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theatre · Thursday 17 September 2026 · 7:30pm 
Karen Dunbar at The Montrose
At The Montrose Playhouse · Derry, Co. Derry
At The Montrose Playhouse · Derry, Co. Derry
Scottish comedy has travelled a long road to Derry over the years, and Karen Dunbar is one of its most decorated exports. A BAFTA award winner, Dunbar built her reputation through the beloved sketch show Chewin’ the Fat before landing her own series, The Karen Dunbar Show, which earned four nominations at the Golden Rose European TV Awards. Her live shows are known for warmth as much as wit - sharp observational comedy delivered with the timing of someone who has been doing this for a very long time. This September solo performance at The Montrose Playhouse suits comedy fans, fans of Scottish television, and anyone after a proper night out in the city.
Dunbar’s stage shows draw on her background in character comedy and storytelling, mixing material from her television past with the kind of personal, confessional humour that has made her a consistent sell-out act. Expect a performance that moves between sharp one-liners and longer narrative runs - audiences who know her work tend to come primed and ready. The Montrose Playhouse in Derry hosts a varied programme spanning theatre, comedy and the performing arts. Doors are likely from around 7pm for the 7:30pm start, so arriving a little early is sensible.
Derry sits in the north-west of the island, roughly two and a half hours by road from Dublin via the M1 and N2, and under an hour from Belfast on the A6. Bus Eireann and Translink both run services into the city. The centre is compact once you arrive. Multi-storey parking at Foyleside Shopping Centre or surface car parks nearby are the usual options if you are driving. Trains from Belfast Lanyon Place take just over an hour, arriving at Waterside station with a short bus or taxi ride to cross the river.
The 17th-century walled city is one of the best-preserved in Europe, and the murals of the Bogside are worth seeing on any visit. September is a good month - the summer crowds have thinned and the city is at its most liveable. There is more to see in Derry and across Co. Derry.
Heading to The Montrose Playhouse in Derry? Derry has plenty more to see. Read the Derry area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.