What Kind of Comedy Shows and Comedians Can I See at Comedy Carnival?

Comedy Carnival's programme is built around international stand-up comedy club nights, with line-ups that feature TV comedians and touring acts, plus occasional cabaret showcases. The main stand-up nights run Thursday, Friday and Saturday at its Covent Garden venue, with prices starting from £10–£15 depending on the night. If you want a specific performer, check the individual show listing rather than assuming a fixed resident line-up, because the bill changes night to night.

The main format: international stand-up club nights

The core show is described as an "international stand up comedy club night." These are the Thursday, Friday and Saturday bookings at Seven Dials Club in Covent Garden, and they follow a familiar club structure: a compere (MC) hosts, with several acts performing across roughly a two-hour slot.

From the listings shown on the site, a typical night looks like this:

Two things are worth noting from this. First, the same acts can appear across multiple nights in a run, so a weekend visit may feature a similar core line-up with variations. Second, the MC is a named act in their own right (Travis Jay in these examples), not just a host — the compere usually performs a set as well.

Who you might see: TV names and touring comedians

The club positions its acts as "TV stars from Live At The Apollo, Comedy Central and acclaimed, international stand up comedians." In practice, that means a mix of:

• Recognisable TV comedians — performers who have appeared on shows like Live At The Apollo or Comedy Central, which is the main draw for many bookers.
• International touring acts — the "international" framing is deliberate; line-ups include comedians from outside the UK circuit.
• A resident-style MC anchoring the night.

The named acts in the sample listings (Dane Baptiste, Russell Hicks, Dana Alexander, Olivia Lee, Sezar Alkassab, Bobby Mair, Dion Owen, Josh Baulf, Mary Bourke) illustrate the range: some are established TV faces, others are rising or circuit regulars. Because bills rotate, the honest answer to "who will I see?" is: check the date you're booking.

Beyond stand-up: Cabaret Carnival

Not every show is a stand-up club night. The site also lists Cabaret Carnival at Phoenix Arts Club — an "international cabaret showcase" with a mixed bill of cabaret and variety performers, hosted by an MC (Marcel Lucont in the example listing). It runs at a different venue and a higher price point (from £35 in the listing shown), and the format is a showcase rather than a stand-up club night.

If you're choosing between the two:

• Want stand-up, multiple acts, club atmosphere, lower price → the Thursday–Saturday Covent Garden nights.
• Want variety/cabaret, a more theatrical setting, willing to pay more → Cabaret Carnival.

Seasonal and party formats

The site also promotes a Christmas party package combining a comedy show, three courses and Prosecco. This is a different product from a standard ticket — it's a group/event booking rather than a night out for one or two people. If you're organising for a group, that's the relevant page; if you just want tickets, use the standard show listings.

How to check who's on before you book

1. Go to the What's On section and pick your date.
2. Open the individual show listing — each one names the line-up, the MC, the venue, the start and end time, and the "from" price.
3. Confirm the venue, since shows run at more than one location (Seven Dials Club in Covent Garden, Phoenix Arts Club for cabaret).
4. Book via the ticket link on that listing.

The key caveat: line-ups are subject to change, and the site presents acts as billed at the time of listing. If a particular comedian is the reason you're going, it's worth confirming closer to the date.

Quick answer by intent

• "I want a reliable Saturday night comedy club in central London" — the Covent Garden stand-up nights, from £15 on Saturdays.
• "I want to see comedians off the telly" — likely, given the Live At The Apollo / Comedy Central framing, but confirm the specific date's bill.
• "I want something other than straight stand-up" — Cabaret Carnival at Phoenix Arts Club.
• "I'm booking for a group/Christmas" — the show + three courses + Prosecco package.