Good Ship Comedy presents Tom Ward

TOM WARD

Comedian, writer, actor, filmmaker and voice-over artist Tom Ward has made a name for himself in comedy since appearing as a finalist in the BBC Radio New Comedy Award, Leicester Square New Comedian Final, NATY Final, and winning the Chortle Award for Best Newcomer in 2017.  Placed somewhere in the comedy universe between the wondrous daftness of The Boosh and the Cockney Geezerprov of Terry Alderton, Tom is a hurricane of hilarious invention.

Tom has appeared on Comedy Central at the Comedy Store, Stand Up Central, and Roast Battles for Comedy Central as well as Live from the BBC, and is the host of In Your Personal Space, a hugely successful interview series on LadBible seen by millions. He also created, writes and performs in his podcast People Talk.

Tom’s provided tour support for Hal Cruttenden, Gary Delaney and Joe Lycett and next year will be joining jack Whitehall on an enormous arena tour!

“Fine jokes and star presence.” Time Out

“Staggeringly impressive.” The Herald

“Inspired whimsy.” The List

“Absolutely glorious.” Fest

NEIL MCFARLANE

Neil performs in locations across the length and breadth of the British Isles, attracting widespread concern, and has also entertained international audiences in places as far-flung as Tenerife, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Romania, the Czech Republic, the two Channel Islands you can actually get to, Florida, California and Kent.

“Really rather good.” The Times

“A clear ability to craft a gag.” Chortle

JOANNE MCNALLY

Joanne McNally, Ireland’s fastest rising comedy star, recently finished a national tour of her one woman sell out show Bite Me which was nominated for multiple Dublin Fringe Festival awards including Best Performer, Best Production and the First Fortnight Award.

Joanne burst onto the comedy scene in 2014 and, in less than a year in the business, became the newest co-host on RTÉ 2’s flagship comedy show Republic of Telly, co-wrote and starred in the stage show Separated At Birth, a comedy about her adoption, and sold out her first ever solo stand up show in Dublin. Since then she has gone on to perform alongside some of the biggest comedians in the business including Kevin Bridges, Dara O Briain, Rich Hall and Jason Byrne.

"Our most exciting new comedian." The Irish Times

"Hilarious, dark, edgy, strangely re-assuring." Irish Independent

IAN SMITH

Ian Smith is an award-winning comedian.

Ian has performed many critically acclaimed Edinburgh solo shows, as well as appearing in the award-winning “underground comedy hit of the fringe” (Guardian), ‘Waiting for Gaddot’. His 2015 show, ‘Whereabouts’ was nominated for the Amused Moose Comedy Award and received rave reviews (★★★★★ The Mirror ★★★★★ Three Weeks).

Ian is also one third of iTunes top-10-charting podcast, The Magic Sponge, alongside Rob Beckett and Jimmy Bullard.

“Fantastically funny.” The Times

“Proper star quality.” The Guardian

“You’d do well to catch him now before his inevitable jump to the big time.” The Telegraph

NEIL O'ROURKE

A regular finalist in a variety of new act competitions, Neil has a smart incisive wit, married to natural Irish charm that's making him one of the most enticing new prospects on the circuit.  Don't be fooled by his sweet, schoolboyish exterior - there is a powerful comic mind at work behind those eyes!

"Witty observations... appealing, anecdotal style." Chortle

"Whimsical... Evokes the spirit of David O'Doherty." Beyond the Joke

AND YOUR RESIDENT HOST:

BEN VAN DER VELDE

Freshly returned from the Edinburgh Festival, Ben is ready to take the helm at Good Ship once more and steer it through the vast ocean of comedy we have on offer.  One of the quickest wits around and a much-loved compere, he always brings a jam-packed back of nonsense, silliness and wisecracks to every gig he hosts.

"Sharp and crafty gagsmith, a life-giving compere." Chortle

"Wonderfully improvised riffs showcasing his impressive spontaneity and sharp tongue." Edinburgh Festivals Magazine

“The perfect comedy club host – he is a master of audience interaction. The audience weren’t just warmed up, but pretty hysterical even before the first act of the night hit the stage.”  Huffington Post