Marcel: Right, listen up, theatre darlings and chuckle-chasers. We’ve seen all kinds of comedy here at Theatre Village — slapstick, deadpan, the kind that makes you snort involuntarily —
Mo: (snorts) Case in point.
Marcel: —but every now and then, a show comes along that stops us mid-punchline and makes us say, “Hang on, this matters.”
Mo: Enter stage left: Behind the Laughter. No gimmicks. No glittery wigs (although we’re not opposed). Just six ordinary people from Liverpool who joined a comedy course to help their mental wellbeing. And what came out of it? A bloomin’ fantastic stand-up show rooted in real life, real struggles, and real blooming funny punchlines.
Marcel: Led by the legend that is Henry “Churniavsky” Churney — MC, mentor, and founder of Laugh For Life Comedy — this bunch have turned their lived experiences into comedy gold. We’re talking Carmel, Frank, Jane, Robbie, Sue & Victoria. Never done the Fringe before. Never stepped into this circus of flyers and overpriced hummus. But now they’re here, baring their souls with wit and guts, and we’re HERE FOR IT.
Mo: And let’s be real — this isn’t just about cracking jokes. This is comedy as connection, as courage, as community. Since April 2024, Laugh For Life’s mental wellbeing course has helped over 60 people find their voice through comedy. Now that’s what we call a standing ovation before the punchline.
Marcel: Plus, this isn’t their first rodeo — they’ve already hit Liverpool and Buxton Fringe, now rolling into Edinburgh with their motto:
Both (in unison): “STAND UP FOR MENTAL WELLBEING.”
Mo: Which is possibly the best tagline since we tried “Giggle or try’
Marcel: We don’t talk about that one.
Mo: So grab your mates, grab your tissues (for the laughter and the heart-wobbling moments), and come support six brave, brilliant voices who are proving that comedy heals — one mic, one joke, one audience at a time.
Marcel: We’ll be front row with our biggest cheers. Come join us — you’ll laugh, you’ll feel, and you might just leave a little bit changed.
Mo: And if you don’t? You can heckle us later.
Listings information
Venue: theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall (53)
Dates: 20th and 21st August 2025
Time: 19:00 (0hr50)
Ticket prices: £10 / concessions £8.00
Fringe box office: 0131 510 2384 / Behind the Laughter | Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Suitable for all ages 16+
