Lady Bolognese: CLASS WAR

If you are looking for something a bit different during this year's Brighton Fringe, you might want to keep an eye on Lady Bolognese: CLASS WAR. It is a comedy show featuring the duo Tanika Lay-Meachen and Matt Straker, who take on the roles of dinner ladies Barbara and Veronica. The premise is fairly straightforward: these two characters decide to take charge of their school, resulting in a performance that blends character comedy with clowning elements. It is worth noting that the show relies heavily on audience interaction, so it is the kind of performance where you are likely to be part of the action rather than just a passive observer.

The show has been gaining some traction recently, having picked up the 'Best Variety Show' award at the 2026 Leicester Comedy Festival, alongside the 'Everyone Loves an Underdog Bursary'. While there were earlier versions of this show performed as a work-in-progress, the iteration coming to Brighton is the fully developed version. It is scheduled to take place at Junk Poets at Caravanserai, with two specific dates on the calendar: May 9th at 22:30 and May 23rd at 14:30.

Regarding the logistics, the event is open to anyone aged 14 and over. Tickets are priced at £9.50 for standard entry, with a concession rate available at £8. It is a fairly specific type of comedy, described by the performers as a mix of greasy friendship and anarchic delight, which gives you a decent idea of the tone you can expect. If you enjoy character-driven comedy that leans into the absurd and involves the crowd, this might be worth checking out while it is in town for the Fringe.