Tom Stade will bring his new stand-up show Rules to The Forge Comedy Club in Brighton on Wednesday 21 April 2027.
The Canadian comedian, known for appearances on Live at the Apollo and Mock the Week, takes on marriage, family life and the unwritten rules of getting older. His Brighton performance is at Ironworks Studios on Cheapside, with the evening listed from 7.30pm to 9.15pm.
The date follows an Edinburgh Festival Fringe run that earned five-star reviews from Edinburgh Reviews and The Quinntessential Review, and forms part of a UK and Ireland tour running from September 2026 to May 2027.
Tom Stade in Brighton at a glance
| Date | Wednesday 21 April 2027 |
|---|---|
| Venue | The Forge Comedy Club at Ironworks Studios |
| Address | 30 Cheapside, Brighton, BN1 4GD |
| Advertised event times | 7.30pm–9.15pm. Check your ticket for admission arrangements. |
| Age restriction | 16+. Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult. |
| Seating | Standard seating is unreserved. Arrange access seating with the venue in advance. |
| Tickets | Official Eventbrite booking page |
What is Tom Stade Rules about?
Rules explores the gap between the conventions people grew up with and the expectations they encounter now. Social codes, cultural differences, identity and marriage all come under scrutiny, alongside the tension between youthful rebellion and adult responsibilities.
Family life supplies much of the personal material. Stade considers what happens when the person who once resisted authority finds himself expected to be the responsible adult, with changing attitudes between generations providing a recurring theme.
The show follows Naughty By Nature and is billed by the promoter as his 16th stand-up hour. Stories and observations drive the performance, with conversations in the room feeding into the prepared material.
What did Edinburgh reviewers make of it?
Reviewers highlighted Stade’s storytelling and his ability to draw audience responses into the show.
Writing for Edinburgh Reviews, Alex Jones awarded Rules five stars. His review praised the observations about family and ageing, alongside the way Stade incorporated exchanges with the audience into his performance.
Will Quinn, reviewing the Edinburgh run for The Quinntessential Review, also awarded five stars. He singled out the construction of the material: “The callbacks are smart; the setups gorgeous; the payoffs cracking.”
Both accounts describe audience interaction as part of the evening’s appeal, with generational differences and people’s own experiences giving Stade material to work with.
Who is Tom Stade?
Stade moved from Canada to the UK in 2001 and built his British career through the live comedy circuit, festival appearances and television.
His credits include two appearances on Live at the Apollo, alongside Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, The John Bishop Show, Mock the Week and Channel 4’s Comedy Gala. He also co-wrote and appeared in Frankie Boyle’s Tramadol Nights.
More recent audiences may recognise him from the Have A Word podcast. A clip of his stand-up provides a taste of his delivery and approach to storytelling.
Tickets and seating at The Forge Comedy Club
The Brighton show is presented by Funny That Comedy, with advance tickets sold through the official Eventbrite listing linked from The Forge’s website. Check the selected ticket’s price and booking fees before paying.
Standard seating is unreserved, so groups hoping to sit together should arrive together. Anyone who needs a particular position for access reasons should arrange it separately with the venue.
The event is advertised for ages 16 and over. The venue requires under-18s to be accompanied by an adult aged at least 18, with a maximum of two under-18s per accompanying adult.
Getting to The Forge at Ironworks Studios
The Forge Comedy Club is based at Ironworks Studios, 30 Cheapside, on the edge of Brighton’s North Laine. Created by Brighton comedian Stephen Grant, the club hosts regular mixed bills as well as touring solo shows.
The venue is a short walk from Brighton railway station, making rail a practical option for visitors from elsewhere in Sussex. Some surrounding streets are sloped, so check the route when step-free travel is important.
There is no customer car park at Ironworks. The venue identifies Trafalgar Street and Brighton station car parks as nearby options. Check current charges and closing arrangements before leaving your car, rather than relying on an old evening tariff.
The Forge visitor FAQs provide directions and further arrival information.
Accessibility and companion tickets
Ironworks Studios has wheelchair entry, a flat studio floor and accessible toilets. Assistance dogs are welcome in the bar and performance space.
Wheelchair viewing positions must be arranged in advance. The venue also offers free personal-assistant or carer tickets for eligible customers through its access application process.
Planning your visit
Arrange access seating before the show
Read the Forge accessibility information and complete the Ironworks access request form for a wheelchair position or companion ticket. For questions about the arrangements, email [email protected].
Tom Stade Rules: 2026–27 tour dates
The Brighton performance forms part of a tour across the UK and Ireland. A nearby date follows at Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on 22 April 2027. Stade’s website currently lists that performance as going on sale soon.
Visit Tom Stade’s official tour page for booking links and updates.
