Chris Kent (Comedian)

Hailing from ‘The Rebel County’ (That’s Cork for anyone outside Ireland), Chris gave up the day job as an electrician to pursue his calling in comedy. He emerged onto the Irish comedy scene in 2009 after winning the Bulmers Nuttin’ But Funny competition.

In 2010 Chris made his debut at one of Ireland’s biggest comedy festivals in Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens. His compelling storytelling then went on to win him the Comedy Smack Down Award at the Galway Comedy Festival later that year.
He quickly established himself on the Irish circuit and became sought out to open for some of his favourite acts, including Dylan Moran, David O’ Doherty, PJ Gallagher and Neil Delamare to name but a few.

In 2012 Chris was listed as “One To Watch” in The Dubliner Magazine’s Red Hot and Rising and went on to make his debut at the prestigious Cat Laughs festival in Kilkenny.

In August, Chris brought his first solo show ‘Plugged In’ (‘Breathes new life into anecdotal comedy’ -The List, ★★★★ Cream of the Fringe) to the Edinburgh Festival, where he fell ill after contracting the mumps. This was initially diagnosed as ‘just Edinburgh’ by fellow comedians. However, the large lump on his face was later confirmed as a genuine illness, and not simply ‘all in his head’. He had to cancel two shows to avoid creating an epidemic, although he’s not sure anybody noticed…

Chris returned to Ireland with broken dreams but mump free, to take up his seat on RTE Radio 1’s comedy panel show The Second Republic, alongside PJ Gallagher and Neil Delamare.

After a tough debut year, which he put down to “everybody in the world being in London for the Olympics”, Chris was determined to return to Edinburgh fighting. 2013 saw him perform his second solo show ‘Second Fix’ with a full bill of health and much healthier crowd numbers. This time he only had to cancel one show due to a delayed flight, and was delighted that people did notice (albeit being a bit annoyed at him).
He returned home that year, after a much happier Edinburgh experience, with a new UK agent.

In December, Chris was chosen to support Bill Burr in Vicar Street, on his only Irish date that year. He made his Irish television debut on New Years Eve as a panelist on RTE’s Next Year’s News.

In 2014 Chris took part in an Irish documentary The Stand Ups, which followed the lives of five Irish comedians. This gave a behind the scenes glimpse into the everyday life of a comedian, and followed Chris as he prepared for his third Edinburgh solo show ‘Corked’. ‘Fresh and original material, extremely endearing performer’ ★★★★ Broadway Baby. ★★★★ Threeweeks.

In 2015 Chris made his UK TV debut on Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central. Shortly afterwards, he moved to the UK to try and establish himself on the UK comedy scene, where he has quickly become a favourite at some of the top clubs.

He brought his fourth solo show ‘Stop Stalling’ (‘Original, hilarious material, Among the best acts I’ve seen ★★★★★ The Mirror) to the Edinburgh Festival.
He returned home after once again miscalculating his final shop and leaving behind half a bottle of shower gel and a box of cornflakes (unopened), and taking with him only resentment for the landlord that charged seven times the rent for an apartment that couldn’t possibly have been up any more stairs…

In 2016 Chris performed at the Perth Fringe. It was warm. He took a break from Edinburgh, assuming that “everybody in the world would be in Rio for the Olympics”. He did however go on to do his first Irish tour with ‘Stop Stalling’, performing to sell out crowds. It was cold.

Chris is currently working on his fifth hour, which he will be bringing to the Edinburgh Festival and beyond in 2017.

https://chriskentcomedy.com