carl donnelly tour

Carl Donnelly

• Wed 11 Sep London, Sai Punjabi Cuisine Carl Donnelly Carwyn Blayney, Lewis Bryan View tickets
• Thu 12 Sep Hertford Corn Exchange Hertford Comedy Club Mark Simmons, Carl Donnelly, Lily Phillips, Jake Farrell View tickets
• Fri 13 Sep Sevenoaks, Dunton Green Social Club Out Of Bounds Comedy Club Sevenoaks Carl Donnelly, Richard Morton View tickets
• Mon 7 Oct London, The Comedy Store Stand Up For Animals | Charity Comedy Night Lou Sanders, Tom Ward, Carl Donnelly, Jessie Cave, Alasdair Beckett-King… View tickets
• Sat 19 Oct Bishops Stortford, Water Lane United Reform Church Laughing Bishops Comedy Club Paddy Lennox, Carl Donnelly, Jenny Collier, Tom Wrigglesworth View tickets
• Sat 2 Nov Bristol, Hen & Chicken Carl Donnelly Andy Field, Jeremy Flynn View tickets
• Fri 29 Nov Kettering, The Lighthouse Theatre The Best in Comedy Sara Pascoe, Jen Brister, Paul McCaffrey, Carl Donnelly View tickets

January 2025

• Fri 24 Jan Radlett Centre Live at the Radlett Jen Brister, Rhys James, Carl Donnelly View tickets

Carl Donnelly image © Dominic Marley

Carl Donnelly Comedian

Award winning stand-up comedian, podcaster, actor and writer..

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Reformed - Short Film

Carl Donnelly

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Carl started performing stand-up regularly in 2005 and quickly established himself as one of the most exciting new comics climbing the comedy ladder. His conversational style and silly sense of humour have seen him win a host of awards and become a regular act and MC at clubs all over the country (and the world having also performed in France, Germany, Singapore, The Netherlands, Oman, Dubai, Ireland and probably some others he has forgotten about!).

Awards & Competitions

'Best Newcomer' Nominee at the 2009 Edinburgh Comedy Awards (Formerly the Perriers)

'Best Breakthrough Act' Nominee at the 2009 Chortle Awards

Winner of ‘Best Newcomer’ at the 2007 Chortle Awards

Winner of Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year 2007

Winner of Laughing Horse New Act of the Year Competition 2006

Winner of Reading Comedy Festival New Act of the Year 2005

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Carl Donnelly: Boosegumps

Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

It’s been five years since Carl Donnelly was last at the Fringe and much has changed. He’s now a middle-aged stay-at-home dad splitting his time between London and Australia. 

He also, during the pandemic, discovered that he had been mistakenly living as a bald man for five years, although most of that stuff doesn’t feature particularly heavily in his new show, which is one part fatherhood, one part reflecting on his career, and about seven parts maintenance of the groin area as a man in your 40s.

While a few of his observations on topics such as polyamory or doctors’ receptionists may have been doing the rounds for a while during his absence, it’s not really an issue for Donnelly, any appreciation of whom must begin with his personal style. The man is just such good company: so gentle, witty and urbane without being remotely unapproachable. 

His comic warmth could fill the Sydney Opera House – and actually has done just last year while supporting Kevin Bridges in one of the bigger gigs of his life. Given his natural companionability, it’s not surprising that he was one of the first UK comedians to get into podcasting; he started out in the mid-2000s at the same time as Adam and Joe, and has been going ever since.

The back half of this show is dedicated primarily to extended stories about ball-hair removal and his first prostate exam, the latter a conscious mirroring of a Billy Connolly routine that was influential to him as a kid. In Donnelly’s hands, as you’d expect, it’s a buttery smooth storytelling experience carrying a gentle admonishment to take care of ourselves better and treat ourselves well.

Never one for unnecessary dramatics, Donnelly tells us that his ‘message’ for this show is that he’feels  quite chill in middle age’ and that he is ‘mentally well’.

What a welcome and sweet change of pace from the Fringe’s perennial production of maladies and complaints, and emblematic of Donnelly’s work – feelgood in the most unforced way possible.

Review date: 15 Aug 2024 Reviewed by: Tim Harding Reviewed at: Pleasance Courtyard

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Carl Donnelly

Award-winning London-based stand-up comedian and writer, who began his comedy career in 2004.

Donnelly made his debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2006 with a three-man show called 'The Good, The Bad and The Cuddly'. Other tours include: 'Now That's What I Carl Donnelly Vol 6'.