2026 tour dates
| Date | Town or city | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 27 September | Stockton-on-Tees | ARC |
| 8 October | Carlisle | Old Fire Station |
| 11 October | Belfast | Mandela Hall |
| 15 October | Leeds | Glee Club |
| 16 October | York | York Barbican, YO1 Lounge |
| 17 October | Darwen | Darwen Library Theatre |
| 18 October | Birmingham | Glee Club |
| 21 October | Swansea | Problematic Pub Comedy Club |
| 22 October | Frome | Cheese & Grain |
| 23 October | High Wycombe | Old Town Hall |
| 25 October | Worcester | Huntingdon Hall |
| 29 October | Southampton | The Attic |
| 30 October | Bournemouth | Pavilion |
| 31 October | Exeter | Northcott Theatre |
| 1 November | Leamington Spa | Royal Spa Centre Studio |
| 4 November | Cardiff | Glee Club |
| 6 November | Ivybridge | The Watermark |
| 7 November | Basingstoke | The Haymarket |
| 8 November | Bromsgrove | Artrix |
| 11 November | Chelmsford | Chelmsford Theatre |
| 12 November | Guildford | G Live, Bellerby Studio |
| 13–14 November | London | Leicester Square Theatre |
| 18 November | Oxford | The Glee Club at The Bullingdon |
| 19 November | Reading | Just the Tonic |
| 20 November | Cheltenham | Parabola Arts Centre |
| 22 November | Swindon | Arts Centre |
| 25 November | Lincoln | Engine Shed |
| 26 November | Sheffield | Memorial Hall |
| 27 November | Leek | Foxlowe Arts Centre |
| 28 November | Galway | Róisín Dubh |
| 29 November | Dublin | The Sugar Club |
| 4 December | Wolverhampton | Wulfrun Hall |
| 6 December | Newcastle | The Stand |
| 9 December | Glasgow | Glee Club |
| 13 December | Edinburgh | The Stand |
2027 tour dates
| Date | Town or city | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 28 January | Montrose | Playhouse |
| 29 January | Irvine | Volunteer Rooms |
| 30 January | Biggar | Municipal Hall |
| 4 February | Dunoon | Queen’s Hall |
| 5 February | Cumbernauld | New Town Hall |
| 6 February | Bo’ness | Town Hall |
| 11 February | Greenock | Town Hall |
| 12 February | Dunfermline | Baldridgeburn Centre |
| 13 February | Dumbarton | Denny Civic Theatre |
| 18 February | Kirkintilloch | Broadcroft Hotel |
| 19 February | Lockerbie | Town Hall |
| 20 February | Cupar | Corn Exchange |
| 25 February | Hamilton | The Function Rooms |
| 26 February | Markinch | Town Hall |
| 27 February, 6.30pm | Boat of Garten | Boat Hall |
| 27 February, 9.30pm | New Elgin | Town Hall |
| 4 March | Newport-on-Tay | Blyth Hall |
| 5 March | Troon | Concert Hall |
| 6 March | Blairgowrie | Town Hall |
| 11 March | Galashiels | Volunteer Hall |
| 12 March | Larbert | Dobbie Hall |
| 13 March | Tillicoultry | Devonvale Hall |
| 21 March | Bath | Komedia |
| 22 March | Norwich | Norwich Theatre Playhouse |
| 24 March | Poole | Lighthouse |
| 25 March | Fareham | Fareham Live, Studio One |
| 26 March | Cambridge | Junction |
| 27 March | Southend-on-Sea | Palace Theatre |
| 28 March | Stafford | Gatehouse Theatre |
| 1 April | Alnwick | Alnwick Playhouse |
| 2 April | Chorley | Chorley Theatre |
| 3 April | Kendal | Brewery Arts |
| 8 April | Erskine | Erskine Arts |
| 9 April | Aberdeen | The Lemon Tree |
| 10 April | Inverness | Eden Court, OneTouch Theatre |
| 14 April | Northampton | Royal & Derngate |
| 15 April | Salford | Lowry |
| 16 April | Salisbury | Arts Centre |
| 17 April | Bristol | Bristol Beacon |
| 21 April | Brighton | The Forge Comedy Club, Ironworks Studios |
| 22 April | Tunbridge Wells | Trinity Theatre |
| 23–24 April | Hemel Hempstead | Old Town Hall |
| 25 April | Nottingham | Just the Tonic at Broadway Cinema |
| 28 April | Hull | Social |
| 29 April | Bradford | The Studio |
| 30 April | Helmsley | Arts Centre |
| 6 May | Kidderminster | Town Hall |
| 7 May | Bedford | Quarry Theatre |
| 8 May | Didcot | Cornerstone Arts Centre |
| 12 May | Keswick | Theatre by the Lake |
| 13 May | Barnard Castle | The Witham |
Frequently asked questions
Is The Forge Comedy Club the same venue as Ironworks Studios?
The Forge is the comedy club based inside Ironworks Studios at 30 Cheapside, Brighton. Both names may appear on the event information, but they refer to the same location for this performance.
Is Tom Stade Rules suitable for children?
The Brighton performance is advertised for ages 16 and over. Anyone under 18 must attend with an adult, with no more than two under-18s per accompanying adult.
How long is the Brighton show?
The venue lists the evening from 7.30pm to 9.15pm. A separate running-time breakdown and interval arrangement have not been published. Check the latest ticket information before arranging a time-sensitive return journey.
Can I choose my seat?
Standard seating is unreserved. Contact the venue in advance when you need a particular seating position or wheelchair space.
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