Regular monthly comedy night at the Isle Of Dogs venue in Westferry Road has been created by promoter Scott Fitzgerald and MC Matt Price
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Friday, April 17, 2026, saw the return of regular comedy to The Space theatre in Westferry Road – the first in a new series of monthly gigs that are set to pull in a series of potent line-ups to the Isle Of Dogs venue.
Shenanigans In (The) Space is the creation of producer, writer, promoter and sometime comic, Scott Fitzgerald, (who’s booking the acts) and regular MC Matt Price.
“I first came to The Space to see As You Like It, hosted by Sir Ian Mckellen [performed by all trans and non-binary theatre group Trans What You Will],” said Scott.
“I loved the whole ethos of the venue – a small theatre that doesn’t receive any funding or regular support.
“I met Matty Jameson, the artistic director, who’s a superstar in my eyes – all drive and responsibility, but smiling all the way through it like a beautiful robot.
“Then I met the board members and explained about my background – promoting comedy and performing – and what I thought we could do here.”
hosting Shenanigans At (The) Space
The result is a series of shows hosted by Matt, each featuring three stand-ups with headline spots from the likes of Sam Nicoresti (who won Best Show at the Edinburgh Festival in 2025), Craig Campbell, Marty Gleeson, Dan Tiernan and comic rap powerhouse Doc Brown.
“We’re able to get people of this level because most comedians want to support something,” said Scott.
“I contact them, tell them the story of the venue, why the fee is what it is and appeal to their human side.
“Many acts remember why they started in comedy, that first big laugh and the place they found their voice.
“We want to build that kind of community here with established comedians and those coming through.
“It also helps that a lot of people know Matt.
“He’s one of the best compères in the country and when they know he’s the MC, they’ll come and do the gig.”
The pair first met at an open mic night in 2003.
Scott had fallen out of a career as a window cleaner and into one as a theatre technician, before taking his own steps into stand-up.
Matt had stumbled into comedy having briefly boxed and then taken up writing about the sport.
Together they ran the Yellow Kangaroo Comedy Club in Cardiff and have remained friends ever since.
forged in a friendship
“I have memories of two speakers exploding on stage and Scott coming to sort them out,” said Matt.
“We became friends and I was deluded enough to carry on as a performer.
“I’d had a few fights as an amateur boxer, but I wasn’t very good and then I spent a couple of years trying to write a book about boxing before I fell into comedy and realised it’s the same thing as being in the ring, but without the punches.
“One wonderful comedian said that stand-up comedy is the most violent, non-contact sport in the world and I know what he means.
“There’s a saying in boxing: ‘It’s not why you start, it’s why you stay’.
“I started it because I was a failed boxing writer, and I stayed because, thankfully, I don’t take myself too seriously and I just genuinely love being a comedian.”
Having performed in 30 countries including Russia, Cambodia and “even Penzance” Matt said he was relishing the prospect of performing at The Space.
“I’ve been around a bit,” he said.
“One highlight was standing on a piece of wood on top of a former gangland criminal’s house, performing to south-east London’s criminal underworld.
“I looked at a man with a tattooed face who asked me not to talk to him.
“He’d just robbed a post office, but couldn’t stand being spoken to in public.
“Another was accidentally setting myself on fire at the Edinburgh Festival – I just walked backwards into a candle.
“People asked if I’d done it on purpose so I just said: ‘Yes’. I’ve learned to take a compliment.
“The Space already feels very special and I’m really enjoying working with Scott again.
“There’s something about supporting a local community and trying to build a night that people really like.
“There’s no pressure on acts here – we’re not going to say they’ve got to stick to every second as you do in more commercial clubs.
“It will be somewhere acts can come and experiment a bit.”
building something on the Isle Of Dogs
Talking with the duo, there’s a sense both of them are quietly revelling in the process of putting the gigs together – a feeling that they’re at the start of something.
Scott had stepped away from comedy for a number of years, with this bigger goal tempting him to return.
“Not much would have got me back into it – it’s hard work and you can’t please everybody,” he said.
“But this venue should have more people in it – it’s that larger idea that makes me want to put myself through it again.”
The first Shenanigans saw Shaparak Khorsandi headline with sets from Don Biswas and Ciara O’Connor.
The next date – May 22, 2026 – is set to feature ventriloquist Lachlan Werner and softly spoken Welsh comic Morgan Rees.
“The night will be headlined by prop comic Spencer Jones who performs on stage as Clunkerdunk,” said Scott.
Best known for his recurring role as Mr Winner in BBC Shakespearean sitcom Upstart Crow, audiences can expect new material amid the unpredictability of live performance.
“Anything can happen,” said Scott.
“That’s the excitement of it – it’s still thrilling to us after all these years. You just never quite know what you’ll see.
“That’s why Matt is so good – he’s skilled at making almost anything funny and connecting with the audience.
Matt added: “There was one time I was being heckled by a drunk woman in the front row, who just wouldn’t give up, so I walked to the back of the room and got everyone to turn their chairs round, putting her at the back.
“She was very angry, stormed out and slammed the door.
“Some of the audience barricaded the door behind her – you learn how to play a room.
“In between jokes, you could hear her complaining to the manager.”
key details: Shenanigans In (The) Space
Shenanigans In (The) Space is set for a run of monthly performances at the Isle Of Dogs venue.
The next date is May 22, 2026, and doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £20.
Comedy nights will be listed regularly on The Space’s website here
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