Bilal Rashid
By Grace Hatchell 2nd Act Couriers
Woolwich Works launches Big Bill’s Comedy Night – a new monthly home for grassroots stand-up
Now then, something lively has landed in my satchel from South East London, and if you enjoy your comedy a little bit bold, a little bit cheeky and packed into an intimate room where the laughs bounce off the walls, this one might be worth keeping an eye on.
Woolwich Works is launching Big Bill’s Comedy Night, a brand-new monthly stand-up series dedicated to the sort of comedians who like to push boundaries, take risks and keep audiences very much on their toes.
Taking place in the venue’s intimate Beanfeast space, the night will be hosted by rising comedy name Bilal Rashid, who has been building quite the reputation on the UK circuit for dark, fast-paced satire and razor-sharp joke writing.
Critics have already started taking note. Chortle describes Rashid as “a strong and efficient joke writer… the gag rate and blunt use of language are definitely in his favour,” while Skiddle cheekily suggests he’s what you might get if Jimmy Carr, Frankie Boyle and Paul Chowdhry somehow had a love child. Make of that what you will.
What Woolwich Works is aiming to create here isn’t just another comedy night on the calendar. The idea is to provide a regular platform for emerging comedians, giving performers the freedom to experiment, stretch their material and interact with audiences in a close-up setting where every punchline lands right in front of you.
And if you know anything about the stand-up circuit, you’ll know these kinds of rooms are often where tomorrow’s stars first sharpen their material.
Bilal Rashid himself is no stranger to the comedy grind. A multiple Gong Show winner, including the notoriously tough Beat the Gong, he was also a finalist in the 2024 Beat the Frog World Series at Manchester’s legendary Frog & Bucket. His sold-out debut solo run at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe firmly marked him out as one of the most exciting rising voices in British stand-up.
Each edition of Big Bill’s Comedy Night will see Rashid curate a hand-picked line-up of special guests alongside a headline act, bringing together performers from across the UK circuit. Many of them arrive with credits from television favourites such as Live at the Apollo, QI and Mock the Week, alongside brand-new comedians currently making waves on the stand-up scene.
The Friday 20 March show will be headlined by Junior Booker, the charismatic South London comic who has been tearing up stages nationwide over the past three years. A regular performer at Top Secret Comedy Club and Backyard Comedy, Booker also hosts his own successful comedy nights across the capital.
Joining him on the March bill are:
Helen K – the Russian-born, London-based stand-up known for sharp roast battles and fearless takes on identity and politics, blending menace, mischief and heart.
Olly Miller – shortlisted for BBC New Act of the Year 2024 and quickly becoming one of the most talked-about new comedians on the circuit.
Rob Moriarty – the Irish comic who won the Berlin New Stand Up Award and the coveted King Gong at The Comedy Store, and has reached the finals of several major UK comedy competitions.
Following a packed debut earlier this year, the series continues with further dates on 17 April and 22 May, as Big Bill’s Comedy Night settles into its role as a regular fixture for comedy lovers in South East London.
Comedy fans keen to catch the full run can also take advantage of a three shows for £30 offer, automatically applied when booking all three nights together.
Nick Williams, Director of Woolwich Works, said:
“Big Bill’s Comedy Night is about providing a platform for bold voices and creating a space where new talent can truly stretch themselves. Comedy thrives in intimate rooms with engaged audiences, and we’re excited to give South East London a regular night that champions emerging comedians alongside established names.”
And from where I’m standing with my satchel, that sounds like exactly the kind of grassroots night where today’s circuit comedians quietly turn into tomorrow’s headliners.
Keep an eye on this one.
Tickets and information for all shows are available here.
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