There is something special about comedy in Brighton. Maybe it is the city itself - playful, unpredictable, proudly different. Or maybe it is the people behind the scenes making sure everyone has a seat at the table.
When I headed down to The Caxton Arms, tucked just beside Brighton station, I met one of those people: Ali Jay. Performer, producer, comedian, writer - Ali Jay wears many hats. Quite literally, according to Ali.
“I carry them both in the same bag”, Ali jokes when I ask how performing and producing coexist. “It’s a big bag”.
Watch our full interview with Ali Jay, at The Caxton Arms:
And it is hard to argue with that. For decades, Ali has shaped LGBTQ+ comedy in Britain, creating opportunities, championing queer voices, and helping comedy feel more inclusive, more welcoming, and frankly, more fun. Now, Brighton Fringe 2026 is shining a deserved spotlight on that work.
After being awarded one of the festival’s prestigious Venue Bursaries, Ali is bringing Comedy at The Caxton to life, an ambitious programme packed with stand-up, theatre, experimental comedy, and emerging talent. And judging by the energy underground at The Caxton Arms, audiences are very ready for it.
When I arrive, the courtyard upstairs is buzzing. Drinks are flowing, performers are getting ready backstage, and downstairs in the small performance space, audiences are beginning to gather.
“We are underground,” Ali laughs as we settle in for a chat beneath the pub. “Comedy at The Caxton… really close to the train station above us.”
It feels fitting somehow; tucked beneath one of Brighton’s busiest areas sits a space dedicated to fun, storytelling, and community. And community is exactly what this programme is about.
Ali’s comedy journey began long before Brighton Fringe bursaries and packed-out rooms. Back in the 1990s, Ali helped break barriers as co-host and producer of Screamers, widely recognised as the UK’s first weekly LGBTQ+ stand-up comedy night. At a time when queer comedy spaces were few and far between, Screamers offered something very different: visibility, belonging, and a microphone for voices that had often been pushed to the side.
After stepping back from performing for a period, Ali returned with renewed energy – not only back on stage but behind it too, supporting new acts, creating platforms, and helping nurture emerging LGBTQ+ talent across the country. That kind of passion is visible throughout the Brighton Fringe programme.
“We’ve got shows all day today and all this evening", Ali tells me enthusiastically, rattling off a packed schedule with the kind of excitement that only comes from genuinely loving what you do.
One of the standout shows currently drawing attention is Toast: Stories from the End of the World, a theatrical production that had just opened the night before we met.
“It did really well”, Ali says. “So really exciting. It’s a big production for a little venue.”
Then there is the late-night comedy chaos. Eight comedians squeezed into one show for Laughter to the Death, created by comedian Paul Hines.
“Eight comedians”, Ali says with a smile, still sounding slightly amazed. “It’s absolute madness.” And audiences seem to agree. The show is nearly sold out.
But perhaps the most talked-about event in Ali’s own Fringe calendar is one that immediately caught my attention for obvious reasons: Menopause Bingo.
Yes, you read that correctly. When Ali mentions the title, I cannot help but laugh.
“It is the hottest ticket in town, let’s face it”, Ali replies. The show promises silliness, prizes, laughter, and, in true Brighton spirit, absolutely no shame.
“There’s lots of silly prizes, lots of silliness”, Ali says. “Lots of hot women will be in this room.” The room erupts into laughter. And then comes the reminder of exactly where on the map we are.
“This is the lesbian capital of the UK” Ali jokes warmly. “People without lesbianism are welcome as well. We welcome all.”
That line, delivered with humour, captures something bigger about Ali’s approach to comedy. Inclusivity here is not treated like a buzzword or a diversity checkbox. It is simply built into everything Ali creates.
Comedy can be seen as exclusive if certain audiences, voices or people dominate the room. Ali seems determined to challenge that. Comedy at The Caxton reflects years of believing that audiences deserve variety, established names sharing space with newer acts, LGBTQ+ performers existing naturally alongside broader programming, theatre sitting comfortably next to stand-up.
And in a time when arts funding feels fragile and independent venues are constantly under pressure, there is something hopeful about seeing a small underground room buzzing with life. Especially in Brighton.
As someone who spends a lot of time covering arts and community events, I know how much unseen work goes into spaces like this. Posters really don't put themselves up, talent doesn't magically appear, and programmes do not organise themselves.
People like Ali make these things happen, because they care. As our conversation comes to an end, I tell Ali something I genuinely mean: Brighton’s comedy scene would not look the same without contributions like this: “You contribute so much”, I say. Ali, naturally, brushes it off with humour. But the core of it remains, and I'm glad I got to say it.
Whether through producing, performing, writing, mentoring, or simply opening doors for others, Ali Jay has become one of Brighton’s comedy powerhouses - someone helping shape a scene that feels broader, kinder, and more representative of the city itself.
And perhaps that is what makes Comedy at The Caxton feel so exciting and real, because it's not just a Fringe programme. It's an invitation to laugh, discover new voices and spend time with strangers, leaving the room feeling slightly lighter than when you arrived.
And if you happen to leave after Menopause Bingo clutching a ridiculous prize and questioning your life choices? Well, that sounds very Brighton too.
For updates on Comedy at The Caxton and upcoming shows, audiences can follow Ali Jay online and keep an eye on Brighton Fringe listings.
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