The 2018 Vodafone Comedy Festival is taking place next weekend in the Iveagh Gardens featuring a wide array of big name comedians such as Michael Kosta, Yvonne Orji. In amongst that stellar lineup are plenty of queer interest. Here are six comedians you should definitely check out:

1. Tom Allen

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Tom Allen is known for his unique comedic style which combines wit, camp and storytelling which he’s toured all over the UK, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. This year he’s worked on a variety of BBC comedy projects and starred in Comedy Central’s Comedy Roast Battle. Allen talked about his sexuality for the first time on stage after a homophobic experience and since then, he’s found ways of incorporating his sexuality and unique perspective into routines.

2. Rhea Butcher

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edyv8sEnHGg[/embedyt]

Rhea Butcher is a comedian, actor and writer who grew up in Ohio but is now based in Los Angeles. Butcher has appeared on shows such as @Midnight, Conan and Adam Ruins Everything. She partnered up with their wife, Cameron Esposito, in a GLAAD Award Nominated and Critics’ Pick show called Take My Wife. Butcher co-hosts a live podcast and released theit debut comedy album earlier this year.

3. Sam Jay

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLniKc2NY3Y[/embedyt]

Sam Jay is from Boston, Massachusetts. She’s bringing her fresh perspective on race and sexuality and storming the comedy scene. Jay has performed across comedy festivals in the US including Portland’s Bridgetown Festival and The Laugh Your Asheville Off Comedy Festival. She’s opened for acts like Hannibal Buress and Dave Atell. Her warm, quick approach is not to be missed.

4. Catherine Bohart

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Catherine Bohart started performing in 2015 and has been on the rise ever since. She was a finalist in both the BBC New Comedy Awards and Funny Women in 2016. Known for her distinctive voice and hilarious storytelling, she was named BBC’s New Talent Hotlist 2017 and was runner-up in the Irish Comedian Of The Year 2017.

5. John Early

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_CwKXcDv1Q[/embedyt]

John Early has written, created and starred in numerous comedy shows as well as appearing in Wet Hot American Summer, 30 Rock, Broad City, Neighbors 2 and many more. Early was an Artist In Residence and Comedy Curator at Arts Nova while in New York. His solo show was a four time New York Times Critics’ Pick. Early was named one of Variety’s Top Ten Comics To Watch in 2017.

6. Mawaan Rizwan

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Mawaan Rizwan’s career began on YouTube, where his videos have more than 19 million views. A rising star in the alternative comedy scene for his use of combining absurd stand-up and physicality, he studied clowning with Philippe Gaulier – who also taught Sacha Baron Cohen & Helena Bonham Carter. Recently he starred in Murdered By My Father, a BAFTA-winning BBC3 drama.

Other LGBT+ comedians to catch include Gearoid Farrelly, Tim Dillon and Ashlee Bentley. Visit the festival’s site to snap up tickets before they’re gone!