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.

Sally-Anne Hayward: Uninvited (WIP)
2026 started with a new kitchen.
Then came the rats.
The woodworm heard about the rodents and thought they would pay a visit.
The foxes defecated on the doorstep and the trowel used to clean it up invited the flies in.
The garden lights, not wanting to be outdone, waited until the house was completely empty before tripping the entire electrical system. Repeatedly. With real commitment. The neighbours got involved. They couldn’t help.
The car found all of this so funny that it leaked oil all over the pavement.
The rats returned.
At the time of writing, 2026 is only three months in.

Bio:
Sally-Anne Hayward is an award-winning comedian and writer - winner of Best UK Compere 2019 and the Holsten Pils ‘Fans of Comedy’ Award. She regularly hosts at The Comedy Store and Glastonbury Festival, and has provided UK and international tour support for Sarah Millican.

She is ARIA-nominated for writing and performing on Tell Teresa for BBC Radio Ulster.
Other radio credits include Elephant in the Room, The Blame Game, and co-hosting a Breakfast radio show.
TV appearances include The Blame Game and Secrets of the Comedy Circuit.

… none of which, sadly, prepared her for any of this.

"Concealing an iron hand in a velvet glove" Chortle
"Sally-Anne Hayward has figured out her niche is filling that accessible naughty but niceness of early Sarah Millican... Whatever she's selling, we're buying; the pitch is so practiced, so elegant, so unobtrusive you'll struggle not to laugh." British Comedy Guide

Dane Buckley: Work in Progress
Dane Buckley is a fast-rising stand-up sensation and co-host of 'Welcome To Hell' podcast. Join him as he tries out some brand new jokes.The world’s only Irish, Indian, gay comedian… probably. Dane delivers his comedy effortlessly with cheeky charm and camp mischief.

He has supported Tom Allen and Rosie Jones on tour, performed on Comedy Central, BBC Three, BBC One and was a finalist for BBC New Comedy Awards (2024) and British Comedian of the Year (2024).


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.