The weird, the wonderful, the surreal and the downright absurd.

For 2013 The Playhouse’s will be delivering a unique brand of high octane, left field entertainment. The days are all about sun soaked stand-up, sketch & variety distinctly leftfield, surreal and absurd in flavour. 2013’s hilarious band of comedy veterans and hotly tipped new comers are programed in partnership with independent promoter Will Briggs of Greenwich Comedy Festival who is excited to announce headliners Stephen K Amos, Richard Herring, Tony Law, Marcel Lucont & Phil Kay. Fresh from their regular slot at the RVT we are pleased to welcome to Merton Farm for the first time Timberlina and Hey Baylen’s Big Bingo Show. This is no ordinary bingo, with riotous hilarity, ridiculous prizes and spontaneous dance routines this is Bingo with balls! As the day draws to a close and the sunsets over the meadows the Siren’s call lures you though space and time to join a cavalcade of gypsy pirates ready to take you for the ride of your life. This exclusive nightly show brought to LOTF in partnership with Boom & Bang Circus should contain a health warning ‘This sensory explosion is highly likely to blow your mind-so good you may never want to leave’

Last but not least we welcome back some long time Lounge favourites. First up and back by popular demand for a 5th year running is the one and only living lounge legend, Lekiddo Lord Of The Lobster! We just can’t get enough of that pinchy pinchy kissey kissey love. Don’t forget to check out local guys doing good, Private Widdle Social Club at their regular friday night slot and Canterbury’s own Chat Back Comedy present their latest project, SU&S. For random acts and happenings take a wander to the Buskers Amphitheatre, a Lounge tradtion built from hay bales by Mark Saich...

Andrew Maxwell

Renowned for his cutting edge comedy and intrepid social commentary, double Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee (2007 & 2011), Andrew Maxwell is must-see for any comedy fan

His sell out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe and a nomination for The Chortle Award for Best Contribution To The Live Comedy Circuit have quickly earned him a reputation as one of the UKs most sought after comedians.

****The Guardian

Stephen K Amos

Stephen K Amos has charmed and entertained audiences all over the world with his natural, assured delivery and his honest, original material. Amos is filled with an almost child-like joy and exuberance and can find the funny in some of the most unexpected places. Star Of Live At The Apollo, Dave's One Night Stand and many more, Amos now heads to Lounge On The Farm fresh from a sell-out worldwide tour.

We're delighted to be hosting this imitable and irreverant comedian for the first time at Lounge on the Farm.

"If laughter is the best medicine then Amos should be prescribed by the NHS for his formidable healing powers"

Evening Standard

Phil Kay

Now recognised as one of our in-house comedians now and coming back to Merton Farm for the fourth time, we simply just cant keep Phil away! After twenty two Edinburgh Festivals and eighteen Glastonburys, Phil is still breaking ground as a highly emotive touchy feely, come off the stage cuddle you, lick your ear and whisper you a song type humour guy with stuff to offer that no other comedian can: His soul and a bare bum.

Phil Kay burst into comedy world way back in 1989, garnering a string of awards and nominations including a British Comedy Award for best stand-up. Following this was 2 series of ‘Phil Kay Feels’ (CH4), countless tours, legendary festival shows and most recently appearances on Qi (BBC1) & Russell Howards Good News (BBC3).

“The real deal – Wiling to treat every gig as a one-off event” - The Guardian

Richard Herring

As one half of the prolific comedy duo Lee & Herring, Richard enjoyed phenomenal cult success as a writer and performer with shows such as Fist of Fun (BBC Two) and This Morning with Richard Not Judy (BBC Two). In recent years he teamed up with Andrew Collins to co-host the Collins and Herring podcast on BBC 6 Music which the Guardian said paved the way for funny podcasts'. In 2010 he also published his book, 'How Not To Grow Up', and released 'Hitler Moustache' - his acclaimed stand up show - on DVD. 'Herring is a superior comedian... Hilarious' (The Guardian) 'Stimulating and exhilarating... Utterly Hilarious' (Chortle).

Aisling Bea

SO WHAT'S THE BACKSTORY?...

... Aisling lives in London but is originally from Ireland. It';s just to the left of London, if you are looking at it from a flying bird's POV. She has an actual DEGREE from and trained in classical acting at LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts). She has another extremely useful degree in French and Philosophy from Trinity College, Dublin. While a student at Trinity, she was in a sketch group called HBAM, who had two successful runs in Edinburgh and also toured a two hander character show to Edinburgh and around Ireland with Brona C. Titley. Aisling's name is pronounced ASH-LING BEE. Her late grandfather Micheál O’Suilleabháin was a Gaelic novelist and poet, her grandaunt Siobháin Ní Shúilleabhaiin is a prolific Gaelic writer and dramatist and her mother is a retired professional flatrace jockey. Fact.

Romesh Ranganathan

“Plenty to enjoy in his ultra sardonic set”
Chortle

“Every time I have seen him, he has blown the room away”
Adam Bloom

“Searingly dry wit”
Three Weeks

Ben Target

Ben Target (pronounced Tar-jay) has clearly taken the original spirit of the Fringe to heart in this show, which attempts to create a kind of ‘happening’ in the space of an hour-long comedy gig.

