About Comedy at the Museum ft. Darren Harriott & More

Get ready for an unforgettable evening as top-tier comedians bring the laughs to one of Birmingham’s most beautiful and unique venues: the historic Tearoom at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

Headlining This November: Darren Harriott.

The first Black British stand-up comedian to be nominated for the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award, Darren Harriott brings his razor-sharp wit and infectious storytelling to the stage this November.

A double Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee, Darren is one of the UK's most recognisable comedians and broadcasters. His television credits include Dancing on Ice, Love Island: Aftersun (co-host), Live at the Apollo, Britain's Best Takeaway, Guessable, Don't Hate the Playaz, and appearances on The Last Leg, Richard Osman's House of Games, Mock the Week, Would I Lie to You?, and many more. His 2023 Edinburgh Fringe show, Roadman, received widespread critical acclaim, earning four-star reviews from The Mail on Sunday, The Skinny and EdFest Magazine, while being named a Pick of the Fringe by both The Guardian and Evening Standard.

Originally from Birmingham, Darren worked as a security guard before making his breakthrough in comedy. Since then, he has toured internationally, performed at major comedy festivals across the UK and Australia, and established himself as one of the country's most in-demand stand-up performers.

A self-confessed fitness fanatic, fashion enthusiast and sports obsessive, Darren combines relatable stories, quick-fire observations and effortless charisma to create a truly unforgettable live show.

"This very funny Brummie makes joke telling look simple."
★★★★ - The Times

Full line- up coming up soon!

Enjoy a pre-show museum wander through our Level 2 galleries and grab a drink before settling in to enjoy the show.

Doors open at 6 pm, close at 6:45 pm, and the show starts at 7 pm.

Don’t miss this showcase of laughs, delivered by some of the UK’s most exciting comedians, in one of Brum’s most iconic spaces.
This show is part of our brand-new winter comedy season at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery - catch us on the first Thursday of selected months.

Darren Harriott

First Black British stand-up nominated for the main Edinburgh Comedy Award

Double Edinburgh Award nominee Darren Harriott’s TV includes, Dancing on Ice, co-host of Love Island: Aftersun, Britain’s Best Takeaway with Sara Cox, British as Folk, host of Live at the Apollo and Dog Ate My Homework, team captain on four series of Guessable and series regular on Don’t Hate the Playaz. Recently he appeared on BBC Two’s Celebrity Antiques Road Trip and BBC One’s Interior Design Masters Children in Need Special.

Darren’s 2023 Edinburgh Fringe show ‘Roadman‘ received **** from Mail on Sunday, The Skinny, EdFest Magazine and was named ‘Pick of the Fringe’ by The Guardian and The Evening Standard.

He regularly co-hosts the comedy night, You Dress Funny, with Rachel Fairburn, a show where comedians have to perform in outrageous costumes. In 2024, he was host of the New Comedy Awards Midlands Regional Final.

Other TV includes: The Wheel, Outsiders (Dave), The Last Leg, Backstage with Katherine Ryan, All Star Games for Comic Relief, Richard Osman’s House of Games, The Real Dirty Dancing, Apocalypse WOW, Celebrity Karaoke Club, BBC Funny Festival Live, Question Team, Undeniable, As Yet Untitled, Ghost Bus Tours, Hey Tracey, Comedy Games Night, 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Apprentice You’re Fired, Great British Bake Off Extra Slice, Catchpoint for Sport Relief, University Challenge for Comic Relief, CelebAbility, Stand Up and Sketch, Ultimate Worrier, Celebrity Mastermind, Celebrity Pointless, Dave Gorman’s Terms and Conditions Apply, Dave’s Comedian’s Against Living Miserably, Comedy Central Stand Up Special, Roast Battle, Mock the Week, Comedy Central at the Comedy Store, Hypothetical, Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central, Most Ridiculous, Would I Lie to You, Saturday Mashup and The Comedy Bus.

On radio, Darren currently presents a show every Sunday morning on BBC West Midlands. He has also had three BBC Radio 4 series: Black Label, which covered his time as a teenager in gangs; Red Label, which covered his take on romance; and Father Figuring, which explored his relationship with modern fatherhood. Father Figuring won gold at the New York Festivals Radio Awards 2026. He has hosted Newsjack Unplugged and the Radio 4 Summer Festival. Other radio appearances include The News Quiz, The Infinite Monkey Cage, The Now Show, Fighting Talk and Best of the Fest. Podcasts include Shame is Delicious, Obsessed with Peaky Blinders, The Adam Buxton Podcast, Evil Genius, Dave’s CALM Podcast, Griefcast, Susan Calman’s Mrs Brightside, and Wheel of Misfortune.

Originally from Birmingham, and now living in London, before getting into comedy, he was a security guard for over five years. His debut Edinburgh show Defiant transferred to The Melbourne Festival and The Soho Theatre, he toured the UK in 2018 with Visceral, and in 2019/20 with Good Heart Yute. He returned to The Melbourne Festival in 2024, in addition to the Machynlleth Comedy Festival.

Darren is a self-confessed fitness junkie who is regularly in the gym and loves fashion. He is a keen sports fan with an encyclopedic knowledge of Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts, plus a love of the World's Strongest Man competitions.