Glasgow’s flagship comedy festival has descended into a NatFest, with Nicola Sturgeon and Mhairi Black set to make appearances. In addition, numerous independence-supporting comedians are also slated to perform, including Susie McCabe and Janey Godley’s daughter Ashley Storrie.
The annual festivities will last from March 12 to March 30 and will include current politicians and failed politicians alongside some big names within the comedy world. Some performers will come from all over the world, including the USA and Australia, to make Glaswegians laugh.
Despite being an active police suspect, Ms Sturgeon will continue her post-politics career (and is still an “active” MSP) of speaking at festivals as she will co-host a regular Books and Banter show alongside her good friend and crime author Val McDermid. She is becoming a regular at book festivals across the UK as she continues to write her biography.
The former First Minister has barely spoken at Holyrood since stepping down from her role in March 2023, and has topped up her earnings through various public appearances. She is even considering staying on as an MSP post 2026 even though she has not been an active participant at the Scottish Parliament.
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Failed former SNP MP Ms Black will bring her Edinburgh Fringe show to Glasgow where she promises to pull back the curtain on life in Westminster. This debuted to lukewarm reviews last summer as she failed to impress critics.
One damning review by comic guide Chortle said: “The combination of oratory skills and a sharp political mindset sounds promising, but it quickly turns out that the jokes are mostly toothless and her representation of politics verges on the trivial. Unfortunately it’s all a bit Radio 4.
Mhairi Black
“Black often walks up to the edge of a meatier statement, but defuses herself at the last minute. For example: ‘Scotland has become a more dangerous place for my community – Partick Thistle fans.’ It’s always to mild comic effect but you soon start to wish she might get her teeth into something the way she did in Parliament.”
The pair will be joined at the festival by the likes of Alan Bisset, Christopher Macarthur-Boyd, Fern Brady, Paul Black, Marjolein Robertson and Russell Kane. A celebration of legendary Glaswegian author Alasdair Gray’s work Gray Matters will also be showcased.
Nat comic Ashley Storrie will also perform, months after the death of her mother and controversial comedian Janey Godley. Susie McCabe, who has been pictured on nights out with Ms Sturgeon, is also debuting her show Best Behaviour in her hometown.
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Festival director Krista MacDonald said: “We’re thrilled to reveal Glasgow International Comedy Festival’s 2025 programme with over 550 shows meaning this will be our biggest ever event and a real milestone year for the Festival as we go into our third year of rebuilding post-pandemic.
“We’ll be showcasing some of the very best comedians from around the world, the UK and of course, lots of stellar homegrown Scottish acts. Comedy plays a vital role in Glasgow’s cultural identity and our city’s comedy scene regularly produces acts who go on to impress on a worldwide stage.
“From our unique legacy of comedy performers to the top touring acts of today and through to the next generation of breakthrough talent, Glasgow is the starting point for countless acts and we can’t wait to celebrate that this spring. GICF truly has all styles of comedy on display – traditional stand-up, clowning, musical comedy, theatre, live podcasts and family comedy shows making sure there is genuinely something for everyone.”
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