REVIEW: Comedy4Kids at Komedia, Brighton, Saturday 17 October
The gig started off strong.
Richard Sandling, a loud, energetic and chaotic compère to Comedy 4 Kids, held at The Komedia this weekend, bounded on stage and told everyone with an-almost straight face that this was “stand up but without the rude bits”.
A beat, then: So I won’t say things like: “wee, bum, poo and poo face”. Laughter, everywhere.
Poo face then became the running gag. Kids falling off their seats with laughter as he continuously told the audience he would definitely NOT say “poo face”.
Then, a bit on Easter: why there are no huge Cadbury’s Creme eggs. One kid yelled out “they do them in Asda,” Richard, bewildered and gutted: I MISSED THIS?! The child, cruel in her timing, answered: “I think, so anyway”. More laughter, unbeatable timing.
This was the first stand-up event I had taken my daughter to. She’s 11 and just started secondary school so, almost too cool for everything. But she exploded in fits of giggles at Poo Face and loved every second.
But I think that the ideal age for this event is really primary-school age. My son is eight and he would have loved all of this.
Second act, Callum Stratford, an Australian ex-supply teacher who uses music in his act, was brilliant at engaging with the kids.
A duel with a recorder, a song about being hated as a supply teacher -which had us falling about in reminiscent laughter- and my favourite, Ed Sheeran (“he’s had a tough couple of weeks”, he quipped) performing “Thinking in Silence”.
Callum was great in his deadpan delivery, but also in the way he engaged with the kids. Yes, he did gt them all to say 6/7 to fits of laughter. Yes, he did chase one kid around the stage with a Scream mask on. It was brilliant fun, and not patronising at all.
Last act of the day was Darryl Cannington. Darryl won Best Family Friendly Show at the Brighton Fringe with his hit show Out of the Box.
This was a silent performance, with tea bags, toothbrushes, small dogs and acrobatics. Not a word spoken.
I was chosen to go on stage and be part of the act, much to my daughter’s delight. I don’t want to give too much away about the act but it was brilliant, really great fun.
And the thing about the act is we were all there with him. When he decided to try and balance on his box on a tube and a plank of wood and attempt to throw a toothbrush in a cup balanced on his head, the audience was on tenterhooks. I’ve never cheered so loud as I did when he mastered that.
And this is the thing about the comedy club. It’s silly, it’s funny, it’s fun and it’s engaging. We loved it, everyone loved it.
But don’t worry if you missed out. TheComedy Club 4 Kids lot will be back on 12 December at Komedia.
Details
Event title and venue Comedy Club 4 Kids, KOMEDIA
Dates: (Next one)12 December, 2026
Venue:
Tickets: Available here
Accessibility: Customers who need the support of a companion can get one free ticket with their
purchased ticket. Wheelchair accessible – but call ahead. Disabled toilet, assistance animals welcome. Braille menus available. More information here.
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