Will Franken - Homepage - Absurdist Comedic Performance Artist and Actor

Franken has a bionic ear for hot air. He'll undercut right-wing jingoism and left-wing piety alike... Simply hilarious.

— The Times of London

You can’t take your eyes off these inspired outpourings

— UK Guardian

Will Franken is an astounding character comedian who makes almost everyone else in his field look like lazy chancers.

— Chortle UK

What elevates Mr. Franken above your garden-variety comedian is an erudite wit and a highly developed sense of the absurd.

— The New York Times

Simply hilarious.

— The Times of London

I cannot remember one moment of this show that wasn't funny. I am still laughing.

— The Scotsman

You can't take your eyes off these inspired outpourings.

— UK Guardian

Best Alternative to Psychedelic Drugs.

— San Francisco Bay Guardian

Will Franken is an astounding character comedian who makes almost everyone else in his field look like lazy chancers.

— Chortle UK

Quite simply, he does the smartest comedy I’ve ever seen. I laughed so hard when I discovered his act that my ribs couldn’t contain it all.

— The Oakland Tribune

Franken wanders through a parallel-universe city populated by hipsters who challenge John Milton to poetry slams and crass marketers of women’s empowerment symposia, among other fun-house imaginings.

— The Onion

This is a supremely talented comedy actor, and each of his characters lives and breathes, however absurdly they do it.

— The Scotsman

It’s more acting than stand-up, and no race, minority, nor pet cause is safe. It belongs in some London theater and it’s way too good for cable TV.

— David Downs, Gelf Magazine

Every Will Franken show is like watching a cast of thousands, with a potpourri of voices and characters.

— San Francisco Chronicle

Instead of delivering one-liners, Franken simply becomes these diverse characters, something that a generic stand-up comic would be hard-pressed to replicate.

— San Francisco Herald

A hilarious, dryly intelligent comedian.

— The Reno News and Review

more praise → ← praise

Support Will Franken's work by becoming a patron at patreon.com/willfranken

Check out the shows below and you'll see Will Franken is in the North of England again -- as well as Scotland, Surrey, Wales, and his old home of London.

Also, Will Franken is the proud recipient of the 2017 Blake Society Tithe Grant Award for his letter written in the voice of the visionary contrarian, William Blake. See the happy Will Franken next to a life masque of his hero by clicking HERE and see the letter written from judge Tracy Chevalier to the winner (as well as a link to Will's own award-winning letter) by clicking HERE

WINNER: Blake Society Tithe Grant Award 2017

WINNER: ThreeWeeks Editors' Award 2014

WINNER: Barry Award: Best Performer 2014

Win With Will Franken!

Become a Patron → Press & Praise →

Creating satire in the juvenalian tradition

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Tuesday, 10 September

Comedy Unleashed / Back Yard Comedy Club

231 Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, E2 0EL

7:30pm

Monday, 23 September

Comedy Unleashed/Caroline of Brunswick

39 Ditchling Road, Brighton, BN1 4SB

7:30pm

Wednesday, 25 September

Fat Penguin Comedy Club

142 Trafalgar Road, Birmingham, B13 8BX

8:00pm

Friday, 27 September

Big Comedy Putney

86-88 Point Pleasant, London, SW18 1FU

8:00pm

Monday, 30 September

Comedy Unleashed / The Comedy Store

3 and 4 Arches, Deansgate Locks, Whitworth Street W, Manchester, M1 5LH

7:30pm

Saturday, 5 October

Academy FM Fundraiser/Southcliff Hotel Ballroom

22-26 The Leas, Folkestone, CT20 2DY

7:00pm

Tuesday, 8 October

Comedy Unleashed / Back Yard Comedy Club

231 Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, E2 0EL

7:30pm

Friday, 25 October

Forge & Company

154-158 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6HU

9:00pm

Tuesday, 29 October

Latter