Hastings, Take the Mic!
SARAH MILNE
A fresh burst of comic energy is heading for Hastings as Laugh-Able Comedy Cavalcade: Hastings Edition rolls into town. This taster workshop will offer an exciting introduction to comedy from Mark Nicholas, a comedian reshaping what the circuit can look like.
Laugh-Able creates space for performers often overlooked – those with disabilities, neurodivergence, and mental health challenges. Having encountered barriers himself, Mark has built something different: a comedy scene where accessibility is the starting point, not an afterthought.
An autistic comedian with over seven years’ experience, Mark delights in turning stereotypes inside out. His accolades – from King Gong, Comedy Store winner (2019) to the Develop Your Own Creative Practice Award (2025) – mark him out as both a skilled comic and thoughtful mentor. He’s performed alongside names including Ria Lina, Rhys Darby and Seann Walsh. Mark’s connection to Hastings was cemented during the Hastings Comedy Festival 2025, where his solo show This Is Not the Autistic You Are Looking For played to a sold-out crowd.
For those curious about stepping up to the mic, Mark explains workshop attendees can expect “a session that ultimately encourages having a laugh with each other”. Proceedings begin with improv games designed to ease participants into the art of making one another laugh, before moving into the fundamentals of joke writing and performance technique. From there, attendees work in pairs to shape material, building confidence collaboratively before the session culminates in each person performing a couple of minutes of stand-up to the group.
For complete beginners, his advice is both simple and disarming: arrive with “zero inhibitions and an open mind”. There will be no judgement, only a supportive environment in which to experiment, take risks and discover what works.
Reflecting on his previous visits to Hastings, Mark recalls audiences who were “so warm and friendly and really up for a good time”, adding that he spotted “quite a few potential future comics in the crowds”. It feeds into his broader belief that towns like Hastings play a crucial role in sustaining grassroots comedy. “A hundred percent,” he says. “I’m still finding my way in the industry and wouldn’t describe myself as famous (yet!). However, when I arrived to perform, I discovered it was sold out! That is a testament to the support this town gives to aspiring comics.”
And while the mechanics of joke writing are central, the workshop’s ambitions stretch further. Participants, Mark hopes, will leave with greater confidence in public speaking, improved stage presence, and the ability to build rapport, “but also finding the joy in entertaining a crowd”.
Laugh-Able Comedy Cavalcade: Hastings Edition! takes place on 16 May, 1.30pm at Stade Hall. Tickets £10 from ticketsource.com/laugh-able/laugh-able-comedy-cavalcade-hastings-edition-16th-may/e-vrxxzg
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