About this Event

Leading up to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival we are hosting the very best and exciting acts in Stand-up Comedy.

A Bunch of Japes is a night for comedians to try out new material so if you love stand up comedy this is the night for you!



Appearing tonight we have Bilal Zafar and Eshaan Akbar.



Bilal joined the company of previous winners such as Joe Wilkinson, Ardal O’Hanlon, Stewart Lee and Linda Smith when he came top of the bill at last year’s New Act of the Year Awards at the Bloomsbury Theatre. In 2015 he was the runner up at the Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian of the Year competition, and has previously written about his faith for The Independent.

‘…witty and absorbing…highly entertaining. I look forward to whatever Zafar cooks up next’ Dominic Maxwell, The Times

‘delivers some big laughs’ Brian Logan, The Guardian

‘fascinating and hilarious in equal measure’ Ian Jones, i-D

‘Zafar really delivers on the absurdity of an escalating social media farce running in parallel with growing prejudice and tensions, joyously exposing the stupidity on all sides’

★★★★ Ben Venables, The Skinny

‘endearing, relaxed and naturally funny…hilarious’ ★★★★ Emily Phillips, EdFest Mag



Eshaan Akbar - PICCADILLY COMEDY CLUB

NEW COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR 2016



Since starting performing comedy in 2014, Eshaan Akbar has:​

been in the finals of "So You Think You're Funny" and "Laughing Horse"

been tour support for Dane Baptiste and warm-up for Micky Flanagan and Hal Cruttenden

performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, Latitude, Brownstock and other festivals.



Acts are subject to change, but we will find somebody equally as awesome to fill in.