Ticket sales are only available at the door, unless noted otherwise.
The Racket - Indie Comedy ft. Baton Pass and Mango! Mango!
It’s The Racket! Make some noise for indie comedy night!
Tickets: $8 at the door
Free Improv Jam
Everybody who attends will get a chance to perform. Put your name in the bucket and get randomly assigned to a group. Featuring players of all experience levels.
Great for students, beginners, and veterans! Free to attend and participate.
The Racket - Indie Comedy
It’s The Racket! Make some noise for indie comedy night!
Tickets: $8 at the door
Magic, Mentalism, & Comedy
Michael Bloemeke is an award-winning magician based in the Triangle. His show is a mix of magic, mentalism, and comedy. Over the course of an hour, he will do everything from read your mind to produce drinks out of thin air to teleport a card across the room, with comedy running throughout.
Hush Hush
Join Hush Hush for a special comedy show full of deep laughs and true revelations. Each show, audience members add their anonymous confessions into our bucket of truth. Our cast of improv all-stars read those aloud and turn one person's wild shame into everyone's party.
Tickets: $9 at the door
SINGamajig
It’s an improvised musical for kids!
A made-up story with songs, all inspired by your suggestions.
Fun for ALL ages - no, seriously.
Help us create the world with your drawings and suggestions.
Tickets at the door: $8 per audience member age 15 and under; $5 per adult
Advanced Study Musical Improv Class Showcase
This high-energy showcase features students from Mettlesome Instructor Matthew Schmitz’s Advanced Study Musical Improv class! They’ll perform a fully improvised musical comedy, making up scenes and songs on the spot with live accompaniment.
Tickets at the door: $7
Bull City Press Presents
Come ready to this reading series from Durham’s own Bull City Press for engaging poetry, fiction, and nonfiction from established and emerging writers.
Admission: Free!
Show and Tell ft. Land Lubbers
Talented improv team Show and Tell will weave true stories into comedic gold, live on stage for one night only.
Tickets: $9 at the door
Group Chat: Short-Form Improv Show
Five comedian friends challenge each other to perform improvised scenes, each with an unexpected twist that may or may not involve music, acting, props, competition, and YOU, the audience. Adding you to the group chat now…
P.S. Don’t worry, we’ll never pull you on stage unless you want to be there.
Tickets: $8 at the door
Golden Age
One location. A world of comedy.
The cast of Golden Age will showcase a whole world of characters all based on your suggestions.
Tickets: $9 at the door
Harold Night
One suggestion leads to the creation of a whole new world of comedy.
Tickets: $8 at the door
Free Improv Jam
Everybody who attends will get a chance to perform. Put your name in the bucket and get randomly assigned to a group. Featuring players of all experience levels.
Great for students, beginners, and veterans! Free to attend and participate.
The Racket - Indie Comedy ft. Deer Abbey and Spaghetti Warehouse
It’s The Racket! Make some noise for indie comedy night!
Tickets: $8 at the door
Broken Records: Musical Improv
Experience a completely improvised musical comedy show. Watch and listen as the cast of Broken Records makes up songs on the spot with live accompaniment, based on suggestions from you, the audience.
Tickets: $9 at the door
Hush Hush
Join Hush Hush for a special comedy show full of deep laughs and true revelations. Each show, audience members add their anonymous confessions into our bucket of truth. Our cast of improv all-stars read those aloud and turn one person's wild shame into everyone's party.
Tickets: $9 at the door
Zoomies: Stories & Sketch Comedy about People and their Pets
A one-hour comedy extravaganza celebrating the pets who rule our lives. This show is a fundraiser for the Urban Tails Compassion Fund.
Bull For Initiative: A Live Play D&D Show
A show with high charisma.
Watch a live-play Dungeons & Dragons show with dice-rolling and improvised storytelling! Costumed improvisers role-play as recurring characters in a unique story prepared by the Dungeon Master. Audience participation (and a giant D20 dice) helps determine the fate of our bumbling heroes.
