Mark Simmons: Jest to Impress

A stand-up comedy show by Mark Simmons, built on written one-liners and jokes drawn from audience suggestions, staged at Monkey Barrel Comedy in Edinburgh.

Jest to Impress is a stand-up comedy show by Mark Simmons, presented as a brand new production on a 2026 tour. The material combines carefully crafted one-liners with off-the-cuff jokes based on random suggestions from the audience, so part of each evening depends on what the room offers.

Mark Simmons's previous tour was a sell-out debut that covered the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, and this new show extends that approach with a larger set of prepared one-liners. Every ticket includes a seat in the auditorium, so the evening is spent watching the performer rather than moving around the room.

Monkey Barrel Comedy, the Edinburgh venue hosting this show, presents comedy and other live shows. Mark Simmons also hosts a podcast, Jokes with Mark Simmons, in which fellow comics discuss jokes they wrote but could never make work.