SIC Fest Gala Show 2025

We return for our eighth year with an outstanding line up of comedians (SO FAR!), with more acts to be announced. Now taking place over five days, the festival culminates with the Live At The Apollo-style gala show on the final night at Theatre Severn.

SCOTT BENNETT (MC)
Scott Bennett is a stand-up comedian and writer who is ‘without doubt live comedy’s best kept secret’ according to The Evening Standard. He made his debut on Live at the Apollo in 2021 and has also appeared as a regular guest on BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, The Now Show, and The Likely Dads. In 2022 he was nominated as Best Club Comedian in the Chortle awards.

LINDSEY SANTORO
Birmingham based Lindsey Santoro has emerged as one of the most original female voices to come out of the West Midlands. She enjoyed success at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023, winning Next Up’s Biggest Award in Comedy for the most outstanding show. Naturally effusive and full of giddy joy, Lindsey made her TV debut on Mel Giedroyc’s: Unforgivable (Dave), Comedy Central Live and The Stand-Up Sketch Show (ITV2). Other credits include Channels 4’s The Joy of Missing Out and The Elephant in the Room with Sarah Millican on BBC Radio 4. Lindsey has been named on several ones-to-watch comedy lists.

ABANDOMAN
Ireland’s finest hip hop musical comedian Rob Broderick, aka Abandoman uses his trademark blend of audience interaction and razor-sharp improvisation to transform audience likes, loathes and daydreams into hit songs and captivating tales. Abandoman has previously headlined comedy stages at Glastonbury, Latitude, Reading and Leeds festivals, been seen in Dictionary Corner in 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and toured with pop behemoth Ed Sheeran. The Stage magazine described Abandoman as:‘Killer punch lines. Note-perfect, lyrically mind-blowing hip-hop. Improv genius!’

TEZ ILYAS
Described as ‘radiantly entertaining’ by The Times Tez Ilyas is one of the most celebrated entertainers in British comedy. Star of The Tez O’Clock he has appeared on Live at The Apollo (BBC Two), The Last Leg (C4), Mock the Week (BBC Two), Comedians Giving Lectures (Dave), Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled (Dave), Comic Relief’s Big Night In (BBC One), Live from the BBC (BBC Two), The Chris Ramsey Show (Comedy Central) and Live from the Comedy Store (Comedy Central). He is also author of the 2022 Sunday Times Bestseller Secret Diary of a British Muslim Aged 13 3⁄4.

TROY HAWKE
Described as ‘undeniably funny’ by Chortle, Troy Hawke is an erudite, home-schooled 1930s throwback, the Errol Flynn of the high street. Educated, but utterly clueless, he tackles modern issues head on in his unique, untimely manner. Having gained popularity through viral social media videos, where he offers eccentric greetings and compliments to strangers on the street, the self-proclaimed founder of the Greeter’s Guild, which started with a non-consensual customer service shift outside TK MAXX, has led Troy all around the world, entertaining audiences at various comedy festivals and TV shows.