London has no shortage of comedy clubs, but there’s something undeniably special about watching some of Britain’s funniest people perform beneath the open sky. This summer, for the very first time, Somerset House’s spectacular Fountain Court will swap orchestras and open-air cinema screenings for belly laughs as Laughterama makes its highly anticipated London debut.
Already a huge success in Manchester, the five-day festival arrives in the capital from 29th July to 2nd August, transforming one of London’s most iconic cultural landmarks into an open-air comedy destination. Produced by live entertainment company 57, the festival promises more than a series of stand-up gigs. It’s a carefully curated celebration of modern comedy, bringing together household names, cult favourites and the next generation of comic talent across seven specially programmed shows.
At a time when comedians have never been more visible through podcasts, streaming platforms and social media, live comedy remains one of the few art forms that simply can’t be replicated through a screen. Every unexpected crowd interaction and perfectly timed punchline belongs to that moment, shared between performer and audience, and that’s exactly the experience Laughterama is built around.
Rather than giving audiences one headline act, each show features a handpicked bill of comedians spanning the breadth of contemporary comedy. From razor-sharp observational stand-up and surreal storytelling to ventriloquism and wonderfully absurd performances, every evening has been designed to surprise. It’s a format that not only brings together some of the biggest names in British comedy, but also gives audiences the chance to discover their next favourite comedian.
The line-up is one of the strongest comedy bills London has seen this summer. Across five days, audiences can expect performances from Ross Noble, Josh Widdicombe, Dara Ó Briain, Sara Pascoe, Phil Wang, Tom Allen, Nick Mohammed, Ed Gamble, Fern Brady, Tim Key, Sam Campbell, Bridget Christie, Nina Conti, Rosie Jones, Michelle de Swarte, Ivo Graham, John Robins and many more, alongside an exciting wave of emerging talent shaping the future of British comedy.
Somerset House has long played host to concerts, exhibitions and open-air cinema, but this marks the first time its historic courtyard has welcomed a stand-up comedy festival. Combined with boutique food and drink offerings, an intimate open-air atmosphere and a carefully curated programme, it promises to be one of the capital’s standout cultural events of the summer.
Ahead of the festival’s inaugural London edition, I caught up with sibling founders Cass Randolph and Will Briggs to discuss bringing Laughterama to Somerset House, curating one of the UK’s most exciting comedy line-ups, and why there’s never been a better time to experience live comedy.
Somerset House is hosting a stand-up comedy festival for the first time, so what made it the right venue for Laughterama?
Will: We spend a lot of our lives looking for spaces that feel special before you’ve even put a comedian on stage. Somerset House has that in abundance. The Courtyard is one of those rare locations that feels iconic and grandiose yet intimate. Having enjoyed the big cinema and music gigs there in the past, we could immediately picture our comedy shows storming it. It felt like the perfect opportunity to bring something new to a venue that’s already synonymous with great cultural experiences.
Having built such a strong reputation in Manchester, was there a particular lesson from that festival that shaped your approach to London?
Cass: The biggest lesson is that audiences are far more adventurous than people often give them credit for. In Manchester, we’ve always mixed established names with newer acts and trusted audiences to come along for the ride. What we’ve found is that people love discovering somebody they’ve never seen before. That’s something we’ve carried into London. The best comedy nights are the ones where you leave talking about the act you weren’t expecting.
The line-up combines major names and emerging talent, so how do you strike that balance?
Will: It’s probably the part we obsess over most. The big names help get people through the door, but the future of comedy depends on giving brilliant newer acts a platform. We’ve always tried to build line-ups that feel like a great playlist rather than a greatest hits album. You want recognisable names, but you also want surprises. Ideally, our audiences leave feeling they’ve had both.
With the programme spanning everything from stand-up and storytelling to ventriloquism and absurdist comedy, was it important to showcase the breadth of modern comedy?
Cass: Absolutely. Comedy is incredibly broad at the moment and that’s one of the reasons it’s so exciting. Stand-up remains at the heart of what we do, but audiences increasingly embrace all sorts of different forms. Some people want razor-sharp observational comedy, others want complete nonsense involving a puppet. Thankfully, modern comedy provides both. We wanted the programme to reflect that variety.
London already has a thriving comedy scene, so what space did you feel Laughterama could fill?
Will: London has fantastic comedy clubs and theatres, but there are surprisingly few opportunities to experience comedy at festival scale. We weren’t looking to replace anything. We wanted to create something that complements what’s already there. The chance to watch a world-class comedy bill outdoors, in a spectacular setting, with a drink in hand and hundreds of other people laughing alongside you feels like a very different experience.
Rather than giving headliners their own full-length shows, you’ve opted for curated multi-act bills. What do audiences gain from that format?
Cass: Variety, pace and discovery. A great mixed bill has a rhythm that’s difficult to replicate elsewhere. Every act brings a different energy and perspective, so the audience is constantly surprised. It’s also incredible value, which feels very relevant at the moment. On any given night, you’re seeing several top-tier comedians rather than just one. That’s always been central to our festivals: more comedy bang for your buck.
Somerset House’s Fountain Court is a unique setting, so what kind of atmosphere are you hoping to create?
Will: We want it to feel like a summer comedy festival dropped into the heart of central London. Relaxed, welcoming and buzzing with energy. One of the things we’re most proud of across all our events is creating an atmosphere where audiences feel part of something special. The Courtyard already provides an extraordinary backdrop. Our job is simply to fill it with laughter.
As many of the acts have built huge audiences through TV, podcasts and streaming, has that changed what people expect from live comedy?
Cass: I think it’s made people more engaged. Audiences now arrive feeling like they already know the comedians, which creates a connection before anyone has even walked on stage. But live comedy still offers something you can’t get from a screen or earpods. It’s unpredictable, immediate and completely unique to that moment. That’s why people keep coming back. Absolutely nothing beats live.
If the festival is a success, do you see Somerset House becoming a long-term home for Laughterama?
Cass: We’d certainly love that. We try not to get too far ahead of ourselves because live events have a habit of keeping you firmly focused on the next challenge. But we’d be delighted if this became the start of a long-term relationship. Somerset House is a remarkable venue and we think comedy belongs there.
Looking across this year’s line-up, which act do you think audiences will be talking about most once the festival is over?
Will: That’s a dangerous question because we’ll inevitably upset somebody. The honest answer is probably not the act people expect. Often, there’s a comic who absolutely steals the show and sends audiences rushing to tell their friends about them. That’s one of the joys of festivals. The headliners will be brilliant, of course, but my money is usually on the comedian whose name audiences didn’t know when they arrived.
For more information, visit Laughterama at Somerset House.
Words by Ama Samra
