Jokes and Laffs – July 2025

Athena Kugblenu

Athena Kugblenu is a writer, comedian, podcaster and voiceover artist. She's known for her frequent radio appearances – The Now Show, News Quiz, DM’s are Open, Breaking the News –  and has written and appeared on Mock the Week, Pointless, House of Games, Sorry I Didn’t Know and Comedy Central Live.

She's a prolific writer of comedy and kids' television with credits including Horrible Histories and Jo Jo and Gran Gran.

She performs stand up everywhere and during the summer can be found messing around on comedy stages at festivals like Green Man, Latitude and Deeshed. Her stand-up comedy special Magnifying Class is available on BBC sounds as is Cancel Culture – a comedy series written and performed for Radio 4.

She writes and co-hosts the multiple award winning podcast Bust or Trust and hosts her own podcast Procrastinate, where she talks to creatives and other interesting people about how they get stuff done.

Last year, her first theatre production, in collaboration with Upswing Aerial, Showdown, had a 6 month run in Berlin's Chameleon Theatre and it will tour the UK in summer 2025.

She has written two books for children: History’s Most Epic Fibs and Histories Most Epic Fails. Epic Fails will be published in September 2025 and is available for pre order now.

Charmian Hughes

Comedian Charmian Hughes studied clowning under Philippe Gaulier and Theatre de Complicite but unable to uphold the mime vow of silence, ran away to play stand-up comedy clubs throughout the nation entertaining everyone from members of the Houses of Parliament to ‘Lifers’ in prison (not to be confused).

”I have been a stand up since the last century, regularly doing twenty minute sets on the circuit and compering clubs. I have played everywhere, from The Comedy Store to Glastonbury Festival, Prisons to the Houses of Parliament. 

My comedy has evolved with my life, keeping pace with my experience and maturity- which reflects in the eight solo shows I’ve written and performed- from early shows about motherhood ‘The Magic Muff’, being an early female stand up ‘When Comedy Was Alternative’, a trip to India in search of an escaping great great Grandmother ‘Raj Rage’, a show about hitting sixty ‘Soixante Mirth’, Charmian Hughes Bra Trek.” and new show ‘What-Not.’

Grand Finalist British Comedian Of The Year 2018

Nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy Award 2016

Nominated Best Comedy Show Buxton Fringe 2016

‘‘Charmian Hughes even in such a short time seems to give a sense of both the gravity and the humour of her comic potential.”   Broadway Baby      

“A wonderful way with a curtain….Charmian is the poster girl for the natural sexagenarian and time spent with her is  a joy – a genuinely enjoyable watch”  Kate Copstick

Glazz Campbell

Originally from Sheffield living in London. Glazz style of comedy is one liners weaved into story lines, a comedian for over 30 years, having gigged at Hackney Empire, Lewisham Theatre, Amsterdam, Nigeria and much more.

President Obonjo

President Obonjo of Lafta Republic has been performing stand-up comedy since 2010.The President is a comedy character, whose set combines political and personal story lines (drawing on his alter ego’s experiences and influences as a British Nigerian), the impact of Social media on his life, and the nonsense of modern life.He is a bit of a charmer in his Field Marshal’s uniform!

Luton Comedian of the Year 2013 Beat the Gong at the Comedy Store October 2013

Beat the Frog in Manchester 2013 Bath Comedy Gladiators 2013

Hastings Comedian of the Month 2013

“The President is a spectacle and should not be missed, you will be blown away by his energy of this well-established comedian, and he became my President that night.” Dave Greaves

Tags: comedy, gmg, group, summer2025, ThePlace