Nathan Cassidy Brighton Fringe 2026 brings a double bill that pushes stand-up comedy to its limits — creatively, emotionally, and in one case literally.
Two brand-new shows. One venue. Two nights only — 2 and 30 May 2026 at the Caroline of Brunswick.
One show asks whether stand-up can be considered art. The other asks how far a comedian is willing to go to be seen.
Show One: From The Ashes
📍 Caroline of Brunswick 📅 2 & 30 May 2026 ⏰ 7pm
From The Ashes explores whether stand-up comedy can still be beautiful — whether it can be art, not just content.
Against a backdrop of viral clips and disposable online comedy, Cassidy creates something different each night: spontaneous, joyful and emotionally real. Inspired by a childhood memory of running downhill shouting “weeee!” alongside the pain of being alone on Christmas night away from his children, the show searches for a fleeting, wordless, magical happiness — and asks whether it can be rediscovered through live performance.
“Few have been as deeply moving as Nathan Cassidy. A powerful force on stage.” — The Scotsman ★★★★½ “Written and delivered with style. An excellent comedian.” — One4Review
Show Two: Ewwww!
📍 Caroline of Brunswick 📅 2 & 30 May 2026 ⏰ 9:30pm
⚠️ Warning: Full-frontal nudity.
A dark, daring and brutally funny counterpoint to From The Ashes. Ewwww! begins with a single throwaway comment from a 20-year-old — and spirals from there.
Questioning age, relevance and identity, Cassidy responds the only way he knows how: by pushing himself further than ever before. That includes literal self-exposure.
Beneath the shock is something deeper — a show about vulnerability, fear, ego and what it really means to be seen. Stand-up at its most raw. Uncomfortable, unpredictable and unforgettable.
★★★★ “Star in waiting… he is untouchable.” — The Times
Nathan Cassidy Brighton Fringe 2026: Why This Double Bill Matters
From The Ashes directly engages with the growing campaign — led by the Live Comedy Association and supported by MPs — to have stand-up comedy formally recognised as an art form in the UK. Such recognition would unlock funding and support structures currently unavailable to most comedians.
But Cassidy’s shows don’t just argue for that recognition. They attempt to embody it.
His own words: “There’s a growing push to have stand-up recognised as an art form — but that’s not a given. We have to earn it. We have to make work that stands alongside theatre, dance and poetry. From The Ashes is my attempt to do that. And Ewwww!… well, that’s me risking everything.”
About Nathan Cassidy
25 solo shows over 17 years. Six comedy specials including three on Amazon Prime. BBC Radio 5 Live regular. Host of Daily Notes with 1M+ downloads. 13 comedy award wins and nominations between 2019 and 2025. Shortlisted writer for Saturday Night Live UK. European Tour 2025.
Brighton Fringe has been a significant venue for Cassidy — he won Best Stand-up here two years running. This return, his 25th solo hour, carries that history with it.
Photo credit: Andy Hollingworth
Practical Details
📍 Caroline of Brunswick, Brighton
📅 Saturday 2 May & Saturday 30 May 2026
⏰ From The Ashes: 7pm | Ewwww!: 9:30pm
For more Brighton Fringe 2026 shows, see our full Brighton Fringe guide.
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