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Edinburgh Fringe

Carl donnelly: boosegumps.

• Comedy (stand-up)
• 9pm (60 mins)
• 1-13 & 15-25 Aug
• Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
• £11 - £13

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The most chilled comedy survivor of his generation gives us an update. He's happy, he's had health scares and those intrusive thoughts are leading him astray. Masterful stand-up with the lightest of touches.

Carl used to spend the Fringe in a haze of booze, narcotics and award nominations. He's now a married, middle-aged father with recurring stomach ulcers, a bald patch and recently purchased some anti-leakage boxer shorts. Oh god. Nominated for both the Best Newcomer and Best Show in the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, he's appeared on Mock The Week , Russell Howard's Good News , and was Kevin Bridges tour support. 'Observational genius' (Guardian). **** (Herald Sun). **** (Scotsman). ***** (Skinny). ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). **** (Chortle.co.uk).

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CARL DONNELLY (UK) - GLOW UP

• Comedy - Stand Up

UK Comedian Carl Donnelly returns to Sydney looking and feeling great – which is surprising considering he’s officially hit middle age and has had a tough couple of years. 

Join the two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee for an all-new show about ageing, intrusive thoughts, becoming an unofficial Australian and much more! 

Carl has appeared on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala as well as a host of other television shows and recently supported Kevin Bridges on his Australian and New Zealand tour. Come on down! 

'Intelligently hilarious… right up there with the best.' Herald Sun 

'A bringer of delight.' ★★★★ The Scotsman 

'Observational genius.' The Guardian 

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Home   What's On   Article

Carl Donnelly: ‘I had to make an executive decision to stop compering’

Audiences in the Cambridge area can look forward to not one but two upcoming appearances by stand-up comedian Carl Donnelly as part of the Anglia Comedy series of comedy nights.

The first of these will be on Saturday, September 16, at Burgess Hall in St Ives, where Carl will perform alongside Chris McCausland, Harriet Kemsley, and Josh Weller – although this line-up is subject to change.

Carl, a two-time nominee for the Edinburgh Comedy Award, says: “It’s a mixed bill show so everyone’s doing slightly shorter [sets], and probably for the best actually, because I’ve just come back from Australia with the show I’m doing in Edinburgh, which is an hour about my dad passing away – so I think I’ll save the people of St Ives having to go through that!

“I think it’s just going to be a fun night of everyone doing different stuff.”

The experienced writer and comic quit his day job in 2007 to focus on comedy full time, after only doing it for less than two years.

On those due to join him on stage in St Ives, he says: “That’s a great line-up. Chris McCausland started out probably a tiny bit before me but he’s really blown up in the last year or two, and he’s just announced he’s doing a tour show at the Apollo so you’re getting him in a ‘hot’ period.

“The rest are quite an eclectic bill, in that they’ve got very different styles, like Harriet’s really silly and funny, and Josh, out of all the newer people coming through in the last few years, is really cool.

“He’s got a music background so a lot of his stuff is about coming from the music industry. He was in quite a successful band – a world-touring band – and then it all sort of fell apart, so he’s got a really interesting backstory.”

Carl, a fan of Vic and Bob and The Fast Show growing up – he also really likes Addy van der Borgh and Phil Kay – is set to take on hosting duties for the evening.

“I’ll just probably be messing around with the audience quite a lot,” he says. “I used to compere a lot; when I started out that’s sort of how I learnt to do comedy really… I’d never done any performing or drama or any of that stuff – some comics have got some acting background.

“But for me I just fell into it and quite early I worked out that I was quite a natural at talking to the audience and feeding off them to make up stuff, and that’s how I started making a living from it really, because I was new and clubs saw me chatting to the audience and it going well and they asked me to then come back and host.

“That meant I was suddenly getting booked on professional bills that I probably had no right to be on really, considering how long I’d been going…

“It was something that I did loads, but then I actually knocked it on the head a bit because I found that I was doing too much of it and it was slightly affecting my writing.

“I knew if I was gigging one month and most of it was compering, I didn’t have to write new material because I’d probably just be making it up with an audience – so I had to make an executive decision to stop compering.

“I stopped for quite a few years, then the last two years I started doing it again a bit, just out of curiosity because I hadn’t done it in so long – I thought I was losing that sort of muscle memory – and just remembered how much I loved it.

“Then I’ve gone back and started compering some of the places, like The Comedy Store, and places that I came up doing – and I just love it again. I love that thing of just seeing where it goes when you start chatting to the audience.”

