THE BITTER FRINGES

It is that time of the year again. While many are heading to Edinburgh for the festival the rest of us are staying behind to enteraint you. The Bitter Fringes is a series of stand up and comedy shows by new and local commedians, testing out their stuff before they head to Scotland or just trying their hand at a full show for the first time. Some are too scared to go, some are too lazy and most simply can’t afford the flight. So come on down and help them live their showbiz dreams if only for a night.

THIS YEAR…

Miami Nice, Ciaran Franco and Luke McGibbon Thursday 31st July 7.30pm.

If you've seen stand up in Northern Ireland in the last 10 years you've probably seen Luke McGibbon onstage at some point, bringing the energy and personality of an unemployed town crier. Luke has been on TV (stand up at the sunflower) and performed at the ulster hall and waterfront hall.

Ciaran Franco quickly establishing himself on the Irish comedy scene with his off-the-cuff, bumbling observational style. He has supported notable comedians such as Chris Kent, Paddy Raff, and Peter McGann. In August 2022, he performed a joint show titled ‘Speakeasy’ at The Sunflower, selling out back-to-back shows before taking it on the road to Newry. Following that, Ciaran had his first sold-out solo show, ‘Mooncat,’ in July. He has also made notable appearances on the BBC New Comedy Awards, reaching the semi-finals in 2024. More recently, he has played at highly regarded venues like Lavery’s Comedy Club and The Empire.

Chicken Box at Bennigan’s Accidental Takeover. Sunday 3rd August 7.30pm.

Chicken Box is Derry's only weekly comedy club. It's been a stage for up and coming stand-ups and established comedians since 2018. Winner of promoter of the year at Northern Irish Comedians awards 2025, Chortle UK luminaries of lockdown and Foyle Pride Helen Harris Freedom award.  Rory McSwiggan is a great believer in the power of stupidity, especially his own. He's delivered naive surrealism to audiences for over 20 years in street theatre, stand-up and improv. He has gigged across the UK and Ireland and hosts the Triple award winning Chicken Box Comedy.

Line up: Ciaran Flanagan, Mike Carlisle, Kat McKnight, Charlotte Tee, Leeann Toland, Sorcha Shanahan, Fintan Harvey, Danny Kelly, Mustafa Saed and Darren McCay.

Three Men and a Mic. Wednesday 6th August 7.30pm

Three comedians. One mic. Absolute chaos. Comedy comes in threes—and Conall Rimes, Daniel Quinn, and Martin Barkley are the three heads of the dragon behind Belfast’s own Manic Comedy Club. They’ve been making a name for themselves at gigs across the country, and now they’re bringing the madness to Accidental Theatre. Three Men and a Mic — one night only. Don’t miss the mayhem!

Three’s a Crowd Pleaser, Heather Anderson, Jay Fitzsimmons and Meghan Halpin. Saturday 9th August 3.00pm.

Three of the best alternative comics on the scene. This is a show not to be missed for fans of the surreal, this show will be bursting with big fem queer energy!

Accidentally Irish, Wafa Daldoul, Jo Jarvie and Roleen Conn. Saturday 9th August 7.30pm.

After a 12-year hiatus, Jo Jarvie returned to the comedy scene with a vengeance, crafting hilarious anecdotes that resonate with audiences. She was the first-ever English person to place in Ireland’s history at “Show Me The Funny”. A runner-up in the competition, Jo is known for her high-spirited performances and unapologetically dirty jokes. A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and a devoted West Ham United fan, Jo brings a unique blend of theatrical flair and football fanaticism to her comedy. Her fearless approach to stand-up has earned her accolades and a growing fan base. Come on the journey of what you learn when it all goes wrong! “Watch out for Jo Jarvie, she’s funny, fearless and funny as f**k”- Dapper Laughs “Jo is a great act with a great stage presence and delivers hilarious material”- Phil Chapman “Cockney chats with Belfast bite”- Paddy Raff

Hi I’m Roleen Conn! I’m a proudly South African & a stand-up comedian based in Belfast. With a background in theatre and years of experience in educational performance, I’ve always loved being on stage. After feeling stuck in the world of acting, I finally took the leap into comedy in March 2025. I did my first set at the PAV, and since then it’s been a fast and thrilling ride. I’ve performed all over Belfast and even taken my set to Boston, including a show at Harvard The Comedy Studio. Comedy has completely captured me. It’s all I think about and all I want to do. Making people laugh and giving them a moment of joy and escape is the most beautiful thing I can imagine. I’ve always done that offstage, but now I get to do it with a mic in hand and I’m completely hooked. I’m working hard to grow, write, and become the best comedian I can be. It’s been a Wild ride but finally finding a community that has the same fire in them has been an absolute gift the friendships & adventures are just magical I couldn’t imagine doing anything els this is my calling my passion my dream & I’m so greatful I get tell my stories & they happen to make people feel seen & laugh, what more could a girl want! 

Constance Jordan, Stroke of Luck and Margo Carr, Me and My Drum. Sunday 10th August 3.00pm.

Constance Jordan has been doing out of the box comedy for 22 yrs. She has been through hell & came back with a microphone. After surviving a major stroke, she found the funny in recovery, grief & the weird stuff no one wants to talk about. Her comedy is dark, honest & unexpectedly uplifting-just like life!

Margo has been a comedian for longer than she can remember. She should be more famous but what ya gonna do Death Kids Cancer and advertising keep her going and inspired to make others laugh. Delighted to share the bill with Queen Constance.

Derry Boys, Darren McCay and Max Roddy. Sunday 10th August 7.30pm.

Derry men McCay and Roddy bring there big Derry energy and stroke city justice to Accidental.

Campbell, McKnight and Minson, Get a Clue. Wednesday 13th August 7.30pm.

