Comedian Chloe Petts is kicking off 2026 with her largest nationwide tour to date, a show born from the potent nostalgia and problematic legacy of 1990s lad culture. Her critically acclaimed hour, Big Naturals, previewed to sell-out crowds at the Edinburgh Fringe and opens with a three-week run at London's Soho Theatre from Friday, 2 January.
From Basement Triumph to Attic Disaster: The Comedy Learning Curve
Petts' stand-up journey began with a deceptive high. Her very first gig was a packed triumph in a pub basement, fuelled by friends and liquid courage. The reality check came swiftly at her second performance. "The second gig was in an attic above a pub, I didn't have the shots or my friends, and ate s**t for five minutes," she recalls. That stark contrast taught her a foundational lesson: never believe your own hype, and embrace the inevitable highs and lows of the craft.
Interrogating 'Lad Culture' with Nuance and Nostalgia
Big Naturals is a retrospective of growing up as a 'child geezer' during the peak of lad culture. Petts examines an era where misogyny was not just accepted but celebrated in lads' mags and mainstream comedy. "It created a framework where lads are allowed to be a**eholes," she insists, interrogating its toxic legacy. Yet, she finds room for nuance, acknowledging the genuine fun and communal spirit she found, particularly through the era's music, from Oasis to Kasabian.
This personal history is complicated by her simultaneous life in a Christian rock band and her upbringing within the Church of England. A pivotal, traumatic moment came when she confided in her Vicar's wife. "I told the Vicar's wife I might be gay. And then she said marriage was between men and women, and [being gay] wasn't something that God wanted," Petts recounts. Her stand-up finds humour and joy in navigating this clash of identities.
From Stage to Screen: Gathering Momentum
The comedian's unique perspective is clearly resonating. 2025 was a landmark year, featuring her debut on Live At The Apollo, a sold-out UK tour, a spot in Hannah Gadsby's Netflix special Gender Agenda, and regular appearances on Have I Got News For You. She describes the latter as intensely intimidating but thrilling, a masterclass in a slowly disappearing panel show skill.
Reflecting on what some see as her 'overnight success', Petts emphasises her 11-year grind. "For me it feels like this gentle floating downstream... I've been allowed to just practice, develop and have fun really quietly," she says. Now, she feels prepared and equipped, ready to build on milestones like her upcoming tour, which runs at Soho Theatre until 8 March before travelling across the UK.
