First Thursday Comedy

Hilarious comedy at The Met on the First Thursday of every month.

Featuring Steve Gribbin (“Pulls it off with real aplomb” The Independent), James Ellis (“Talented comedy craftsman” Chortle), Justina Seselskaite and MC Ben Van der Velde (“The perfect comedy club host” Huffington Post).

Steve Gribbin first took to the stage at the tender age of 13. He was cruelly beaten into third place by a ventriloquist and a Donny Osmond impersonator. By his late teens, Steve was fifty per cent of comedy duo Skint Video just as something called ‘alternative comedy’ was beginning to infuriate the tabloids. All good things come to an end and Skint Video was no different. Steve got custody of the guitar and metamorphosised into the comedy circuit’s most prolific and productive performer.

“A highly refreshing and original comic. Hilarious!” The Scotsman; “Pulls it off with real aplomb.” The Independent

James Ellis’ sharp observational humour and clever punchlines have won him rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. James’ comedy is rooted in everyday life, and he has a knack for finding the funny in the mundane. A gifted writer, his jokes are well-crafted and delivered with precision.

Leicester Comedian of The Year 2025 Nominee, South Coast Comedian of the Year 2021, regional finalist for the BBC New Comedy Award, James has supported Angela Barnes on her “Angst” Tour. If you’re looking for a good laugh on a night out, be sure to catch James live! “Talented comedy craftsman” Chortle

Ben Van der Velde has spread joy and nonsense to all four corners of the British Isles, as well as Greece, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Estonia, Latvia, Finland and Norway.

A regular at The Comedy Store, Komedia and The Glee, Ben also hosts festival stages for Bestival, Festival No.6, End of the Road and Sunday Papers Live and doing audience warm-up for Deal Or No Deal.

Ben has also performed a voodoo re-marriage ceremony(!), founded the Church of the Holy Kazoo with comedy legend Mark Thomas, walked the entire London Underground network to raise money for The Refugee Council, hosted a comedy tour of the FIFA Museum in Zurich and even took part in experiments at The Royal Society that revealed him to have the most infectious laugh of any human, rat or monkey.

“The perfect comedy club host – he is a master of audience interaction. The audience weren’t just warmed up, but pretty hysterical even before the first act of the night hit the stage.” Huffington Post; “Wonderfully improvised riffs showcasing his impressive spontaneity and sharp tongue.” Edinburgh Festivals Magazine; “On flights of fancy, he pushes ideas to extremes and displays a crackling, spontaneous energy in which we’re swept up.” Fest

Your evening comes complete with Lithuanian comic Justina Seselskaite.