Pick of the Fringe at Ventnor Fringe Festival Review

Showcasing some of the very best of Ventnor Fringe, the daily Pick of the Fringe shows are a brilliant way to sample acts you may otherwise have missed, especially if you’re struggling to choose what to see.

Hosted by Fringe favourite Ahir Shah, this evening’s line-up featured Glenn Moore, A&E Comedy and Tom Ballard, each bringing their own style of comedy and keeping the audience laughing throughout.

Ahir Shah was the perfect host, effortlessly mixing sharp comedy with local knowledge. Ventnor’s infamous Winter Gardens, which was famously sold for just £1 before being left untouched, became a running joke throughout the evening, with Shah revealing his own plan to buy it for the grand total of £2. What followed was, in his words, “the funniest heckle I’ve ever had”, as one audience member passionately encouraged him to force the council into making something actually happen with the building. It became a wonderfully silly thread that carried through his appearances on stage and landed particularly well with what seemed to be a largely local audience.

The first act of the evening was Glenn Moore, who shared stories of the excitement of moving to London, only to end up living in a flat so damp that he’d be better off storing his phone in rice when he wasn’t using it. His set bounced between careers, relationships and overcoming shyness, with clever callbacks and quick-fire jokes packed into a perfectly judged 20-minute slot. It was just enough to leave me wanting more, and I’d happily book to see a full show if he returns to the Fringe.

Next up was A&E Comedy with a taste of their show Do All The Things, an energetic, game show-style performance that leaned heavily into audience participation. The audience was split into teams for a game called Back, Sack and Crack, racing to pass a paper bag through the crowd before sending a Kinder Egg back the other way on an egg-and-spoon. Watching a theatre full of mostly middle-aged adults fiercely competing over a chocolate egg was every bit as ridiculous as it sounds. Performing as Suckit and See, the duo bounced effortlessly off the audience’s responses, improvising throughout and keeping the energy high. Between the show’s title, the characters’ names and the games themselves, it’s probably no surprise that this is very much a 16+ performance. I’m already booked to see the full show later this week, so expect a full review soon.

After a well-earned “run to the bar” interval, the headline act came from Australian comedian Tom Ballard. His set centred around stories of his relationship with his Aboriginal, Black boyfriend, who also happens to be an acrobat. That particular detail wasn’t wasted, leading to plenty of knowing laughs from the audience. While a few of the jokes seemed to pass over the heads of what appeared to be a predominantly white, middle-aged, straight audience, I thought his material was incredibly funny. One highlight was a story about discovering he was apparently too heavy to go horse riding, despite weighing just 120lbs, only for an audience member at a previous gig to suggest he try the “plus-size horse riding” nearby instead.

Overall, Pick of the Fringe was a fantastic evening and a great snapshot of the variety Ventnor Fringe has to offer. The surprise line-up is part of the appeal, giving audiences the chance to discover acts they might never have booked otherwise, and based on this evening, it’s a gamble well worth taking.

Ventnor Fringe played from 16 - 25th July 2026. If you’re looking for more Fringe theatre to enjoy, find out more about Camden Fringe and Edinburgh Fringe.