Tom Towelling, Eshaan Akbar, (MC Jimmy McGhie) + Special Guest TBC

A brand-new comedy festival is coming to south London...

Step underground into the hidden venue beneath the park to enjoy a line-up of comedians with awards, cult-followings and punchlines aplenty.

With eleven shows over four days, grab your tickets for a celebration of laughter in the iconic Crystal Palace Subway.

Welcoming first class comedy acts for a celebration of laughter in this unique hidden space below Crystal Palace Park, the festival will run for 9 shows over four days.

Line-up for this show:

Tom Towelling

Winner of the Channel 4 Sean Lock Award 2025, Tom Towelling brings a splash of alternative wit to proceedings with his West Midlands’ charm.

As seen on Channel 4’s A Comedy Thing.

Winner, Musical Comedy Awards 2024.

Winner, Birmingham Breaking Talent Award 2024.

‘Entrancingly funny’ (comedy.co.uk)

‘Clear case of funny bones’ (chortle.co.uk)

‘Wholly original, beautifully curated and wildly varied’ (Charlie Perkins, Channel 4)

Eshaan Akbar

Eshaan Akbar is an acclaimed stand-up comedian and broadcaster who has appeared on Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, QI, The Now Show and Frankie Boyle’s New World Order.

A familiar voice on BBC Asian Network, he hosts a weekly Saturday afternoon show and regularly presents the station’s Breakfast and Drivetime programmes. He is also the host of the podcasts Where Are You Really From? and Nine Twenty Nine.

Eshaan has performed three sold-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe — Not for Prophet, Prophet Like It’s Hot and Infidel-ity — all of which transferred to sold-out runs at Soho Theatre. As a sought-after live act, he has supported major comedians including Micky Flanagan, Jason Manford, Dane Baptiste, Hal Cruttenden, Sindhu Vee, Jan Ravens and Rory Bremner on tour.

Jimmy McGhie (MC)

Jimmy has performed stand up all over the world and appeared on numerous television and radio programmes including the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, Comedy Central, ABC Australia, THREE New Zealand, Absolute Radio and many more.

He is “a brilliant talent” (The Scotsman) and with “an easy charm and appealing relaxed manner” (Chortle), he has performed 10 solo shows at festivals around the world including the Edinburgh Fringe, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Adelaide Fringe, Sydney Comedy Festival, Perth Comedy Festival and New Zealand International Comedy festival.

He is now a top circuit act in the UK, as well as a highly sought after corporate awards host and TV warm up artist. He regularly provides the studio warm up for BBC1’s Graham Norton Show, ITV’s Loose Women and Ch4’s Deal or No Deal.

...And a Very Special Guest, still to be announced

Accessibility:

Please note there is no step-free access to the Subway.

Access is via two flights of stairs with a handrail.

The subway has uneven flooring and light changes from bright to dim in various points. Accessibility information including photos of the stairs can be found here: https://www.crystalpalaceparktrust.org/pages/how-to-visit-the-crystal-palace-subway

We’d love to know how to make your visit the best it can be, so have a chat with us before you get here – we love to hear from you. Please contact the Crystal Palace Park Trust team via [email protected]

Key information:

No dogs please (service dogs welcome)

Bar available serving light-coloured drinks (eg. no red wine to protect the heritage floor)

Street food available at surface level

Doors open at 7.55pm and the event closes at 9.55pm

Closest public transport is Crystal Palace Bus Station (3 minutes walk) or Crystal Palace Train Station (10 minutes walk uphill)

The Subway does not have its own toilets but clean portaloo facilities will be available

Terms and Conditions: please note the Ts and Cs document on our website ahead of purchasing a ticket. Refunds are not possible for any tickets purchased.

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Host or Publisher Crystal Palace Park Trust