Stuart Goldsmith will bring his new stand-up show Canary to Oxford’s Old Fire Station this September, turning climate anxiety, personal contradictions and fears about the future into comedy.
At a glance
| Show | Stuart Goldsmith: Canary |
| When | Sunday 20 September 2026 |
| Time | 8pm |
| Where | Old Fire Station, 40 George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AQ |
| Tickets | Standard tickets £18 |
| Age guidance | 16+ |
| Running time | 1 hour 20 minutes plus an interval |
| Booking | Book through the Old Fire Station or call 01865 263990 |
A comedian who has made the climate crisis the focus of his stand-up will perform in Oxford as part of his first major UK tour in almost a decade.
Stuart Goldsmith brings Canary to the Old Fire Station on Sunday 20 September, following an Edinburgh Festival Fringe run and earlier tour dates in Cambridge and Glasgow.
The show tackles a subject more commonly associated with scientific reports, political arguments and anxious headlines, but Goldsmith’s approach is rooted in personal storytelling and self-deprecating comedy rather than a lecture.
Promotional material describes Canary as an exploration of climate change, mental health, parenting, veganism, artificial intelligence and social inequality, with Goldsmith placing his own choices and inconsistencies at the centre of the hour.
What is Canary about?
Canary examines the tension between knowing that the climate crisis is serious and trying to live an ordinary modern life.
Goldsmith considers whether individual changes genuinely add up to a solution, or whether concentrating heavily on personal behaviour can distract from the actions of governments and fossil-fuel companies.
His examples include driving a second-hand electric car, carrying a reusable bottle onto an aeroplane and taking a long-haul flight to perform at a climate conference.
The contradictions are deliberate. Rather than presenting himself as someone who has solved sustainable living, Goldsmith uses his own anxiety, convenience, family responsibilities and mistakes as the material.
In an interview with the British Comedy Guide, he said: “I’m not telling people how to live. I’m telling them how I’m failing to live better.”
That approach allows the show to ask difficult questions without dividing the room into people who are doing climate action correctly and those who are not.
Comedy as a response to climate anxiety
The title draws on the image of a canary as an early warning of danger.
Goldsmith uses that idea to explore what happens when the alarm has already been raised but people remain uncertain about how to respond.
Climate comedy can easily become bleak, preachy or overloaded with facts. Goldsmith says his priority remains making the audience laugh, while using comedy to approach fears that might otherwise cause people to disengage.
He told the British Comedy Guide that a joke can make it possible to discuss something genuinely frightening without audiences immediately shutting down.
The resulting show is intended to be hopeful without pretending the situation is simple. It is about finding a useful response to fear, rather than insisting that audiences remain cheerful or offering a list of effortless solutions.
Early reviews from the Edinburgh Fringe
Canary is currently running at Cabaret Voltaire as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it continues until Sunday 30 August.
The show has been selected for the British Comedy Guide’s Recommended Shows list, with the publication praising its combination of substantial jokes and practical hope in the face of the climate crisis.
It has also received positive early reviews from publications including The Reviews Hub, LouReviews, Phoenix Remix and Beyond the Joke.
The Oxford performance will be longer than the Edinburgh version. The Fringe show is listed at 60 minutes, while the Old Fire Station gives a running time of one hour and 20 minutes plus an interval.
Who is Stuart Goldsmith?
Goldsmith is a stand-up comedian, writer, podcaster and speaker whose television credits include BBC’s Live at the Apollo, US talk show Conan, Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central and Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled.
He has also performed at international comedy festivals including Just for Laughs, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, South by Southwest and Netflix Is A Joke in Los Angeles.
His previous climate stand-up show, Spoilers, won Best Show at the 2023 Leicester Comedy Festival and later toured to festivals, theatres and sustainability events.
Canary is his second full show centred on climate change.
Goldsmith is also the creator and host of The Comedian’s Comedian, a long-running podcast exploring how comedians develop material and cope with the demands of their profession.
The podcast has recorded more than 500 episodes and passed 30 million downloads. Guests have included James Acaster, Sarah Millican, Bo Burnham, Bill Burr, Jimmy Carr and Nish Kumar.
Planning your visit to the Old Fire Station
Performance details
| Venue | Old Fire Station |
| Address | 40 George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AQ |
| Date | Sunday 20 September 2026 |
| Start time | 8pm |
| Standard ticket | £18 |
| Age guidance | 16+ |
| Running time | 1 hour 20 minutes plus an interval |
| Box Office | 01865 263990 or tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk |
| Booking | Old Fire Station event page |
Getting there and accessibility
The Old Fire Station is on George Street in central Oxford, beside Gloucester Green and within walking distance of Oxford railway station.
There is no visitor parking at the venue. The closest public car park is Gloucester Green, accessed from Gloucester Street, although spaces and city-centre traffic can be busy.
Blue Badge parking is available nearby on Beaumont Street, New Inn Hall Street and St Giles.
The George Street entrance is step-free, as is the route into the main theatre. The venue also has an accessible toilet, a hearing-assistance system and welcomes assistance dogs.
Disabled customers are eligible for one free companion ticket. Wheelchair users and anyone requiring a particular seat or other adjustment should contact the Box Office before attending.
Full information is available through the Old Fire Station access and facilities page.
Stuart Goldsmith’s 2026 tour dates
| Date | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 17 to 30 August | CabVol 1 at Cabaret Voltaire | Edinburgh Festival Fringe |
| 3 September | Cambridge Junction | Cambridge |
| 16 September | The Stand | Glasgow |
| 20 September | Old Fire Station | Oxford |
| 2 October | Fairfield Social Club | Manchester |
| 9 October | Sherman Theatre | Cardiff |
| 16 October | Norden Farm | Maidenhead |
| 6 November | Foundry | Sheffield |
| 13 November | Glee Club | Birmingham |
| 18 November | Bristol Old Vic | Bristol |
Tour dates and booking information can also be found through Stuart Goldsmith’s official website.
FAQs
When is Stuart Goldsmith performing in Oxford?
He will perform Canary at the Old Fire Station on Sunday 20 September 2026 at 8pm.
What is Canary about?
The show uses stand-up and storytelling to explore climate anxiety, individual environmental choices, parenting, personal contradictions and the balance between individual and systemic action.
How much are tickets?
Standard tickets are listed at £18 through the Old Fire Station.
What is the age guidance?
The Oxford performance is for audiences aged 16 and over.
How long is the show?
The Old Fire Station lists a running time of one hour and 20 minutes plus an interval.
Is the venue wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The George Street entrance and main theatre have step-free access. Wheelchair users should contact the Box Office so the venue can prepare an appropriate space.
Are companion tickets available?
Disabled customers are eligible for one free companion ticket. Contact the Box Office on 01865 263990 or at tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk.
Is there parking at the Old Fire Station?
There is no parking at the venue. The nearest public car park is Gloucester Green, while Blue Badge spaces are available on several nearby streets.
Where can people book?
Tickets are available through the Old Fire Station website.