Tickets: $9 at the door
Secret Society Improv Show
See the talented performers of Mettlesome’s Secret Society perform improv comedy.
Tickets: $7 at the door
Bring Your Own Sketch
Bring Your Own Sketch (BYOS) is like an open mic, but for sketch scripts!
Scripts are read in a table-read style. You can bring your own performers to read the script, or cast volunteers from the audience.
BYOS is a great opportunity to show off your scripts, get feedback, or just have fun.
Cost: Free!
MettleSketch: French Girls
A brand-new sketch showcase every month! Come see unique and original sketch comedy from the best Mettlesome has to offer.
$9 at the door
Hush Hush
Join Hush Hush for a special comedy show full of deep laughs and true revelations. Each show, audience members add their anonymous confessions into our bucket of truth. Our cast of improv all-stars read those aloud and turn one person's wild shame into everyone's party.
Tickets: $9 at the door
SINGamajig
It’s an improvised musical for kids!
A made-up story with songs, all inspired by your suggestions.
Fun for ALL ages - no, seriously.
Help us create the world with your drawings and suggestions.
Tickets at the door: $8 per audience member age 15 and under; $5 per adult
The Lottery
A cast of current Mettlesome students and House Team members are chosen at random to perform a night of improv comedy. Hosted by Lotto Master Meredith Biechele.
Tickets: $8 at the door
Show And Tell & Lakehouse
The talented cast of Show and Tell will weave true stories into comedic gold, live on stage for one night only.
Plus Lakehouse! Two-time King Shit Cagematch Champions, Lakehouse performs a monoscene that is full of surprises.
Tickets: $9 at the door
MettleSketch: French Girls
A brand-new sketch showcase every month! Come see unique and original sketch comedy from the best Mettlesome has to offer.
$9 at the door
Golden Age
One location. A world of comedy.
The cast of Golden Age will showcase a whole world of characters all based on your suggestions.
Tickets: $9 at the door
Wait, What’s Sri Lanka? A Stand-Up Comedy Special by Shenuque Tissera
This show explores the joy of embracing all parts of your identity while navigating the pain of not feeling seen.
Buy tickets.
Golden Age
One location. A world of comedy.
The cast of Golden Age will showcase a whole world of characters all based on your suggestions.
Tickets: $9 at the door
Saturday Harold Mixer
One suggestion leads to the creation of a whole new world of comedy.
Tickets: $8 at the door
Short-Form Improv Show
A cast of improvisers will bring your suggestions to life for a hilariously good time. (Don’t worry, we’ll never pull you on stage unless you want to be there.)
Tickets: $8 at the door
Hush Hush
Join Hush Hush for a special comedy show full of deep laughs and true revelations. Each show, audience members add their anonymous confessions into our bucket of truth. Our cast of improv all-stars read those aloud and turn one person's wild shame into everyone's party.
Tickets: $9 at the door
Broken Records: Musical Improv
Experience a completely improvised musical comedy show. Watch and listen as the cast of Broken Records makes up songs on the spot with live accompaniment, based on suggestions from you, the audience.
Tickets: $9 at the door
Secret Society Improv Show
See the talented performers of Mettlesome’s Secret Society perform improv comedy.
Tickets: $7 at the door
Free Improv Jam
Everybody who attends will get a chance to perform. Put your name in the bucket and get randomly assigned to a group. Featuring players of all experience levels.
Great for students, beginners, and veterans! Free to attend and participate.
Harold Night
One suggestion leads to the creation of a whole new world of comedy.
Tickets: $8 at the door
![[SOLD OUT!] GIANT ROBOT FIGHT CLUB](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56d8f6b522482ef0c3d8c948/1785275296434-UDX95LQJ1LGGZ679XSNB/IMG_5416.jpg)
[SOLD OUT!] GIANT ROBOT FIGHT CLUB
Durham favorite GIANT ROBOT FIGHT CLUB brings their epic battles to the Mettlesome stage.
