Headliners Announced for the 2026 Rik Mayall Comedy Festival

The full Norbury Theatre headliners programme is now confirmed for the 2026 Rik Mayall Comedy Festival, bringing an extraordinary lineup of alternative comedy pioneers and contemporary favourites to Rik Mayall’s hometown of Droitwich Spa.

Running from 29 May to 6 June 2026, the nine-day festival once again places the Norbury Theatre at the heart of a town-wide celebration of comedy, alongside a significantly expanded fringe.

Young Ones Reunite

Leading the 2026 programme are Nigel Planer and Alexei Sayle, two defining voices of the alternative comedy movement and stars of The Young Ones.

Nigel Planer brings his acclaimed Young Once book tour to the Norbury Theatre, revisiting the era that reshaped British comedy. Alexei Sayle appears in a special In Conversation event with Robin Ince, reflecting on Rik Mayall and the creative revolution of the 1980s.

The festival’s Young Ones connection continues with a brand-new exhibition curated by celebrated photographer Andy Hollingworth, offering a visual tribute to the performers and the spirit of the era.

Major Names Join the Norbury Stage

The 2026 headliners programme brings together pioneers, cult heroes and returning festival favourites:

• Richard Herring with a live edition of his award-winning podcast RHLSTP
• John Otway
• Peter Richardson, founder of The Comic Strip
• Nick Helm
• Lindsey Santoro
• Phil Ellis
• Harriet Kemsley
• Returning favourites Laura Smyth, Red Richardson, Rachel Fairburn and Tiff Stevenson

Building on a debut year in which Norbury Theatre headliners sold out in minutes, the 2026 programme continues the festival’s commitment to celebrating the trailblazers of alternative comedy while championing new voices.

An Expanded Fringe Across Droitwich Spa

Beyond the Norbury, the fringe festival is set to be even bigger in 2026, with more than 100 events on sale from launch and additional shows added daily in the run-up to the festival.

Fringe highlights include appearances from Helen Lederer, Paul Jackson, director of The Young Ones, and other friends and collaborators of Rik Mayall including Grim Tales director Bob Baldwin.

Theatre productions, screenings and family shows will form a major part of the programme, with hundreds of performances taking place across venues throughout Droitwich Spa.

Comedy Takes to the Streets

During both festival weekends, Droitwich Spa’s High Street and Friar Street will host an outdoor stage and roaming entertainment, bringing the spirit of the festival directly into the town centre and creating a vibrant open-air atmosphere for audiences of all ages.

Supporting the Next Generation

Rik Mayall famously found his feet as a young performer at the Norbury Theatre. In honour of that legacy, the festival continues its commitment to nurturing emerging talent.

• A dedicated Showcase for local drama groups and individual performers at Droitwich Spa Community Hall
• Comedy workshops for ages 12 to 17
• Structured support helping student performers take to the stage

By pairing major names with grassroots opportunity, the festival celebrates not only comedy history but its future.

Tickets

General tickets go on sale 7 March, with a 24-hour exclusive presale on 6 March for festival newsletter subscribers.

With more than 100 events available from launch and many more to be announced, early booking is strongly advised.