Creed Bratton and Katherine Ryan: Top comedy names head to Prague this autumn

Prague will host its first-ever Comedy Stop festival this September, featuring a stellar lineup of world-famous and up-and-coming international and British comedians. The four-day event (Sept. 12-15) brings a total of nine sets to various venues in the Czech capital.

Canadian sensation Katherine Ryan, known for her cutting-edge social commentary and sharp wit, will headline the festival.

Ryan, an award-winning comedian, writer, and actress, is back on tour with her show Battleaxe after the success of the 2022 international hit Missus. Currently, her four-part series Parental Guidance is receiving rave reviews.

Best known for her Netflix sitcom The Duchess and Amazon Prime series Backstage with Katherine Ryan, the edgy stand-up will take the stage at the RockOpera venue in the Holešovice Market on Sept. 14.

The festival opens on Sept. 12 with a Comedy Stop Gala evening showcasing the comic chops of Andrew Mensah and company. The comedian riffs on life growing up in the church, becoming a children’s preacher while dodging London gangs, and how he made it into show business.

The gala, at Rock Café, will also feature acclaimed British comedian Tom Ballard, award-winning London comedian, actor, and writer Aurie Styla and uproarious Dutch performer Micky Overman. Improv comic Troy Hawke takes the stage at Rock Café solo later on Sept. 14.

The Comedy Stop will also see several of the 'gala’ comics head to the more intimate venue of Malostranská beseda to perform again later in the week; UK comedian Matt Bragg will also appear at Malostranská beseda. Tickets for the Comedy Stop festival start at 390 CZK.

Later this autumn, Creed Bratton, the American actor and musician known for his role in the hit TV series The Office, comes to Prague. Bratton, who has been getting notice for his eclectic solo work, will treat audiences to a showcase of his unique blend of comedy and musical.

Prague’s Divadlo U Hasičů will welcome Bratton on Oct. 26 (a second show was added after the Oct. 23 performance sold out).

In November, The Comedy Store returns to Prague with an as-yet-to-be-announced lineup. The Comedy Store was one of the first venues in the UK to showcase stand-up comedy and became a hub for up-and-coming comedians and established performers. It quickly became known for its alternative comedy, showcasing various performers who used humor to address important issues.

The traveling Comedy Store lineup stays true to the venue’s original mission; past standups appearing on the Prague stage include Emmanuel Sonubi, Funmbi Omotayo, and Sarah Keyworth. It will take place at Rock Café on Nov. 8.