The lanky, bearded comedian has been building a cult following since his debut on the Free Fringe last year. This year’s show - part stand-up, part clown act, part volleyball match - is an extended version of that outing.

The whole thing, from the moment you sit down to the moment you leave is a little out of the ordinary, though announcing to the audience “Please adjust your mental filters for something a little bit different and rather beautiful” at the top of the show is rather heavy-handed.

Mae Martin

Mae Martin began writing and performing comedy at the tender age of 13. She has been nominated for two Canadian Comedy Awards, and was the youngest ever nominee for the prestigious Tim Sims Encouragement Fund Award. Her television credits in Canada include MuchMusic’s Video On Trial, Global Television’s “Global Comedians” (alongside Maria Bamford, Jon Dore, Dave Foley, James Smith and Matt Kirshen), The Comedy Network’s “Cream of Comedy” and the Space Network’s “Spacey Awards”.

Mae is currently based in the U.K. where she has played at festivals and clubs across the country. She has been a finalist in the Musical Comedy Awards and the Hackney New Variety Act of the Year awards. This year she won “Best International Performer” at the Brighton Fringe and received stellar reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Mae recently appeared on Russell Howard’s Good News, BBC Radio 4′s “Fresh From the Fringe”, and BBC 3′s Comedy Marathon.

“She had the audience in the palm of her hand” ???? Three Weeks

The Boom & Bang Circus!

Two influential figures in London’s live entertainment scene, Kitty Bang Bang the whisky-soaked, fire-breathin', chopper ridin' Wild Child of British Burlesque and Bioux Lee Hayes, renowned London producer and promoter of the "trail-blazing' and hell-raising" Boom Boom Club, London's premier weekly variety extravaganza 'La Reve' at Cafe de Paris and The Hippodrome casino will be hosting the late night revelry and antics at The Playhouse this year! Be warned, this all new and exclusive sensory explosion is highly likely to blow your mind-so good you may never want to leave!

Climb through the wardrobe into the world of the Boom and Bang Circus and find a cavalcade of gypsy pirates ready to take you for the ride of your life. Jetting through time and space Gypsy sirens call from deep in the forest, Eastern European scales traversed on brass and strings, stamping feet accompany thumping drums, magic, death defying tricks, side splitting humour and and joint shocking music...

The Stillhouse Orchestra

The wonderful Tia Maria Cork & Rib Eye Jake from the Stillhouse Orchestra met when Jake threw up on Maria’s shoes in church one Christmas morning and fell in love at first sight. Making off with the communion wine they headed for the hills to live in sin with a moonshine still and a three legged pig by the name of Jebediah. Their kooky style of bluegrass, country swing, old time spirituals and whisky, lots of whisky is the perfect blend to accompany to the Playhouse cabaret and comedy lineup.

Patti Plinko

Patti might be a whisp of thing but she sings like a hell cat-all purs growls and deranged. A dreamy dark bourbon soaked show full of fire and attitude.

Patti Plinko is an unmissable chanteuse’ *****

Time out

Enthralling Remarkable *****

Music News

Maddening Freakish Talent *****

The Stage

Fitzrovia Radio Hour

A brilliant, fast paced piece of physical theatre with a contemporary edge. Founded on a lively script that distills the essence of everything that made the golden age of radio sparkle, Fitrovia’s unique style of comedy, performance and mystery effortlessly brings glorious life to a variety of characters in an frantic, inventive and downright hilarious fashion from start to finish.

***** Edinburgh Fringe
***** Theatre Guide London
***** The New Current.

Tankus The Henge

A six piece powerhouse of a band drawing visual and musical influences from old time Fairgrounds to modern day Circus; The Beatles to Tom Waits and Gogol Bordello to Radiohead, they embody a look and a sound that lies somewhere between their South East London home and the carnival town of New Orleans.

With their charismatic frontman, Jaz Delorean, looking like a lost character from a Terry Gilliam film and the pump and grind of the Tankus the Henge sound generating a groove that makes it impossible to stand still, their live show ebbs and flows like a small boat on a turbulent sea.

Lekiddo, Lord of the Lobsters!

The Surreal brilliance of The Living Lounge Legend returns again for 2013! A live singing, entertaining and joyous pop disco with a smile that has won the heart of the regular festival goers, we kid you not he is literally our hero, Alan loves him and we do to. Pinchy Pinchy Kiss Kiss!

Whisky Moon Face

Louisa Jones of Whiskey Moon Face is a girl wonder so dripping in songs that she has gathered a world of musicians around her of the highest order. All live and play in that homemade handmade realm of Hackney backstreets, back pubs and gardens, filling their lives with song and surprises. A band of sheer delight and vitality that look destined to become an instant hit on the farm!

The Private Widdle Social Club

After the last two year’s success SE Kent’s home grown Comedy Cabaret Social Club is back on Merton Farm!

The Private Widdle Social Club was founded at The Astor Theatre in Deal, Kent in 2010 and was an immediate sell-out hit. The secret of Private Widdle’s success is the unique blend of old-style variety combined with contemporary comedy and music knitted together by eccentric compares. Private Widdle’s anarchic and sumptuously silly 2 hour show always packs out the Playhouse and we can’t wait for the return of this original rabble of Kentish folk! PWSC’s feature act and compare have been Paul Foot, Trevor Lock so keep your eyes peeled for 2013’s announcement coming soon...