Tickets available via Eventbrite and at the door: $15 regular seating / $30 ringside seating
Sketch 201 Showcase
This show is the culmination of a seven-week sketch comedy deep dive from Mettlesome Instructors Megan Myers’ and Tristan Yonce’s Sketch 201: The Writers’ Room class. Come see the graduates show off their comedic sketches!
Tickets at the door: $7
M10 - Saturday 8/29 | 10pm Block
Mettlesome’s 10th Anniversary! | Ten Years. Two Weekends.
Strap in, voyagers, cause it’s time to party! We’re celebrating ten years of comedy born and raised right in here Durham with two full weekends of house teams, indie faves, regional pals, bit shows, and Very. Special. Guests.
Saturday 10pm Block Schedule
10PM King Shit FINALE (Indie Team) - It ends here! Which team will take the crown and the $69 gift card to Chili's
10:45PM Don Pardo PROV (Bit Show!) - Longtime SNL announcer Don Pardo will introduce the evening's guest stars
11PM Gator Nuggz (Regional Pals from Savannah, GA) - A hilarious duo from Front Porch Improv in Savannah, GA.
11:30PM Self Indulgent Impression PROV (Bit Show!) - Watch Meredith and Charles attempt to imitate your favorite folks at Mettlesome Theater!
11:45PM Lakehouse (House Team) - Two-time King Shit Cagematch Champions, Lakehouse performs a monoscene that is full of surprises.
12:15AM Fatherly (Indie Team) - Two dads doing improv.
12:30AM Chatty Yeti (Indie Team) - Chatty Yeti builds worlds from an item that fits in a suitcase, taking you on a tour with plenty of left turns.
1AM The Kevins I Know (Bit Show!) - How many Kevins do you know?
1:15AM THE BAT (House Team) - Improv in the Dark.
M10 - Saturday 8/29 | 8pm Block
Mettlesome’s 10th Anniversary! | Ten Years. Two Weekends.
Strap in, voyagers, cause it’s time to party! We’re celebrating ten years of comedy born and raised right in here Durham with two full weekends of house teams, indie faves, regional pals, bit shows, and Very. Special. Guests.
Saturday 8pm Block Schedule
8PM Crashing Out (Bit Show!) - One person memorized the lines from an episode of reality TV. The other person is improvising.
8:15PM HOLY SHIT IMPROV (NYC/LA) (Headliner) - An improv show featuring the best comedy talent in LA and NY. A show so good, it’ll have you yelling, “Holy Shit!”
9PM Golden Age (House Team) - One location. A world of comedy.
M10 - Saturday 8/29 | 4:30pm Block
Mettlesome’s 10th Anniversary! | Ten Years. Two Weekends.
Strap in, voyagers, cause it’s time to party! We’re celebrating ten years of comedy born and raised right in here Durham with two full weekends of house teams, indie faves, regional pals, bit shows, and Very. Special. Guests.
Saturday 4:30pm Block Schedule
4:30PM All My Beautiful (Indie Team) - Buckle up for a montage from All My Beautiful.
5PM CLOWN STUFF (Bit Show!) - Clown Stuff from Kevin & Kara.
5:15PM That’s My Insomniac (Indie Team) - Goofs goofing.
5:45PM Bull for Initiative (House Team) - A D&D live play from some of your Mettlesome favorites.
6:45PM Nerd Lenz (Indie Team) - An improvised movie from a bunch of nerdz.
7:15PM Show & Tell (House Team) - True stories inspire scenes taking place in a snigle location.
M10 - Friday 8/28 | 11:15pm Block
Mettlesome’s 10th Anniversary! | Ten Years. Two Weekends.
Strap in, voyagers, cause it’s time to party! We’re celebrating ten years of comedy born and raised right in here Durham with two full weekends of house teams, indie faves, regional pals, bit shows, and Very. Special. Guests.
Friday 11:15pm Block Schedule
11:30PM Golden Age Fights to the Death (Bit Show!) - The cast of Golden Age took a stage combat workshop and now they're going to do a montage.
