Richard Ayoade - Afterthoughts

Richard Ayoade brings his new show, Afterthoughts, to the Harrogate Convention Centre on Friday 20 November, as part of the Harrogate Comedy Festival 2026. It's a solo turn that draws on his latest book, Afterthoughts or Some Pistachios Won't Open: Wisdom for the Unreflective, and he shares more than 500 of his own notions on stage.

Most of us know Ayoade from the screen. He's a BAFTA-winning actor, comedian, director and writer, perhaps best known for playing the photographer opposite Stephen Merchant in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, for The IT Crowd, and for directing the films Submarine and The Double. He's also hosted Travel Man and The Crystal Maze, and lent his nasal voice to The Boxtrolls, Early Man, Soul and The Bad Guys. This show shifts the focus to his writing, taking the observations from the book and working them out in front of a live audience.

The performance is part of the Harrogate Comedy Festival 2026, sponsored by Vet Dentist, and is recommended for ages 16 and over. There are also captioned, relaxed, audio described and British Sign Language interpreted performances available, so it's accessible if you need those options. The show runs for 110 minutes, starting at 7:30pm in the Main Auditorium at the Harrogate Convention Centre on Kings Road, HG1 5LA. Tickets are £32.50 to £47.50.