It’s early days, but there are some tickets that are so hot they don’t hang about for long! Today we reveal our rundown of the fastest selling shows of 2023 so far.
For this list, we’re looking at the shows which have sold the highest proportion of their available capacity, instead of highest total number of tickets, as venue sizes vary greatly and this is a more important indicator of which will sell out first. If you see something you like on this list you best get booking those tickets sharpish!
1.) You Don’t Have To Be Mad To Work Here
Friday 21st & Saturday 22nd July 2023 /3pm-4pm at Ventnor Arts Club
A NHS psychiatrist, award-winning comedian and writer Benji Waterstones makes his first trip to Ventnor to preview his show ahead of the Edinburgh Festival.
Expect a fly on the padded-wall account of the mental health world that also busts some myths (e.g. there are no padded walls).
Learn the secret to happiness, the best way to escape from a locked ward and the difference between a psychiatrist, a psychologist, and a psychic.
Soon to be a Penguin-published book.
2.) Bob – The Half A Sausage Musical
Friday 21st July 2023 / 7.30pm – 8.30pm at The Magpie
After the Ventnor Fringe award-winning ‘People’s Republic of the Isle of Wight’ in 2021 and last year’s highly successful run of ‘Born to be the Weather Wizard’, Joe Plumb is back with a bonkers new show for 2023!
This time it is bigger, better and more Isle of Wight than ever before with an all-singing, all-dancing, musical half a sausage spectacular…What could possibly go wrong?
3.) Geoff Norcott – Work In Progress
Saturday 22nd July 2023 / 7.30pm – 8.30pm at The Magpie
Geoff Norcott is working up his fifth national tour show, following on the back of ‘Conswervative’, ‘Traditionalism’, ‘Taking Liberties’ and ‘I Blame The Parents’. Don’t miss this opportunity to see Geoff out on the road trying out brand-new material, ahead of it’s Edinburgh run.
4.) Eat, Slay, Love – A Quivers Stand Up Show
Sunday 23rd July / 7.30pm – 8.30pm at The Magpie
When it seems everyone around you is managing their journey of becoming a fully functioning human person, with responsibilities and kids and meal prepping and matching socks, where does someone who can barely remember to tie their laces find their place in it all? Join Quivers as they spiral out of control, and talk relationships, proper jobs, fitting in, inner peace, and ponder what being an adult means in 2023. Like an existential crisis on stage… with jokes!
QUIVERS is the Isle of Wight’s best kept regret. QUIVERS is a stand up comedian, songstress, host, DJ, and a general buffoon, who is here to risk all remaining dignity to make you laugh and bring you some joy.
5.) Hunter Davies – The Beatles
Tuesday 25th July 2023 / 3pm-4pm at Ventnor Arts Club
In 1966/68 Hunter Davies spent two years with the Beatles writing what became the only authorised biography of the Beatles because they split up in 1970. Hunter interviewed them, their parents and friends including Brian Epstein and George Martin. He spent a long time with each of them at their homes and also at Abbey Road Studios while they were working on their Sergeant Pepper album . They also came to his home and had meals.
After the band split up Paul McCartney and his girlfriend Linda had a holiday with us in our holiday home in Portugal. Hunter will speak about how he came to write the book.
6.) Richard Herring – Work In Progress
Thursday 27th July 2023 /5.30pm-6.30pm at The Nest
Richard Herring makes a return to stand up after a five year hiatus and will be trying out new material, probably mainly about losing a testicle, but maybe some other stuff too. Puppets may be involved. The show, Like Richard, is a work in progress.
7.) Drunk Women Solving Crime
Thursday 27th July 2023/ 9.15pm-10.30pm at The Magpie
Local Ventnor girl Hannah George brings her chart topping podcast Drunk Women Solving Crime to Ventnor for a live recording! With millions of downloads, sold out runs at Edinburgh Festival, and a monthly London residency, don’t miss your chance to see the Drunk Women on the Island!
8.) Pick of the Fringe
Friday 28th & Saturday 29th July 2023/9.15pm – 11pm at The Magpie
A packed night of stand up comedy from a selection of some of the funniest acts at this year’s Ventnor Fringe, curated and hosted by double Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominee Ahir Shah (Live at the Apollo, The Mash Report, BBC)
Back for a third year following completely sold out shows in 2021 and 2022, it’s the perfect Friday/Saturday night out at the Fringe!
9.) Ahir Shah – Ends
Saturday 29th July 2023 / 7.30pm-8.30pm in The Nest
Alongside hosting Pick of the Fringe, Ahir Shah also returns with his first full solo show since 2019’s Dots (now a special on HBO Max). This one’s about family, immigration, marriage, history, politics and beans.
As seen on Mock the Week, The Mash Report, QI, Live at the Apollo, Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, Have I Got News For You, and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
10.) Glenn Moore – Work In Progress
Tuesday 25th July 2023 / 5.30pm-6.30pm in The Nest
Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Glenn Moore is a comedian, actor and one of the best and most prolific joke writers in the country.
Glenn’s 2022 Fringe show sold out with rave five star reviews from The Mail on Sunday, Chortle and The Courier, amongst a number of other publications. Glenn is a regular face on TV, having appeared on Mock The Week (BBC), The Russell Howard Hour (Sky), Guessable (Comedy Central), Rob Delaney’s Stand Up Central (Comedy Central) and The Stand Up Sketch Show (ITV2).
Now he’s back with a brand new show!
