THE SHOW

Following an award winning sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, Alison Spittle is touring "her finest show to date" (The Scotsman).

A man told Alison to sit down and now she's doing a whole stand up show about it. After an encounter on a train with a man triggers a series of events that change Alison’s life, she ponders if it’s easier to change herself than the world around her. This is a big show about making yourself smaller.

Winner of the Comedian’s Choice Award for Best Show at Edinburgh Fringe 2025.

Winner of the Best Performer Award at Dublin Fringe 2025.

One of British Comedy Guide’s Best Reviewed Shows of Edinburgh Fringe 2025.

Alison has made appearances on House of Games, Celebrity Goggle Box and Pointless Celebrities, and on the popular podcasts Off Menu, The Gargle and Trusty Hogs. She is the co-host of the new podcast Magazine Party, and has also co-hosted Wheel of Misfortune and Guilty Feminist. You may have also seen Alison as the support act for Fern Brady, Rob Delaney and Maria Bamford on tour.

Praise for BIG:

Rolling Stone 5* “Alison Spittle is fucking hilarious… naked honesty and blazing soul”

Daily Express 5*  “The weight of the world and people’s perceptions on her size can’t halt the juggernaut joy of Alison’s storytelling”

ThreeWeeks 5* “Spittle is a master of her craft”

The Scotsman 4* “A gifted storyteller with an irresistible turn of phrase and a true gift for comedy”

Irish Times  4* “A fearless confessional comic and a great storyteller… harrowing and hilarious”

The Herald  4* "a carefully-crafted, expertly-delivered show" 

Evening Standard 4* “Spittle has delivered a stormer of a Fringe show”

The Skinny 4* “an audacious, gloriously silly hour that is chaotically driven and utterly original” 

Metro 4* “undeniably rib-tickling and punchy, the one-liners are unmatched”

List 4* “Spittle dishes out laughs at a rapid rate'

Entertainment Now! 4* “Spittle is a joy to spend time with…  a bracing, bullish show, full of laughter”

Across The Arts 4*  “a masterclass performance filled with warmth, charm and comedic skills”

Neurodiverse review 5*  “very, very funny...a truly powerful use of the medium of stand up"

One4Review 4.5* “laughs a plenty”

Loaded 4* “a tight hour of comedy gold”

Corr Blimey 4* "a punchy, tightly paced hour of comedy radiating charisma and charm"

Scots Up 4.5* “funny, fierce and fabulous”

Binge Fringe 4* "a master storyteller, will have you laughing from start to finish"

TICKETS

Thursday 11th June 2026

20:00 (60min)

£17

FURTHER INFO

Seating: Every ticket-holder gets a seat, so you can leave standing-up to our acts. 

Suitability: 16+ (Restriction)

Warnings and Additional Info: N/A

Accessibility: Full accessibility information for all our venues can be found on our website. Alternatively, please contact our Box Office with any access questions.

Groups: Please contact our Box Office for alternative group size arrangements or group bookings of 7 or more. See Terms and Conditions for more information.

MONKEY BARREL COMEDY

Monkey Barrel Comedy has been ‘Scotland’s Best Comedy Venue’ since 2020 (Chortle Awards) and was described by The List as “a year-round Edinburgh institution”. It has over 500 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor, making it one of the city’s top-rated year-round attractions.

The club was home to both of 2022's Edinburgh Comedy Awards winners, Best Comedy Show 2023 and Best Comedy Show and Best Newcomer 2024. It has been described as the "Beating Heart" of the Fringe by The Telegraph and “the best comedy club in the world” by comedian Olga Koch. 

“What a comedy club you’ve got there, Edinburgh!” (Kevin Bridges)

“Down there at the Monkey Barrel, there's something in the water, AND I CAN'T STOP DRINKING IT!” (Sam Campbell)

"Fringe Heroes" (The Metro)

"Redefining what weekend comedy can and should be" (British Comedy Guide

5.0★★★★★ Trip Advisor | 4.7★★★★ Google | 4.5★★★★ Facebook 

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DRINKS & MORE

Our adjoining bar, Barrel Bar, is open from 3pm on Fridays and Saturdays and at least 1 hour before every show every other day. It serves a wide selection of drinks, including locally-sourced beers, cocktails, and spirits. 

Table service is available in the venue throughout the show, so you can get drinks delivered straight to your seat without missing a thing. Order via the QR codes positioned next to your seat. Not applicable for all shows.