revenge on the ocean. Ten suns compete to light the Earth. Huang Ruo, one of the most exciting figures of contemporary opera, reimagines ancient Chinese myths, first transcribed in the fourth century BC, through the lens of today’s environmental challenges. This 21st-century adaptation explores our complex relationship with the natural world, blending music, puppetry and mythology to reflect on humanity’s role as caretakers of the Earth. Directed by Basil Twist, the Olivier Award-winning designer of My Neighbour Totoro, the performance features the Danish choir Ars Nova Copenhagen, joined by an exceptional ensemble of percussionists and puppeteers. With timeless myths of creation, water and elemental forces, Book of Mountains and Seas reminds us of the pressing need for a collective respect for nature. Huang Ruo Composer & Librettist Basil Twist Director & Production Designer Miles Lallemant Music Director Ayumu Poe Saegusa Lighting Designer Co-Produced by Beth Morrison Projects, The Big Sing, Ars Nova Copenhagen, and Soundstreams. Commissioned by Beth Morrison Projects, Ars Nova Copenhagen, Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech, Toronto Soundstreams, Koorbiennale, Hong Kong New Vision Arts Festival, and Linda and Stuart Nelson. There will be a post-show talk on 15 Aug. Post-show talks are an informal opportunity for you to connect further with artists. It will begin 10 minutes after the performance ends and is expected to last no more than 30 minutes. You are welcome to stay for as little or as long as suits you.

With over 100M views online see the longest running panellist from BBC Scotland’s “Breaking The News” live in his first national tour! Stuart Mitchell is now regarded as one of the UK’s top comedians and social media stars with over a 100M views online. You’ve seen him online and now you can see him on his first ever national UK tour, Tips Not Included. Join the longest running panellist of BBC Scotland’ Breaking The News as he shares his amazing life story.

Hey stagey friends! Hannah Lowther here - you might know me from TikTok, the West End, or for going viral in a Tesco uniform! Now I’m bringing my love for theatre straight to you with... How Very Hannah! This isn’t just a podcast - it’s a show, with backstage stories, games, public challenges & brilliant chats with guests from the stage & screen. From sharing my own industry stories to getting the inside scoop from fellow theatre lovers - this show’s all about the joy, chaos & magic of the stage. So warm up those vocal cords & let’s dive into the stagey world of How Very Hannah!

From one of the most exciting emerging new stars in the UK’s live stand-up scene,1994 is Edinburgh native’s Connor Burns third solo hour. A prolific joke writer, his Scottish-level cynicism and self-deprecation punctuates a disarmingly relaxed persona and an intelligent, razor-sharp wit. Connor’s burgeoning reputation as “one to watch” was cemented at the 2023 Fringe when he sold out his entire run two months before the festival started.