REVIEWS
4 STARS BINGE FRINGE ”Hammer Horror, Colossal Squids and solidly fantastic standup. Charmian Hughes has it all. She is joyfully silly and beautifully condemning, masking satirical quips with an impish charm. A true professional and a pleasure to watch.”
3 STARS SCOTSMAN BUT like ORION’S BELT THEY ARE GOOD ONES! ‘perfectly matched writing and performing skills dance this comedy waltz. Life lessons from She Who Must Be Obeyed and the Colossal Squid, age gap marriage, ponies and some delightful sexual similies, make for an engrossing hour. Ursula Andress herself could not enchant you like this.”
2022 Promoter feedback :”But oh my gosh you were so brilliant. Had loads of punters come up to me asking about you after the show. You were absolutely brilliant.” Gary Colman, Secret Squirrel
‘That was a comedy masterclass!’ Elaine Blackmore Corner House Surbiton
CHARMIAN HUGHES – COMEDY C.V.
Charmian started out her working life in Advertising- but after her triumphant thrush remedy slogan ‘When your c**t can’t, C*n*stan can’ offended the client instead of delighting them, she found herself catapulted into the world of stand-up comedy.
A fun start in Clowning under French Maestro Philippe Gauliere did not satisfy her gift of the gab, but gave her the ridiculous stage presence she exudes today.
Charmian has travelled the world with her stand up ! In Spring 2023 she was nominated Best Comedy Show at the Nelson Fringe Festival in New Zealand.
She has played and been paid at:
The Comedy Store, Bearcat, Banana, Glee, Agraman gigs, Up The Creek, Tunnel Club, Stand Up Club, Pull The Other One, EDT Comedy, My Comedy, Red Imp, Bring Your Own Baby, After Mirth, Mirth Control, Jesterlaffs, Laughing Bishops, Laughing in Braughing, Squirrel Club, Bath Comedy Club, Neil Brodie, Mark Makin, Kai / shaft OF wit, and many many more. Regular MC for Downstairs at The Kings Head main Saturday night show.
Regular MC over the years at Glastonbury Festival for Cabaret, Theatre and Maverick Tents.
10 Edfringes, 5 New Zealand fringe festivals, (nominated 2023) 4 Buxtons (nominated Best Comedy twice) Scilly Laughs, Shaftsbury, Manchester’s Funny Women, Dublin Comedy Festival and Guernsey Speedboat Festival.
Melbourne Comedy Festival 2018 and 2019.
Acting wise, Charmian starred in Edinburgh Fringe award nominated Fassbinder play ‘Blood On The Neck Of The Cat’ as Phoebe (‘Obviously talented’ Telegraph) and with The Comedians Theatre Company at The Pleasance. She also performed for Comedians in The Dark, Silver Comedians and extensive corporate work for Big Difference Company.
Charmian has taught a range of workshops: From her legendary Jackson’s Lane Comedy Workshops which a young Micky Flanagan attended (as featured in his recent SKY documentary Peeping Behind The Curtain) to teaching Beginners Stand up at The City Academy to teaching, directing and performing ‘Tringe Festival’ 2022.
NOMINATED BEST SOLO COMEDY SHOW BUXTON FRINGE FESTIVAL 2021
SHE!! IMMORTAL HORROR QUEEN’S GUIDE TO LIFE!
Live! Laugh! Liquidate! That’s the message Charmian got from a Hammer Horror film she saw aged 8. Starring Bond Girl Ursula Andress, it taught her how to do everything you shouldn’t do in life.
Nominated BEST SOLO COMEDY in a covid reduced BUXTON FRINGE FESTIVAL 2021 it returns on July 21st and 22nd in new shiny sexier revised form.
See ‘gig page’ for more dates.
https://charmianhughes.co.uk/stand-up-comedy/gigs/
Obsession! Jealousy! Revenge! Great hobbies.
https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=10016
https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=9986
http://thewireless.co.nz/articles/our-picks-from-the-fringe-festivals
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/qa-charmian-hughes
The Scotsman
Charmian Hughes: What-Not
Published: 11:32
Thursday 08 August 2019
Charmian Hughes is a masterful storyteller.
Kate Copstick
Charmian Hughes was, she reveals, brought up as a strict Catholic, of Anglican parents, in a family of various half-siblings who made her life a misery.
Charmian Hughes: Whatnot, Laughing Horse @The Counting House, Edinburgh * * *
She had a challenging childhood which only improved when she became the Girl With The Dead Gran. Her relationship with her mother is the stuff of Hollywood horror stories and, although long gone, haunts her comedy. But that is not a bad thing as she makes for some ferocious anecdotes.
And anecdote is her superpower. You could listen, and giggle, wonder and sympathise for hours and never get bored by the smiley lady in the Kiwi print dress. Actual ‘gags’ are not really her thing, rather eccentric observations and odd little afterthoughts sprinkle her stories and keep you laughing.
The real joy and fun of a Charmian Hughes hour is the woman herself. More than any other performer I can think of, it is she who lights up the show, she whom you remember long after the details of the material fade. It is, as the saying goes, the singer, not the song. And she is a wonderful singer.
https://www.facebook.com/thecafenz/videos/564609217239224/
Grand Finalist British Comedian Of The Year 2018
Nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy Award 2016
Nominated Best Comedy Show Buxton Fringe 2016
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.’
‘‘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 
‘Joyous fun hour’ Funny Women ‘ 
‘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
‘Lovely surprises’ Bruce Dessau
‘Captivating storyteller, irresistible performer’ The Scotsman
STOP PRESS! New show! ‘What-Not’. REVIEW:
”A Buxton Fringe favourite, what Charmian brings us this year is a wander through the world of the human what-not, and it is full of surprises and inventiveness.
This is one of the best shows at this year’s Fringe! (Buxton Fringe 2019)
Bruce Dessau: ‘
A regular on the comedy circuit, she went off and did the sensible thing of bringing up a family so had to give the Fringe a wide berth for a while. Now that the family has grown up she has started returning to Edinburgh and is back this year with her latest show, entitled What-Not, about identity and more. Charmian self-identifies as a what-not, the word for people who don’t have a word. Bridget Christie says “I love Charmian Hughes'” and Christie has excellent taste.
"The best gags" The Independent
"Brilliant" What's on in London
''Humour darker and more bitter than a bar of Green & Blacks 85%'' Leicester Mercury
''Charming ribaldry'' The Guardian
''Like Josie Long's Mum'' Chortle
''Good old fashioned set-up and punch. four stars'' Funny Women
''One for comedy fans'' Bruce Dessau ''
A cry for help'' Three Weeks