Comedy babies David Campbell, Kat McKnight and Tiff Minson do there first 30 minute shows and try and solve the mystery or the missing material.

Craic’s 90: Game show with James Downey. Thursday 14th August 7.30pm.

Belfast’s hardest working comic James Downey brings his Craic’s 90 gameshow to Accidental. Watch comics try there hand at Countdown, Would I lie to You and more.

Buck wild! Friday 15th August, 7.30pm

Buck Wild - Weird Wonderful Whackos It's gonna be a night of tomfoolery, as Belfast's weirdest bring their wildest, whackiest stories on stage. Hijinks will ensue as this isn't your normal comedy show, with twists and turns along the way!

We Put the Ick in Autistic! Sunday 24th August, 3.00pm

Newcomer Sam Mc Vea Mc’s his first show bringing together NI’s best neaurodivergent comic’s. Featuring Martin Barkley, Lauxley, Angela McGregor, Jay Fitzsimmons, Conall Rimes and Ross Mitchell.

STIR -BAN A -CRAZY, Eamon McElwee and Ronan Boyle. Sunday 24th August, 7.30pm

Eamon McElwee is one of the best comedians on the circuit and can most usually be found in his natural habitat - The Boiler Room, Strabane, where he acts as Boyle’s (less than) glamorous assistant of sorts - think a meth-ridden Debbie McGee to Boyle’s Paul Daniel’s. In his fourth year of comedy he has already released his debut solo show, Hot Mess, to fantastic review and toured it across the NW. Eamon has played regularly with all the top acts on the circuit and has played pretty much everywhere from The Empire to Stendhal festival.

‘Eamon McElwee is so funny he makes me shit my pants’ Micky Bartlett ‘One of the very best new comedians on the scene’ Paddy McDonnell ‘Sublime. Like a wild Irish poet. One of my favourite Irish comedians’ Paul Currie ‘Wan of them comedians ye have to listen to’. Cyril, Donemana.

Known for his comedy page The Strabanter, Comedy play Orange is the new Green, and co-host of the Big Massive Podcast. Ro Boyle is fast becoming one of the best new comedians on the NI circuit. He runs two of the best clubs around with the Boiler Room, Strabane and the Cosh, Derry. Ro has supported some of biggest acts in the country, touring with Mickey Bartlett, Ciaran Barlett, Conor Keys, Paddy Raff and Paddy McDonnell. Ro is a regular at Lavery's Comedy club and has performed in top venues like the Empire, and Millennium Forum. Ro did a run of his first one hour special (sold out). Touring the NW, which won him comedian of the year 2023.

“There are people you’re supposed to meet in your life…and Ronan Boyle is one of mine…AND he’s funny as fuck!" Micky Bartlett "Ro is fast becoming one of Tyrones best known comics" Ulster Herald "He has comedy gold in that bake of his.. Not many comics have that!" Paul Currie "Ro Boyle fu*king Smashed it. Haven't laughed as much since I seen Tommy Tiernan at Vicar Street" Ryan Kelly (All Folk'd Up) "Is a full hour listening to Ro Boyle a hate crime under the Geneva Convention?" Brian Forbes (unknown punter)

Sizable Chunks, Peter E Davidson Edinburgh Preview, with Cianran Flanagan and Paddy McGaughey double bill. Saturday 6th September, 7.30pm

Peter E Davidson is a writer, actor and comedian from Derry, Northern Ireland. As a stand-up he is the regular MC at 'Laughs@TheLoft' comedy club in Derry. He has been a guest on BBC Radio Ulster's  'The Blame Game' and 'Live At The Sunflower With Shane Todd.' He has performed six solo runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with 'Guns N' Rosé (2017),' 'Fopical (2018),'  'Peeved (2019)',  'Sleepyhead' (2022) , '#BigDerryEnergy' (2023).' and 'Manifest Density' (2024). He also wrote and performed an online special during lockdown entitled '2020 Vision.'Peter also MC'ed and curated at the Fringe the 'Northern Irish Comedy Protocol (2023).' A showcase for the latest Northern Irish comedy talent.As a writer Peter has written sketches for BBC NI, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio 4 Extra as well as having a sitcom in development at Radio 4. He was selected for the prestigious BBC Comedy Writersroom programme in 2020.

The legendary Paddy McGaughey! Has been performing for 25 years, supported acts like Patrick Kielty & Tim McGarry on tour and played all the big rooms – Grand Opera House, Millennium Forum, and … even the GAA Hall in Rasharkin. He’s been running The Braid Comedy Club in Ballymena for 15 years so expect wit, warmth, and wild crowd chat.

More shows to be announced…

Show Info

In-Person

Venue: 12-13 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast, BT2 7DB

Access: Directly from Shaftesbury Square

Performance(s): Various

Doors: Early shows 3.00pm BST, Late shows 7.30pm BST

Starts:  Early shows 3.30pm, Late 8:00pm BST

Age Guidance: 12+

Run Time: 2+ Hours

Disabled Access: Theatre (ground floor) is fully accessible. Toilets & Book Bar (1st floor) are accessible via a wheelchair platform lift please not The book Bar will not be open and this is a BYO venue Carer tickets available: Call 028 9032 5881 to book.

Online

These shows are not available to stream.

*The Book Bar is our charity bar, run to help support Accidental & the new building.

Ticket Info

Please book a ticket per person watching to avoid viewing issues.

£10 WATCH IN-PERSON TICKET - a standard ticket that gives you in-person access to watch the show in the theatre.

£15 - DONATION TICKET - a special ticket that gives a little extra to the exceptional and hardworking artists creating the show.

FRINGE PASS- this ticket gives you access to several shows throughout the festival. Select a pass for 3, 6 or 9 performances.