The Marlowe Shares Updated Schedule for Comedy Festival

As well as individual acts, the Canterbury venue's Marlowe Theatre will host the popular Live At The Marlowe, while The Marlowe Studio has sneak previews of eight Edinburgh Fringe comedy acts.

The festival kicks off on Monday 23 July in The Studio, with Adam Hess and Kiri Pritchard-McClean. As seen on Tonight At The London Palladium, Hess is known for his surreal and fantastically funny one liners. Pritchard-McClean has written and performed on The Russell Howard Hour and has toured as support with some of the biggest names in comedy, including Rob Brydon and Sarah Millican. She has recently won two Chortle awards.

Tuesday 24 July welcomes Darren Harriot and Jamali Maddix, two exciting comedians with plenty to say. Edinburgh Comedy Festival Award Newcomer nominee, Darren Harriot is a regular on Mock The Week (BBC Two) and Live At The Apollo (BBC Two). Jamali Maddix is a critically-acclaimed comedian and host of Viceland's Hate Thy Neighbour. Currently embarking on his first world tour, Maddix brings his honest and unflinching material to the stage at The Marlowe Comedy Festival.

Storming the stage on Wednesday 25 July is celebrated comedian and writer for BBC Radio 4's The Now Show, The News Quiz and Frankie Boyle's New World Order, Catherine Bohart. She is joined by Kieran Hodgson, one of the most inventive comics on the circuit, who has appeared at The Marlowe before in his five-star rated show, Maestro.

Thursday 26 July sees the last of the comedy acts in The Studio: Ivo Graham and Alfie Brown. Apologetic Eton and Oxford alumnus, Graham is a former winner of the So You Think You're Funny award for new acts at the Edinburgh Festival. He's now a regular feature on shows like Live At The Apollo and Mock The Week. Brown's natural stage presence and explosive material make for a thrilling performance every time he hits the stage.

Thursday continues to be a big day for laughs as the festival hits The Marlowe Theatre with Adam Buxton's BUG David Bowie Special. Incorporating music videos, rare clips, animations and comedy, it's a show that like Bowie himself, is by turns inspiring, moving and hilarious - a must see for Bowie and comedy fans alike.

Our hugely popular regular night of comedy, Live At The Marlowe, returns on Friday 27 July with Reginald D Hunter, Joe Wilkinson, Zoe Lyons and Andrew Maxwell. Hunter is a US stand-up superstar known for his ground-breaking and sometimes controversial social commentary on the UK. His many TV appearances include Have I Got News For You and his own BBC 4 documentaries. Hunter has toured to sell-out crowds across the UK and at The Marlowe for almost a decade now.

After more than 10 years on the circuit, Zoe has risen to prominence thanks to appearances on Mock The Week. Her first major UK tour is planned for this autumn. Described as a "delightful oddball", Wilkinson is best known for his chaotic appearances on Channel 4's 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and his role in BBC3's acclaimed sitcom, Him & Her. Maxwell is a globe-trotting Irish comic, who now lives in Kent. He's headlined shows around the world and at his own annual Alpine festival, Altitude.

Omid Djalili takes to the stage on Saturday 28 July with his new show, Schmuck For A Night. Intelligent, sometimes provocative and always entertaining, his stand-up is a hugely energetic and captivating comedy masterclass. His credits range from Hollywood to television and live on the West End stage.

Austentatious ends the festival on Sunday 29 July. An improvised comedy play, it stars a cast of the country's quickest comic performers who conjure up a new and unique "lost'" Jane Austen novel based on nothing more than a title suggested by the audience.

The Marlowe's Comedy Producer Ben Travis said the festival has been a long time in the planning and he was thrilled to announce the line-up, which includes some of the biggest names in comedy.

He added: "I know that the people of Kent have a great sense of humour and are big supporters of comedy, so I can't wait to hear the sound of laughter filling our building for a whole week at the end of July."

The Marlowe Comedy Festival is programmed in partnership with Show And Tell, one of the UK's leading comedy producers.

For times, ticket prices and to book, call the Box Office on 01227 787787, or marlowetheatre.com. Please note, some shows contain adult themes and language.

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