Gardening comedy show takes root in Bethnal Green for Chelsea Fringe

Jo Stephenson and Dan Woods

Residents of the East End might think they have seen it all but this June Oxford House in Bethnal Green will host a comedy show like no other. Can You Dig It?  is a gardening themed comedy opus that boasts a multitude of songs about the highs and lows of allotment life.

It includes the world’s first rap off between a gardener and a slug, an epic 1980’s inspired power-ballad in honour of Alan Titchmarsh as well as a Eurovison inspired ode to the popular BBC radio show Gardeners’ Question Time.

Can You Dig It? is the brainchild of gardening comedians, songwriters and Carrot Olympics champions Jo Stephenson and Dan Woods, who both herald from London.

The pair are familiar faces on the city’s comedy and cabaret circuit and have toured the show throughout the UK, visiting more than 60 venues, but this is the first time they have performed on home turf as part of the Chelsea Flower Show Fringe.

Ukulele songstress Jo said: “We’re really excited to be finally doing the full live show on London clay. It may be sticky and tricky to cultivate but it is where all this started so it feels right to be performing on home soil.

“We’re really pleased to be part of the Chelsea Fringe because it’s a brilliant celebration of gardening and the fun you can have with a trowel in your hand. We’re among friends, proper gardening folk, who will know exactly what we are singing about.”

Regardless of whether one is a novice to pruning or a well-soiled gardener Jo and Dan believe Can You Dig It? will make hardy perennials of us all.

Can You Dig It? is on at Oxford House, Bethnal Green on Saturday 8 June at 7:30pm . Tickets are £10 and can be booked at wegottickets.com/event221711 or call the venue on 020 7739 9001.