Des Bishop

Now a massive star in Ireland, native New Yorker, Des moved from Queens to Ireland in his mid-teens in 1990. He first came to prominence with his extraordinary TV series The Des Bishop Work Experience (2004), where he lived on minimum wage in a series of different jobs in Ireland. Mixing this documentary footage with stand-up, the series became one of the most talked-about of the year, and propelled Des into national stardom. In 2006, he embarked on his second critically acclaimed TV series, Joy In The Hood, where he taught stand-up comedy in disadvantaged areas in four major Irish cities. Another hugely successful live tour followed including invitations to the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal and the Melbourne Comedy Festival in Australia.

In 2010, Des put together his most personal show to date called My Dad Was Nearly James Bond. Inspired by his father, Mike who was diagnosed with terminal cancer; Des documented the remarkable life of an actor and model who gave up the glamour for a steady job in a department store when his three sons were born. Des also wrote a memoir by the same name, which was short-listed for an Irish Book of The Year Award. The My Dad Was Nearly James Bond live show previewed in Melbourne, before opening at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to widespread acclaim and five-star reviews including Brian Logan of The Guardian who called it “a coup de théâtre…compelling…like diamonds, this show is forever”. The show toured extensively both nationally and internationally in 2010/11 including The Barrow Street Theatre in New York.

Des has appeared on many live stand up shows including Edinburgh Comedy Festival Live (BBC), Live at the Comedy Store (Comedy Central) and Australian music themed quiz show Spicks and Specks (ABC). He was also the star of HBO’s “A Comic’s Climb” about his debut at the Aspen Comedy festival in 2005.

He made a sharp cameo appearance in Jim Sheridan’s movie In America as a coke-fuelled obnoxious businessman and he has co-written two successful stage plays: Rap Eire and Shooting Gallery, the latter being commissioned as a drama adaptation by RTE / Grand Pictures for broadcast in 2016. In total, Des has released five bestselling stand-up DVDs: Des Bishop Live at Vicar Street (2004); Des Bishop Live (2005); Des Bishop – Fitting In (2006); Des Bishop – Tongues (2007); and Desfunctional (2009).

His special, “Made in China” was released by Universal Pictures in November 2015. His special One Day You’ll Understand was released in November 2018 on the RTE Player. The openness and honesty of his presenting style combined with his restless imagination and perceptive comic observations make Des Bishop a must-see for fans of unique, insightful, and provocative comedy.

Who is it for?

Early Show: 16+/ Late Show: 18+

Tickets : $26.50 – $35.00

How to get tickets?

Buy online

Phone: (780) 483-5999

 

Date: Friday April 17, 2026 to Saturday April 18, 2026

Friday, Apr 17, 2026 | 7:30 PM & 9:45 PM
Saturday, Apr 18, 2026 | 7:00 PM & 9:30 PM

Venue & Address

The Comic Strip – Edmonton, 8882 170 St NW, Unit #1646, Edmonton, AB T5T 2E3

Wheelchair accessible

Accessible by Public Transport