The second upcoming Anglia Comedy date to feature Carl will be at The Leys in Cambridge on Saturday, October 21. Also on the bill for that gig will be Marcus Brigstocke, Rachel Parris and Tom Ward .

It appears we’re quite lucky to be seeing so much of him... “Obviously it’s quite close, I’m in London, but I don’t really leave London that often nowadays,” he says.

“I tend to leave it for big chunks – like I go to Australia for a few months, or Edinburgh, but I used to be on the road all the time.

“But since the pandemic, and since I had a child, I now am such a home bird. I tend to gig in London the majority of the time so it’s quite rare to be out for one-off gigs that close together.”

Catch Carl Donnelly at Burgess Hall, St Ives, on Saturday, September 16, and/or at the Great Hall at The Leys, Cambridge, on Saturday, October 21.

[Read more: Hal Cruttenden to headline The Best in Comedy at The Maltings in Ely ]

Both shows are part of the Anglia Comedy nights, which are put on throughout the region. For tickets, visit angliacomedy.com . For more on Carl, go to carldonnelly.squarespace.com , or check out his Instagram page.

• Edinburgh Festivals

Edfringe Comedy Review: Carl Donnelly: Boosegumps

You would be forgiven for thinking, having read the title of Carl Donnelly’s new show, that it was somehow spooky. That’s my thought at least- as well as one of my fellow audience members who says just before Carl comes on: “I hope it’s not too scary!”.

We’re both mistaken as it happens. The show has nothing goosebump, nor boosegump, inducing about it. It’s simply a guy, with a mic, telling stories of how well he’s been doing. Carl is a fringe vet. This year will be his 18th festival appearance, he tells us. Maybe this is why he just wants to be chill and think about the good things in life. Then again, maybe that should be credited to his recent move to coastal Australia.

Regardless it’s nice to have a stand up seem at his ease on stage. It’s a thoroughly cool, calm, and collected set which speaks to his years of experience. The show isn’t even particularly bothered to have a theme or narrative arc. Carl is quite comfortable just to meander through his material at his own pace. Perhaps the only point recurrent enough to qualify as partial theme for the show is the comic’s body and personality changes approaching middle age. It’s popular with our audience and I warm to him too, particularly in the second half of the performance where he finds a bit more oomph (I’m not trying to make him sound geriatric. He’s only in his 40s, I promise he’s just very chilled).

His remembrance of an old Billy Connolly prostate exam bit once told on tour across Australia in the 70s, which he got to replicate himself, feels fitting for the perspective this year’s show offered. That of being a comedian with nothing left to prove coming back yet again, for no other reason than he can, and that he still loves telling jokes.

Carl Donnelly: Boosegumps, Pleasance Courtyard, 21:00, until August 25.

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/carl-donnelly-boosegumps

Latharna Imlah

Latharna is an MA Journalism student at Napier University. This will be her second year reviewing Fringe shows, after loving it last year. She's hoping to give even more 5 star reviews this time around!

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Carl Donnelly | Glow Up

Join the crew at Good Chat Comedy Club for an hour with hilarious UK comedian, Carl Donnelly!

Carl Donnelly returns to Brisbane looking and feeling great – which is surprising considering he’s officially hit middle age and has had a tough couple of years.

Join the two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee for an all-new show about ageing, intrusive thoughts, becoming an unofficial Australian and much more!

Carl has appeared on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala as well as a host of other television shows and recently supported Kevin Bridges on his Australian and New Zealand tour. Come on down!

‘Intelligently hilarious… right up there with the best.’ Herald Sun

‘A bringer of delight.’ ★★★★ The Scotsman

‘Observational genius.’ The Guardian

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Carl Donnelly – The Dead Dad Show

Show type: Edinburgh Fringe 2023

Starring: Carl Donnelly

Have you heard that the three most stressful life events are bereavement, moving house and divorce? Well, funny story. Last July, Carl’s dad died the night before he was due to move. Join this multi-award winning London comedian (as seen on Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central, Mock the Week and more) as he unpacks the worst month of his life (since his divorce that is). 'Donnelly can provoke laughter out of almost anything' (Scotsman). 'Intelligently hilarious… genuine and heartfelt… right up there with the best' **** (Herald Sun).

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This comic also appears in:.

Best of Leicester Comedy Festival Tour 2009

The Good, The Bad, And The Cuddly

Hotel D'Comedie

Laughing Horse new act final 2006

Leicester Comedy Festival Preview Show 2008

Twitter Comedy Night

Comedy Zone [2007]

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