International Comedy Edinburgh Previews 2025

Event information

Every year we present a selection of the top shows warming up before heading North to the Edinburgh Festival. Your ticket entitles you to see both full shows for less than the price of one in Edinburgh.
NOTE EARLIER START TIMES and any CHANGES to advertised running order.
1st show starts 8pm, 2nd show starts 9.15pm.
Check www.downstairsatthekingshead.com for details of who's on tonight.

Cally Beaton Namaste Motherf*ckers

Namaste Motherf*ckers is the new show from Cally Beaton (QI, Live at the Apollo) - a quick-witted, unexpected and unapologetic insight into life in midlife. Combining Cally’s comedic and storytelling prowess with extracts from her provocative, stereotype-busting book of the same name, the show has at its heart her own story of radical reinvention – taking her from meetings in boardrooms to treading the boards, thanks to a chance conversation with the late, great Joan Rivers. A funny show about a deadly serious subject, Namaste Motherf*ckers is a celebration of and for the female of the species. Invisible no more.
Praise for Cally:
‘Spins tales like Aisling Bea, has the hair and strength of Pippi Longstocking, and the punk edge of Debbie Harry’ – Sally Phillips
‘Properly funny’ – Sandi Toksvig
‘Cally is a comedy queen – fiery, intelligent and totally original’ – Sara Pascoe
‘She’s sharp, straight-talking and the cool big sister I wish I’d had’ – Angela Barnes
‘I couldn’t find a single word to describe Cally so here are several: wry, warm, astute, hilarious, happifying, and – of course – utterly expialidocious.’ – Susie Dent
Stephen Carlin: Edinburgh Fringe/Glasgow Haircut

I told you this would happen. Goodnight America. That's where optimism gets you. Decades of Scottish pessimism and cynicism and finally we've been proved right. There's never been a better time to be alive. Armageddon is such a leveller. Now excuse me I'm off to microdose on ketamine. ***** (Herald). 'He’s a quality comedian. Recommended' (Kevin Bridges).

Important Notes:
Bills may alter at late notice - check on www.downstairsatthekingshead.com for any last-minute changes.
There is no reserved seating Downstairs. We can seat 70 and have 10 standing spaces. Your ticket guarantees entry, but if you want a good seat, please be with us by the advertised door opening time.
Please bring evidence of booking (i.e; your confirmation email). On phone is fine - save trees!
You can book tickets up to 6pm on the day of the show. After then, any remaining tickets will be sold on a first-come first-served basis on the door at the advertised “doors open” time.
Also please note that, as an intimate venue, we discourage large group bookings, so tickets are limited on this show to a MAXIMUM of 4 per person.
We want everyone to enjoy the show. Please don’t talk during the performance and ensure your mobile phone is turned off. You will be required to leave without refund if your behaviour is disruptive. No recording in any medium is allowed without prior permission.
Intoxicated persons will not be admitted.
The use of E cigarettes is prohibited
Note we do not allow food downstairs. If you are planning on eating upstairs before the show, please allow plenty of time to finish before coming downstairs.