The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society (ACMS) is a British comedy night, where comedians are invited to perform sets that might not work at more mainstream comedy nights. It was founded by John-Luke Roberts and Thom Tuck at the New Red Lion TheatreNew Red Lion in Islington, London. For a while it was mainly held at the Soho Theatre, but now the regular London venue is The Phoenix, Cavendish Square.The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society - Shows Each year there are Alternative Comedy Memorial Society shows at the Edinburgh Fringe. ACMS has been running since March 2011, usually on Monday evenings. The group's logo is a boulder emblazoned with 'JOKE?' being pushed up a hill, representing the slogan 'Fresh Sisyphean Comedy'.The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society - Permitted HecklesThe List - Alternative Comedy Memorial Society
The show
The show is curated and hosted by Thom Tuck, and produced by Isabelle Adam. There are a group of regular comedians, referred to as "The Board", including William Andrews, Steve Pretty, Tom Bell, Ben Target, John-Luke Roberts, William Andrews, Sophie Duker, Joz Norris, Eleanor Morton, Sian Docksey, and Jonny & the Baptists.https://noblefailure.org/members-of-the-board
The ACMS has developed a number of in-jokes, such as a list of permitted heckles and a repeated call and response with the audience.
In December 2012, the "ACMS panto" debuted. This was loosely structured around a performance of Aladdin, and played with many pantomime conventions.
The show has been filmed as a series of Comedy Blaps for Channel 4, which were released in 2013. The series is produced by Adrian Sturges and directed by Chris Shepherd.Chortle - C4 Releases ACMS BlapsThe Guardian - Alternative Comedy Memorial Society
Participants
Ed Aczel Tom Allen William Andrews Dan Antopolski Dru Cripps Belinda Anderson-Hunt Dougie Baldwin Tom Basden Aisling Bea Tom Bell Bob and Jim Ali Brice Alfie Brown Michael Brunström Abigail Burdess Holly Burn Margaret Cabourn-Smith & Zoe Gardner Bridget Christie Matthew Crosby Paul Currie Eleanor Curry Sian Docksey Alexis Dubus Alex Edelman Kevin Eldon Pippa Evans John Henry Falle Deborah Frances-White Nick Helm Adam Hess Matthew Highton Bec Hill Harry Hill Wil Hodgson Amy Hoggart Tommy Holgate Colin Hoult Edy Hurst Robin Ince Elis James Sanderson Jones Jonny & The Baptists Phill Jupitus Nadia Kamil John Kearns Tim Key Adam Larter Marek Larwood Tony Law Michael Legge Cariad Lloyd Josie Long Al Lubel Joe Lycett Tom Mayhew David McIver John Paul McQue Garrett Millerick Eleanor Morton Simon Munnery Robert Newman Phil Nichol Joz Norris Andrew O'Neill Jonathan Oldfield Celia Pacquola Henry Paker Rachel Parris Benjamin Partridge Sara Pascoe Howard Read Adam Riches John Robertson Lou Sanders Terry Saunders Paul Savage Abigoliah Schamaun Karl Schultz Waen Shepherd Bob Slayer Rachel Stubbings Nick Sun Isy Suttie Paul Sweeney Ben Target Lorna Rose Treen Alison Thea-Skott Asher Treleaven David Trent Addy Van Der Borgh Holly Walsh Danielle Ward Martin White Joe Wilkinson Mike Wozniak Sharnema Nougar David Tieck Kathy Rivett
Impact
In The Guardian in 2014, Paul Merton described ACMS as somewhere audiences go to enjoy the art of comedy.The Guardian - Hecklers put Paul Merton off Standup In The Guardian in 2016, Simon Munnery described ACMS as keeping alternative comedy alive, even as they claim to memorialise it.The Guardian - Simon Munnery - Is Alternative Comedy Over? Well Yes and No In 2018 The British Comedy Guide referred to ACMS as a "mighty institution".British Comedy Guide - First Gig, Worst Gig - John-Luke Roberts
On the other hand, Stewart Lee has suggested that ACMS doesn't represent the working classes in the way that 1980s alternative comedy did, and in 2019 a speaker at the University of Kent's 'Alternative Comedy Now' conference questioned whether ACMS are the inheritors of the alternative comedy ethos, suggesting that the shows are too highbrow and exclusive.Stewart Lee - Those Comedians That You Have NowBritish Comedy Guide - Alternative Comedy Now Conference
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryResult2026Chortle AwardsBest Comedy Format (London)
See also
References
External links Official Alternative Comedy Memorial Website Flickr set of photos of ACMS Season II