11:45PM Alexit (Bit Show!) - This show was performed once and only once in 2016 when Brexit was at the top of everyone's mind. Watch these two hunks remove an article of clothing at every edit.
12AM Newt Work (Indie Team) - Its classic Newt Work, folks! Narrative freeform that goes any and very where - what a ride!
12:30AM PLAY BY PLAY (Bit Show!) - Improv is a sport. This show gives it the color commentary it's long deserved.
1AM OXYGEN DEPRIVATION (Bit Show!) - At all times, one performer will have their head submurged in a bucket of water.
1:15AM 30 People Play Freeze (Bit Show!) - Everyone plays Freeze.
M10 - Friday 8/28 | 9pm Block
Mettlesome’s 10th Anniversary! | Ten Years. Two Weekends.
Strap in, voyagers, cause it’s time to party! We’re celebrating ten years of comedy born and raised right in here Durham with two full weekends of house teams, indie faves, regional pals, bit shows, and Very. Special. Guests.
Friday 9pm Block Schedule
9PM Mettlesome Reunion Show (House Team) - Friends from far and wide reunite on the Mettlesome stage.
9:30PM Coalition Theater All Stars (Regional pals from Richmond, VA) - The best of the best from the Coalition Theater in Richmond, VA.
10PM Mango Mango (Indie Team) - Fast paced improv from your favorite hot new indie team.
10:30PM OUTWIT OUTLAST OUTPROV (Bit Show!) - In the spirit of CBS's Survivor, this cast will vote out a performer after each scene.
11PM Mr. Collins Wild Ride (Bit Show!) - See this show if you like Phil Collins.
M10 - Friday 8/28 | 7pm Block
Mettlesome’s 10th Anniversary! | Ten Years. Two Weekends.
Strap in, voyagers, cause it’s time to party! We’re celebrating ten years of comedy born and raised right in here Durham with two full weekends of house teams, indie faves, regional pals, bit shows, and Very. Special. Guests.
Friday 7pm Block Schedule
7PM Show Us Your Teeth (Indie Team) - Long form improv.
7:15PM Hush Hush (House Team) - Comedy based on secrets! With some old friends joining the show.
7:45PM TFTI: Too Many Invocations (Bit Show!) - For every object in a scene, the team Thanks for The Invite will perform the classic improv opening "The Invocation."
8PM HOLY SHIT IMPROV (NYC/LA) (Headliner) - An improv show featuring the best comedy talent in LA and NY. A show so good, it’ll have you yelling, “Holy Shit!”
M10 - Thursday 8/27 | 9pm Block
Mettlesome’s 10th Anniversary! | Ten Years. Two Weekends.
Strap in, voyagers, cause it’s time to party! We’re celebrating ten years of comedy born and raised right in here Durham with two full weekends of house teams, indie faves, regional pals, bit shows, and Very. Special. Guests.
Thursday 9pm Block Schedule
9PM The Short Straw (House Harold Team) - The OG improv form. Three worlds collide!
9:30PM GOOD ADVICE / BAD ADVICE / NIC CAGE (Bit Show!) - Get three types of advice.
9:45PM NO Consequences (House Harold Team) - The OG improv form. Three worlds collide!
10:15PM Plot Holes (Indie Team) - Narrative improv. Come see a whole story unfold before you.
10:45PM Improv Jam (Audience Sign Up) - Anyone who wants to gets to do improv.
M10 - Thursday 8/27 | 7pm Block
Mettlesome’s 10th Anniversary! | Ten Years. Two Weekends.
Strap in, voyagers, cause it’s time to party! We’re celebrating ten years of comedy born and raised right in here Durham with two full weekends of house teams, indie faves, regional pals, bit shows, and Very. Special. Guests.
Thursday 7pm Block Schedule
7PM Land Lubbers (Indie Team) - Doofs.
7:15PM Mettlesketch: French Girls (House Sketch Show) - The Mettlesome Sketch House Team: French Girls presents OOPS! All Blackouts!
