The Comedy Experiment

The Comedy Experiment is back at Caroline of Brunswick on Saturday 8 August, part of its regular run of afternoon comedy in Brighton. It's a free show that runs three times a month, always starting at 16:00 and wrapping up by 18:30, with a happy hour on drinks all afternoon.

The format is built around two things: newer up-and-coming acts and established pros road-testing new material. It's the kind of room where you'll see a comic you've never heard of alongside someone you recognise from the telly, both trying out bits that haven't quite settled yet. Alicia Davison is the resident MC and host, and she's the one who keeps the whole thing moving from one act to the next.

That mix of new and known is a big part of the show's history. Past headliners have included Maisie Adam, Geoff Norcott, Zoe Lyons, Joe Wilkinson, Harriet Kemsley, Shazia Mirza, Laura Lexx and Dane Baptiste. The 8 August show is billed as featuring a famous TV comedian from Live At The Apollo and Mock The, though the full line-up for this particular date hasn't been confirmed yet.

Because it's an afternoon thing, it works well if you're not one for a late night. It starts at 16:00, finishes by 18:30, and standard tickets are free. The venue is Caroline of Brunswick, 39 Ditchling Road, Brighton, BN1 4SB.