Skip to content

London’s most vibrant producer of new theatre, comedy and cabaret.

On stage. On tour. Online

Soho Theatre Walthamstow: Stand Up Taster Lab

Sat 10 May - Sat 28 Jun
Book now
Studio 1 – Walthamstow Age Recommendation: 18+
From: £5 for people who live, work or study in Waltham Forest
Duration:

2.5h

If you’ve ever been told you should try stand-up or been curious about dipping your toe into the world of comedy, now’s your chance.

If you live, work or study in Waltham Forest, it’s time to set your inner comedian free. Try your hand at stand-up comedy, figure out how to write a joke, and explore comedic storytelling in our Stand-Up Comedy taster sessions.  

Led by legendary comedian, writer and producer Sikisa (Live at the Apollo, Comedy Central Live, Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club on ITV, Off Menu and Evil Genius on BBC Sounds) and the incredible self-proclaimed “Essex Arab Girl Comedian” Esther Manito (Live at the Apollo, Hell Hath No Fury national tour, Crusade on ITVX).  

Open to everyone 18+ who’s ever wanted to try stand-up. You can have any level of experience (including none at all), from all backgrounds and lived experiences. 

Specialist sessions 

17 May (2pm) & 28 June (10:30am) will feature stand-up taster sessions for women from Muslim backgrounds, with Esther Manito.  

While of course we welcome and encourage participants from Muslim backgrounds in all of the taster sessions we offer, we also acknowledge that sometimes comedy spaces can feel exclusive or difficult to access. So with that in mind, the above tasters are for anyone who wants to explore comedy in a safe space, with other participants who you may share a sense of community with. 

Timetable

Sat 10 May 10:30am with Esther Manito
Sat 17 May 10:30am with Esther Manito
Sat 17 May 2pm for women from Muslim backgrounds with Esther Manito
Sat 24 May 10:30am with Sikisa
Sat 31 May 10:30am with Sikisa
Sat 7 Jun 10:00am with Sikisa
Sat 21 Jun 10:30am with Sikisa
Sat 28 Jun 10:30am for women from Muslim backgrounds with Esther Manito

You can do just one or any combination of the above sessions – just book yourself in for whatever you fancy. Please note, these are stand alone sessions, and not a running weekly course. So if you book for multiple sessions some content may be repeated. 

 

BOOKING A PLACE

You need to be signed into your Soho Theatre account with a qualifying Waltham Forest postcode to move into the booking path.

Thanks to support from Waltham Forest Council, these tasters are exclusively for those who live, study or work in the borough at a reduced rate (up to 70% off what Soho Theatre normally charges for these).

Facilitators

Esther Manito

Stand Up Taster: Facilitator
Esther Manito

Esther Manito

Stand Up Taster: Facilitator
Esther Manito is an Arab Essex girl who will challenge every single preconception of what that means.
As seen on Live At The Apollo (BBC), The Stand Up Sketch Show (ITV), Hypothetical (Dave) and heard on: BBC Sounds Russel Kane’s Evil Genius, co-hosting Radio 4 Extra’s Newsjack Unplugged, CBBC Bitesize Parents, BBC’S Breaking the News and Russell Kane’s Boys Don’t Cry.
Esther’s hour #NotAllMen won best show at Leicester Comedy Festival 2021.
Esther has supported Alan Davies, Shappi Khorsandi, Sindhu Vee, Jason Manford, Jo Brand and Al Murray.

Sikisa

Stand Up Taster: Facilitator
Sikisa

Sikisa

Stand Up Taster: Facilitator
Sikisa (she/her) is from South London, a Barbadian citizen and has become one of the most exciting acts in the UK, having delighted crowds with her fearless and vivacious personality and immediate warmth and likability.
She won the public’s vote in the 2017 BBC New Comedy Award competition, for which she was a finalist. Since then, Sikisa’s TV appearances include Live at the Apollo (BBC); Stand Up Sketch Show (ITV2), Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club (ITV), The Dog Ate My Homework (CBBC), Live at Comedy Central, Pie And A Pint (Comedy Central) and Period Dramas (BBC 3). Her radio and podcast credits include Off Menu, Films to be Buried with, Wheel Of Misfortune (BBC Radio 1), The Leak and Mach Fest (BBC Radio Wales.
Sikisa was a part of the Soho Theatre Young Company and is a hot favourite on the UK comedy circuit, regularly performing and hosting at nights such as Comedy Store, Angel Comedy Club, The 99 Club, Frog & Bucket, Monkey Barrel, Komedia Comedy Club, Top Secret Comedy Club and The Boat Show.
She took her debut stand up hour Life of the Party to the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2022, and this year her sophomore show Hear Me Out received critical acclaim with 4 and 5 star reviews up at the Festival. Sikisa has just finished her UK tour of Hear Me Out.

Soho Theatre Walthamstow

Our address is 186 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, London E17 4QH.

We are a 5 minute walk from Walthamstow Central tube station, which is only 20 minutes from central London on the Victoria Line, and 15 minutes from Liverpool Street station on the Overground.

There are numerous buses that stop nearby and outside the venue.

Find out more

Delivered in partnership with

London Borough of Waltham Forest