7:45 Capital City Culture Club (Regional Pals from Raleigh, NC) - - From ComedyWorx in Raleigh, NC, C4 brings true stories to life with improv.
8:15PM GREGX (Bit Show!) - Greg Phillips improvises a Ted Talk. His submission said: "Give me 10 Minutes and I will change your life."
8:30pm PSA (Bit Show!) - Don't smoke kids.
Bull For Initiative at the Durham County Main Library
A show with high charisma at the Durham County Main Library.
Watch a live-play Dungeons & Dragons show with dice-rolling and improvised storytelling! Costumed improvisers role-play as recurring characters in a unique story prepared by the Dungeon Master. Audience participation (and a giant D20 dice) helps determine the fate of our bumbling heroes.
[SOLD OUT] GIANT ROBOT FIGHT CLUB
Durham favorite GIANT ROBOT FIGHT CLUB brings their epic battles to the Mettlesome stage.
Tickets available via Eventbrite and at the door: $15 regular seating / $30 ringside seating
Improv 401 Class Showcase
This class show is the culmination of a seven-week improv comedy deep dive. Come out and support the graduates of Mettlesome Instructor Craig Carter’s Improv 401: The Harold class!
Tickets: $7 at the door
Improv 301 Class Showcase
This class show is the culmination of a seven-week improv comedy deep dive. Come out and support the graduates of Mettlesome Instructors Charles Givens’ and Ross White’s Improv 301: Improv Longform class!
Tickets: $7 at the door
Improv 201 Class Showcase
This class show is the culmination of a seven-week improv comedy deep dive. Come out and support the graduates of Mettlesome Instructor Joe Dawson’s Improv 201: Game of the Scene class!
Tickets: $7 at the door
M10 - Saturday 8/22 | 10pm Block
Mettlesome’s 10th Anniversary! | Ten Years. Two Weekends.
Strap in, voyagers, cause it’s time to party! We’re celebrating ten years of comedy born and raised right in here Durham with two full weekends of house teams, indie faves, regional pals, bit shows, and Very. Special. Guests.
Saturday 10PM Block Schedule
10PM Nik Narain (Standup) - Storytelling and standup comedy from the only standup comic we let in the festival.
10:15PM KING SHIT Semifinals: Round 2 (Indie Team) - Two teams compete for audience votes and the opportunity to be crowned "King Shit" for 2026.
10:45PM Tech on the Rails (Bit Show!) - Kevin has put together a QLab show and is going to hit "Go". Everything is timed and triggered in advance and there's no modification once it starts.
11PM Spaghetti Warehouse (Indie Team)
11:30PM Big Party Big Quirks (Bit Show!) - It's the short form game party quirks
11:45PM Thanks for the Invite (House Team Reunion) - Retired Harold Team "Thanks for the Invite" returns to the Mettlesome stage.
12:15AM WE SAID THERE’D BE A SPAGHETTI SHOW, SO HERE’S A SPAGHETTI SHOW (Completely Real Restaurant Opening)- Meatballsome presents....The Spaghetti Show!
12:30AM Beastie Rap (Bit Show!) - A VERY SERIOUS TEAM RAP BATTLE in the style of the Beastie Boys and also among beasties such as werewolves, bears, and vampires.
12:45AM The Bully Jam (Audience Sign Up) - An improv jam, but you can't enter a scene unless someone else tags you in.
M10 - Saturday 8/22 | 8pm Block
Mettlesome’s 10th Anniversary! | Ten Years. Two Weekends.
Strap in, voyagers, cause it’s time to party! We’re celebrating ten years of comedy born and raised right in here Durham with two full weekends of house teams, indie faves, regional pals, bit shows, and Very. Special. Guests.
Saturday 8pm Block Schedule
8PM Chandy (Indie Team) - Charles and Andy do impressive two-prov.
8:15PM Comedy Connoisseurs (Bit Show!) - Comedy - n. professional entertainment, intended to make an audience laugh. Connoisseur - n. a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
8:30PM Tami Sagher & Faculty (Headliner) - Veteran improviser Tami Sagher joins the Mettlesome Faculty.
