Ballymena comedian Gary Pollock’s debut solo show at The Braid nears sell-out months in advance
- Love Ballymena
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Ballymena comedian Gary Pollock pictured at The Braid auditorium where he will host his debit solo show in May.
Ballymena-born comedian Gary Pollock is set to return home for the biggest performance of his career to date, with his debut solo show Bucket List already reaching almost half capacity at The Braid Arts Centre—four months ahead of the curtain rising.
The much-anticipated hometown show will take place on Friday 22 May 2026, and with close to 200 tickets already sold, demand is building rapidly for what promises to be a landmark night for the local comedian.
After several years performing across Northern Ireland, running the popular Kiwi’s Comedy Club in Portrush, and supporting some of the country’s best-known stand-up acts, Pollock will step onto The Braid’s main stage for his first full solo hour.
The Ballymena date follows a sold-out preview run at The Playhouse in Portrush, where the show was refined ahead of its official theatre debut. In parallel with his live work, Pollock has also built a significant online following, with his comedy clips amassing more than 10 million views across social media in the past year, helping introduce his stand-up to audiences across the UK and Ireland.
Speaking ahead of the performance, Gary said:
“This one really means a lot. After 7 years of gigging in rooms around the country alongside running my club in Portrush, I’ve always wanted to bring a proper solo show back home. To see so many tickets already gone four months out is genuinely mad, in the best way.
“The Braid is such a brilliant venue, one I’ve performed in many times, but performing my first solo hour in front of a full hometown crowd feels like a proper bucket list moment for me.”
He added:
“There’ll be people in the audience I went to school with at Cambridge House, people I haven’t seen in years, and probably a few teachers as well - which is mildly terrifying! But that’s part of what makes doing it in Ballymena so special. It feels like a proper homecoming show.”
Bucket List blends sharp stand-up, storytelling and observational comedy, drawing on Pollock’s experiences of growing up in Ballymena in the 1990s, as well as family life, work and the everyday absurdities of Northern Irish life.
The show is delivered with what audiences have come to recognise as his trademark warmth and relatability.
The performance will take place in The Braid’s main theatre, a venue which has previously hosted well-known comedians including Neil Delamere and Tim McGarry, both of whom are also scheduled to appear at the arts centre in May 2026.
With nearly half the room already sold, audiences are being encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment.
Tickets are available now at:
The show takes place on Friday 22 May 2026 at The Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena.
For more information, visit www.garypollockcomedy.co.uk or follow @garypollockcomedy on social media.