Stone Circle comedy @ The Pod Newport

We are back at The Pod Newport on September 21st with another full professional line-up of hilarious stand-up comedy! 

Our acts are as follows… 

Opening act is - KEVIN SHEPHERD 

Kevin moved from his native town of Bognor Regis with a burning ambition to become a successful stand up comic. Once he had conquered his initial fears Kevin quickly became a regular at many clubs. He also got through to The Laughing Horse new act of the Year Final 2002 and came second in the Krater New act of the Year 2002 at the Komedia in Brighton. In 2006 he did his first and very well received Edinburgh show Kevin Shepherd: Comics Die in Hot Cars. His friendly face and manic energy are proving successful with all types of audience. In 2009 he was asked to performed support slots for Mickey Flanagan and Ivan Brackenbury on their national tours. 

Middle act is - CHRIS CHOPPING

Bedford-born Chris Chopping began his stand-up career in Wales and quickly installed himself as one of the top-rated acts in the country. Now, his dry outlook and hilarious punchlines have established him as one of the go-to pros for clubs across the UK, where his strong material and deadpan persona have garnered him a cult following.

​A regular contributor for BBC online content ‘SESH’ the English comic has even turned his hand to stand-up in a foreign tongue, making his welsh-language TV debut for S4C’s stand-up showcase Gwerthu Allan and recently released a one-hour comedy special to UK Comedy streaming service 'Next Up...'
 

And our wonderful Headliner - KATE SMURTHWAITE

Kate Smurthwaite is an experienced circuit comedian and activist.

​She performs stand-up comedy all over the UK and around the world and is currently touring her 16th one-woman show, Humanity's Last Hope, which previewed at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She performs at major clubs including Manford’s, The Stand, The Comedy Store and Piccadilly Comedy Club as well as alternative venues such as Quantum Leopard, What The Frock, Bring Your Own Baby and The Poodle Club.

​In 2013 she won a Three Week's Editor's Choice Award naming her one of the ten best things about the Edinburgh Fringe. In 2014 she was nominated for the Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize for campaigning against violence against women.

​Kate has appeared as a panellist on Question Time as well as The Big Questions, This Morning, BBC News, Sky News, Woman's Hour, The Today Program, The Moral Maze, Newsnight and is a regular guest on Channel 5’s Jeremy Vine show.

​Kate has written for a huge range of publications including The Guardian, The Independent, The Telegraph, The Mirror, Cosmopolitan, Stylist, New Statesman and New Internationalist. Links can be found in the Articles section on this website.

​Kate has also written for TV, radio and web series including Have I Got News For You and BBC3’s BAFTA-winning The Revolution Will Be Televised. She was a finalist in 2015's SitCom Mission competition.

Hosted by our very own resident MC -
STEFFAN ALUN (As seen on BBC Wales 'Stand-Up for Sesh') 

£10 entry OR £15 with a cocktail.