Derby Arena is thrilled to announce upcoming shows from two comedy giants, Bill Bailey and Rhod Gilbert.
Bill Bailey will stop off in the city on Monday 12 February at 8pm as he returns to the stage with his latest show Bill Bailey: Thoughtifier.
With his trademark musical stylings and characteristic wit, Bill Bailey is a comedian, musician, writer, actor, director, presenter known for his live shows and his work on the television programmes Black Books, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and QI.
At a point in our evolution when it seems as if we’re sleepwalking into a world where humans might be redundant, and much of what we do can be done better and more efficiently by machines, what better time to celebrate our own flawed humanity? And who better a guide to lead us than Bill…
To take us on a jaunt through the error-strewn, distracted, crumb-festooned, sometimes magnificent history of human thought and how it might help us survive in this brave new world.
A magical, musical mystery tour of the human mind, along with some other pressing matters about whales, biophilia, unrequited love and other thoughts. Amplified With Music. Welcome to Thoughtifier!
Tickets are priced from £27 to £52 and sales are limited to six per household. The show is recommended as suitable for age 16+.
His genius is to bring arena-sized crowds along… by the force of his quirky enthusiasm and by neither pandering nor ever pretending to be anyone other than his idiosyncratic, off-the-beaten-path self - The Guardian
Rhod Gilbert will bring his brand-new show Rhod Gilbert and the Giant Grapefruit to Derby Arena on Saturday 12 April 2025 at 8pm.
Welsh sensation Rhod Gilbert is one of the UK’s leading comedy talents. He has enjoyed many successful years as a star of television and radio and continues to uphold his esteemed reputation as a seasoned host, prolific writer and first-class live performer.
Now the multi-award-winning comedian is bouncing back with a full UK and Ireland tour. Recognised as one of the finest stand-ups of a generation, Rhod’s last tour The Book of John, kicked off in 2019 and ran until 2023 (with extra dates added due to overwhelming demand, covid delays, and further postponements due to Rhod’s cancer diagnosis).
A highly personal and honest show, Rhod performed The Book of John to over 200,000 people, amassing widespread rave reviews, with critics hailing it as his best live show to date.
Previously, Rhod was dealing with some pretty pungent life citrus, and an idiot called
John. Little did he know that things were about to turn even more sour…but Rhod’s not bitter; he’s bouncing back and feeling remarkably zesty.
Hilariously dark, passionate and way too personal, this is classic Gilbert, squeezing every last drop out of life’s latest curveballs...with a little help from an old adversary.
Tickets are £37 and limited to six per household. The show is recommended as suitable for age 16+.
Darkly hilarious. It’s good to have him back - The Times
Hilarious tour-de-force - The Telegraph
Volcanic, high-octane humour. Uproariously funny - The Guardian
Without doubt one of the best comedians anywhere in the world - Time Out
Venue pre-sale for both shows opens at 10am on Wednesday 27 September. This is only available to existing Derby LIVE customers – so if you want to take advantage of this, be sure to create an account before the 27 September.
Tickets go on general sale on the Derby LIVE website at 10am on Friday 29 September.