Rik Mayall Comedy Festival Set to Transform Droitwich Spa with Over 200 events. Eight days. One comedy legend’s hometown 31st May – 7th June 2025
Droitwich Spa is set for a seismic shake-up of the joyful kind as the Rik Mayall Comedy Festival prepares to launch on 31 May, bringing over 200 events to more than 25 venues across the town in a celebration like no other. From barbershops to canal boats, this eight-day extravaganza promises to be the town’s most ambitious cultural event in decades — and organisers say it’s only just the beginning.
Honouring the legacy of the legendary comedian who grew up in Droitwich, the festival combines major names, emerging talent, and plenty of surprises in both location and content. From workshops for budding performers to family-friendly matinees, and with more than 50% of the Fringe programme either free or Pay What You Want, accessibility and community spirit sit at the heart of the event.
The Norbury Theatre, where Rik himself performed as a young man, is central to the line-up, hosting a sold-out slate of shows including appearances by Greg Davies, Shaparak Khorsandi, Helen Lederer, and Peter Richardson, Rik’s long-time collaborator in The Comic Strip Presents… Those who missed out needn’t worry — tickets remain for acts like Scott Bennett, Angelos Epithemiou, and Paul Bradley, with demand described as “phenomenal” by festival organisers.
Adding depth to the tribute is a pop-up Rik Mayall museum, curated by comedy photographer Andy Hollingworth, offering a nostalgic glimpse into the star’s life and career.
But this isn’t your typical comedy festival. Expect punchlines and pratfalls in some of the town’s most unlikely spots: Barbertown will swap clippers for comedy sets, while shows will also pop up in beauty salons, haberdasheries, and even on the water, with canal boats turned floating stages.
Festival Director Stuart Panrucker praised the “extraordinary enthusiasm” of local businesses: “It’s clear that the spirit of Rik — energetic, fearless, and completely unique — has caught the imagination of the town. Everyone’s in on the joke, and that’s exactly what we wanted.”
The festival is as much about the future of comedy as it is about its past. Patron Ben Elton expressed hope that it will become a launchpad for the next generation of comic talent, describing Rik as “a pioneer whose energy left an indelible mark.”
From satirical songsmith Mitch Benn to fringe theatre, improv, storytelling, and even baby-friendly stand-up, there’s something for everyone — and every corner of town. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of Rik’s anarchic brilliance or just looking for a good laugh in an unexpected place, this is an unmissable celebration of comic chaos.
Are you planning to catch a show or two at the festival? You can get advance tickets from the Rik Mayall Comedy Festival website.