Good Ship Comedy presents Paul McCaffrey

PAUL MCCAFFREY

Star of Live at the Apollo, Comedy Central’s Stand Up Central and CBBC’s The Dog Ate My Homework, Paul is renowned as one of the most effortlessly funny, likable and accessible comics on the circuit.  

There are few acts more adept at crystallizing everyday frustrations and pedantry into room-rocking routines, so it's no surprise that he's now entertaining some of the biggest theatres and arenas in the country! 

He is also an award-winning comedian (Latitude New Act of the Year, London Paper New Act of the Year) and headlines at the biggest comedy clubs in the country. He has performed four critically acclaimed Edinburgh shows as well as major music festivals: Reading, Leeds, V Festival, Bestival and Latitude. More recently he supported Michael McIntyre, Sean Lock and Kevin Bridges on tour.

“Born to be a comic.” The Scotsman

“The relaxed, assured confidence of a stadium filler.” Chortle

“Charm, charisma and success written all over him.” Evening Standard

“A total natural, his storytelling is utterly unique and never anything less than gut-bustlingly hilarious.” GQ

SOPHIE DUKER

Sophie Duker is a bombastic black sheep whose favourite things include breaking hearts, taking names and telling jokes with the confidence of a cis straight middle-class white man.   Her Edinburgh Fringe Show 2019, Venus, saw her nominated for the Best Newcomer award and gained critical acclaim and five star reviews. Sophie will be performing Venus at the Soho Theatre in October-November.

Since being shortlisted for the Funny Women award in 2015 her career trajectory has been meteoric, appearing on 8 Out of 10 Cats, Mock the Week and Frankie Boyle’s New World Order. She is a completely unique, outstandingly smart and subversively smart comic who is about to become your new favourite stand-up...

“Laugh-out loud funny.” The Telegraph

“A sparky proposition.” The Independent

JOE HOBBS

Although very new to the world of stand-up comedy, Joe is already proving himself to be quite the baby-faced assassin, having appeared in the prestigious So You Think You're Funny Final and winning the Amused Moose Breakthrough Award at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe.  Since then he's grown even more as a comic (no pun intended, but he is also a mahoosive 6 foot 9, a fact which he wrings all the excellent, original jokes out of.)  He's a warm, charming presence, an adept storyteller and has a keen eye for an unexpected punchline.  We reckon he could well be a superstar in the next few years.  Come watch the story begin right here...

"Joe Hobbs felt like a pro comedian the moment he stepped into the spotlight...he performs with skill and irony... man of the match for me." Chortle

"Joe Hobbs is a playful, witty newcomer who keeps the audience guessing and the laughs coming." Rhod Gilbert

SARAH CALLAGHAN

Sarah Callaghan is an award-winning comedian and writer who has taken the comedy scene by storm with her frank and fearless style.  

In 2014 she was named as ‘One to Watch’ by Time Out and in 2015 she took her critically-acclaimed debut hour show Elephant to the Edinburgh Fringe. A confessional exploration of escape and ambition, Elephant played to packed houses and received great reviews across the board.  Sarah was widely heralded as an exciting new comedic voice, a status cemented by her Malcolm Hardee Award nomination for ‘Act Most Likely To Earn A Million Quid’. She also appeared on E4’s Virtually Famous as a guest on Seann Walsh’s team.  Elephant subsequently toured to the prestigious Soho Theatre for a run of shows in 2016, again to acclaim, and then on to the Perth and Sydney Comedy Festivals in Australia.

Since then she has grown into a formidable act: punchy, smart and never holding back in the search for the next hard-hitting punchline.

"A powerhouse. She’s an utter natural on stage… radiates confidence."★★★★ Chortle

"Fiercely impressive and quite stunning." ★★★★ The Scotsman

CASPIAN JAMES

After first performing stand up in the well-known comedy hot spot of Chengdu, China, Caspian has been telling jokes in front of audiences in the UK since 2017. He has written material for BBC Radio 4 and 4 Extra, won ‘The Blackout’ at Up The Creek and performed 25 days in a row at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. With a style based on whimsical jokes with unexpected punchlines, he is one to watch on the comedy circuit.

AND YOUR RESIDENT HOST:

BEN VAN DER VELDE

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