9:15PM Task (BITS) Master (Bit Show!) - Improvisers compete in ridiiculous tasks in the style of the TV show Taskmaster. Winner gest bragging rights and a cheap trophy
M10 - Saturday 8/22 | 5pm Block
Mettlesome’s 10th Anniversary! | Ten Years. Two Weekends.
Strap in, voyagers, cause it’s time to party! We’re celebrating ten years of comedy born and raised right in here Durham with two full weekends of house teams, indie faves, regional pals, bit shows, and Very. Special. Guests.
Saturday 5PM Block Schedule
5PM Connor Ratliff Presents: The Acting Class (Headliner) - A one-person improv show disguised as an acting class, from the creator of the Dead Eyes podcast.
5:45PM Girlhood (House Team) - An all-woman cast digs out the photos from their past that didn’t quite make it into the scrapbook for an improvised show about the sweet, the sour, and the seriously funny parts of womanhood.
6:15PM The Novelty (Indie Team) - Veteran Triangle improvisers
6:45PM Local Legends (Regional Pals from Greenville, SC) ) - A veteran cast of improvisers creates an improvised set based on true stories.
7:15PM 5 Minute Harolds (Bit Show!) - Most Harolds are 22 minutes. Can you do one in 5?
SINGamajig
It’s an improvised musical for kids!
A made-up story with songs, all inspired by your suggestions.
Fun for ALL ages - no, seriously.
Help us create the world with your drawings and suggestions.
Tickets at the door: $8 per audience member age 15 and under; $5 per adult
M10 - Friday 8/21 | 10:30pm Block
Mettlesome’s 10th Anniversary! | Ten Years. Two Weekends.
Strap in, voyagers, cause it’s time to party! We’re celebrating ten years of comedy born and raised right in here Durham with two full weekends of house teams, indie faves, regional pals, bit shows, and Very. Special. Guests.
Friday 10:30PM Block Schedule
10:30PM Surprise (Bit Show!) - Truly, who knows.
11PM King Shit Semifinals: Round 1 (Indie Team) - Two teams compete for audience votes and the opportunity to be crowned "King Shit" for 2026.
11:30PM BIG OOF: Statler & Waldorf-Prov (Bit Show!) - Muppet Vision 3D closed, so Statler and Waldorf have relocated to the Mettlesome Theater.
11:45PM Baton Pass (Indie Team) - Short form comedy!
12:15AM Improv Jam (Audience Sign Up) - Anyone who wants to gets to do improv.
M10 - Friday 8/21 | 9pm Block
Mettlesome’s 10th Anniversary! | Ten Years. Two Weekends.
Strap in, voyagers, cause it’s time to party! We’re celebrating ten years of comedy born and raised right in here Durham with two full weekends of house teams, indie faves, regional pals, bit shows, and Very. Special. Guests.
Friday 9pm Block Schedule
9PM Connor Ratliff Presents: The Acting Class (Headliner) - A one-person improv show disguised as an acting class, from the creator of the Dead Eyes podcast.
9:45PM Hush Hush (House Team) - Comedy based on secrets! With some old friends joining the show.
10:15PM Overtly Sentimental Toast (Bit Show!) - Happy 10 Years to Mettlesome!
M10 - Friday 8/21 | 7pm Block
Mettlesome’s 10th Anniversary! | Ten Years. Two Weekends.
Strap in, voyagers, cause it’s time to party! We’re celebrating ten years of comedy born and raised right in here Durham with two full weekends of house teams, indie faves, regional pals, bit shows, and Very. Special. Guests.
Friday 7pm Block Schedule
7PM Mettlesketch: Off Menu (House Sketch Show) - A brand new sketch comedy show performed by Mettlesome House Sketch Team: Off Menu
8PM Make Meredith Laugh (Bit Show!) - Meredith's former students try to make her laugh and she tries not to laugh.
8:15PM Broken Records (House Team) - Musical. Improv. Comedy.