Stephen Catling: Clown Fish Out of Water

Stephen Catling brings Clown Fish Out of Water to the Cosy Club on Sunday 1 November, as part of the Nottingham Comedy Festival. It's a solo show in the alternative stand-up category, presented by NCF Comedy.

Catling is an alternative comedy performer whose work centres on his experience of autism. He's picked up some recognition along the way, winning the Keep It Fringe Award in 2023 and getting nominated for the Malcolm Hardee Award in both 2023 and 2025. Critics have called him an "alternative gem of the Edinburgh Fringe" and described his style as zany absurdist comedy.

This particular show comes from a strange bit of personal history. In 2025, Catling lost the slug mask that was an essential part of his cult hit Moving On... Really Really Slowly. The new material explores life after autism has been "unmasked", alongside his rage against an increasingly soulless entertainment industry. It's a look at what happens when a central part of a performer's act simply vanishes, and how he's picking up the pieces since.

The show runs in the Victorian Lounge at the Cosy Club, 18 Victoria Street, NG1 2EX. Doors open at 4:10pm and it starts at 4:30pm. Tickets are £8.00 plus an £0.80 booking fee, £8.80 in total, and it's for audiences aged 18 and over.