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John Kearns: Tilting at Windmills

John Kearns: Tilting at Windmills

Wednesday 22 April 2026

Comedy

Tilting at Windmills is the brand-new stand-up show from Taskmaster alumni and double Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner, John Kearns.

A fragmented, digressing portrayal of a 38-year-old man’s life, alluding to books he hasn't read, touching on the modern condition. Plus VAT! More allusive and bleak as ever, it is unreal the comedian you become. And for who? Decent craic with the right crowd. A show for those who have read about but not committed to the Guinness Nitrosurge.

Seen bewildered on Taskmaster (Channel 4), terrified on Live at the Apollo (BBC), getting through Never Mind the Buzzcocks (Sky), and implicating others on his Sky stand-up special The Varnishing Days. More comfortable on pods but comes alive on stage, for your pleasure!

The Guardian ★★★★★

“most will surely be won over…with the delightful, poetic flourish that defines all his work… perfectly structured with overlapping themes and surprising callbacks… It’s all rather wonderful” - Chortle ★★★★★

“about as funny as anything this decade” - The Times ★★★★

Members get priority booking and save money on bookings.

Planning Your Visit

Getting Here

Located in the heart of Chelmsford's West End, we are only a 10-minute walk from Chelmsford train station and a short distance from many of the city's car parks.

By Train

Chelmsford Train Station is a short walk from the Theatre. You can look at Greater Anglia to check which trains stop at Chelmsford Station.

By Bus

Chelmsford Bus Station is just around the corner from the Theatre. You can look at First Essex to check which buses stop at the Chelmsford Bus Station.

By Car

The closest parking to the Theatre can be found at Townfield Street car park (open till 11pm Mon to Sat but closes at 6pm on Sun), Coval Lane car park (entrance via Rainsford Lane, open all hours) and Fairfield Road car park, (entrance via Coval Lane, open all hours but there are restrictions in place Mon to Fri before 5pm, Fairfield Road car park is also used extensively by people visiting the city in general and travelling to London on the train so can be very busy at all times).

Visit www.chelmsford.gov.uk/car-parks for information on all carparks before your visit. Charges apply at all times.

All Chelmsford City Council car parks are now cashless. You can still pay by card, contactless payment or the MiPermit app.