We are very excited to reveal this year’s Comedy Stage, boasting a strong and diverse line-up with our usual blend of stand up, sketch, character, musical comedy and political satire. First up, a duo that need no introduction following their award winning Channel 4 sketch show, we are thrilled to have Cardinal Burns performing at this year’s festival. Fresh from their wildly popular and anarchic monthly residency at the Moth Club in Hackney Cardinal Burns Presents…, which has earned a reputation as one of the most exciting nights of comedy around and has seen the likes of Steve Coogan regularly in attendance, be prepared for a show where absolutely anything goes.

We are delighted to welcome back The Adam Buxton Podcast for a second year, featuring Adam’s renowned ramble chats with very special guests to be announced, live from the Comedy Stage. You can listen to last year’s interview with Bridget Christie recorded on the Piano Stage now and Adam has since interviewed the likes of Brian Eno and Zadie Smith, as well as a number of Hollywood actors and high profile comedians. Radio 4 and Have I Got News For You regular Nish Kumar will perform for this the first time at End of The Road, having had a phenomenal rise since hitting the Fringe as a solo act in 2013. Consistently lauded for his satirical, and politically topical stand-up, Kumar’s hour Long Word… Long Word, … Blah Blah Blah… I’m so clever was nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy award in 2015.

Ever wondered what post-punk cabaret might look like? Well wonder no more as Die Roten Punkte, whose unique brand of musical comedy has been compared to the White Stripes and Kraftwerk, hit the Comedy Stage this year. Expect some catchy song pastiches that embody all that’s right (and maybe wrong) with Europop, with some uproarious jokes and outlandish physical comedy in between.

As if that wasn’t enough, we are also thrilled to announce this year’s Literature line-up, showcasing some of the most acclaimed, fascinating and moving writers around. As usual, during the morning of each day of the festival, we will be welcoming a selection of authors to read from and discuss their work at The Library Stage. We have curated a diverse line-up this year that ranges from Throbbing Gristle founding member Cosey Fanni Tutti discussing her autobiography Art Sex Music, to Mike Heron from The Incredible String Band (who have influenced the likes of Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and David Bowie) reading from his recent memoir You Know What You Could Be: Tuning into the 1960s.

We also welcome revered new author Amy Liptrot, whose stunning debut book Outrun was a Sunday Times bestseller, Radio 4 Book of the Week and won the Wainwright Book Prize for nature and travel writing. Last but certainly not least, we have visual artist and surreal comedy writer Miriam Elia, whose hilarious satire on the modern art world in the form of a Ladybird book We Go To The Gallery has become a global phenomenon, selling thousands of copies worldwide.

Comedy Stage 2017 Line Up: