Comedy royalty is coming to Reading this autumn as Alexei Sayle hosts Stand Out Stand Up, a one-night-only event featuring some of the sharpest and funniest names in the business.
The show takes place at The Hexagon and will raise funds for the Slapstick Festival, the UK’s leading celebration of classic and silent screen comedy.
The festival aims to ensure the artistry of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Laurel & Hardy and their contemporaries continue to be celebrated and enjoyed by new generations.
Who is on the Stand Out Stand Up line-up?
Alexei Sayle – the godfather of alternative comedy
Best known as one of the original trailblazers of Britain’s alternative comedy movement in the 1980s, Alexei Sayle is a comedian, actor, and writer whose biting satire helped redefine stand-up.
He was the original MC for The Comedy Store when it opened in Soho in 1979. It was here he met Rik Mayall, Ade Edmonson, Nigel Planer, Peter Richardson, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, leading to the creation of the new wave of alternative comedy that took over the airwaves.
From his anarchic role in cult sitcom The Young Ones to acclaimed radio and television series, including the seminal comedy series Stuff, Sayle’s influence on British comedy is unrivalled.
His latest show is Alexei Sayle’s Imaginary Sandwich Bar, and episodes can be heard on BBC Radio 4.
His sharp political wit and trademark deadpan delivery continue to inspire generations of comedians, and he is also an author.
He will be the compere for Stand Out Stand Up.
Stewart Lee – master of intelligent stand-up
A firm favourite with critics and audiences alike, Stewart Lee is celebrated for his meticulous, thought-provoking comedy.
Known for his acclaimed BBC series Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle and stand-up specials such as Content Provider, Lee’s style blends irony, repetition, and sharp social commentary.
His ability to deconstruct both comedy and culture has cemented him as one of the UK’s most original stand-up voices.
He is also author of several books, including How I Escaped My Certain Fate, March of the Lemming, Content Provider, and The Perfect Fool.
Stewart can be heard as a guest on Armando Iannucci’s Strong Message Here show, broadcast on BBC Sounds.
No doubt, his jokes will be making people laugh at Stand Out Stand Up.
Shazia Mirza – fearless and funny
Shazia Mirza is a British comedian and writer whose bold and fearless humour tackles politics, identity, and modern life with wit and insight.
She has appeared on Would I Lie To You?, Have I Got News For You, QI, and The Jonathan Ross Show, and her stand-up tours – including The Kardashians Made Me Do It and Coconut – have been acclaimed internationally.
Mirza’s sharp perspective and unapologetic delivery make her a firm favourite, and she is sure to get some laughs at Stand Out Stand Up.
And she has been a guest on Channel 4’s SAS Who Dares Wins show, as well as Top Gear. Earlier this year, she took part in Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, and has also been a guest on Pilgrimage: The Road To The Scottish Isles.
Alasdair Beckett-King – surrealist rising star
An award-winning comedian, writer, and animator, Alasdair Beckett-King is known for his surreal one-liners and imaginative storytelling and will be a welcome guest at Stand Out Stand Up.
Winner of the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year, his viral online sketches during lockdown showcased his offbeat wit to a global audience.
The multi-award-winning ABK has performed on 8 out of 10 Cats, Mock the Week, Comedy Central Live, Radio 4’s The News Quiz and at the Glastonbury Festival.
Following several viral videos and a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Alasdair embarked upon his first UK tour in 2023.
In the same year, Walker Books began publishing ABK’s Montgomery Bonbon series of children’s mystery novels. Alasdair is the co-host of Loremen, a podcast about historical oddities and local legends.
With Eleanor Morton, he recently launched Eleanor & Alasdair Read That, a new podcast revisiting classic kids’ books.
Beckett-King’s blend of whimsical humour and razor-sharp writing marks him out as one of the most inventive voices in British comedy today.
Arthur Smith – comedy legend and raconteur
A veteran of the alternative comedy scene, Arthur Smith has been entertaining audiences since the 1980s with his laconic wit and sharp observational humour.
Known as the Night Mayor of Balham, Smith has appeared on QI, Have I Got News For You, and countless Edinburgh Fringe shows.
His reputation as both a stand-up comedian and a raconteur makes him one of the most beloved figures in British comedy, and his appearance at Reading for Stand Out Stand Up will be one to remember.
When is Stand Out Stand Up with Alexei Sayle and Friends being performed at The Hexagon and how much are tickets?
With these big names — and more acts to be announced — Stand Out Stand Up promises a night of laughter with real substance.
Expect a mix of biting satire, surreal invention, and perfectly honed gags from performers who are never afraid to speak truth to power.
Stand Out Stand Up with Alexei Sayle and Friends takes place at The Hexagon, Reading, on Monday 6 October 2025 at 7.30pm.
MORE CHEESELOGS: Griff Rhys Jones can’t keep away from Reading … and he’s hoping you’ll join him in November 8
Tickets are priced at £29. Fans can also take advantage of an early-bird discount: book before the end of Sunday, September 14, and get £5 off the ticket price. The discount is applied automatically at checkout.
They go on general sale from 10am on Wednesday, August 20, while Reading Arts Members can take advantage of priority booking from 10am on Tuesday, August 19.
The show is suitable for ages 14 and over (PG advised). Customers can book up to six tickets online per transaction.
For larger bookings or to arrange wheelchair and access seats, contact the Box Office directly.
To book, call the Box Office on 0118 960 6060 or email boxoffice@reading.gov.uk. Further details are also available at whatsonreading.com/standoutstandup25.
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