I do love a good laugh, so I was excited to be invited to the London debut of Bitches in Stitches — a global all-female collective of comedians championing inclusivity and creating safe spaces for femme comics and comedy lovers alike.
Bitches in Stitches was created by feminist comedian Fran Ayala-Rock in Hong Kong in 2021. Her shows quickly became a hit — selling out all 30 events she organised in the first two years. From there, she expanded to the Philippines, before fate intervened. She discovered that another comedy night with the same name and ethos already existed in the UK — in Manchester.
What could have been competition turned into collaboration. Fran and Bitches in Stitches Manchester founder Natalia Schwartz became instant fans of one another’s work and soon decided to merge their two collectives into one global brand — a feminist comedy powerhouse connecting women and non-binary comedians around the world.
Their first London show, fittingly titled “Welcome to the New Grrrl Order”, took place at Hoxton Cabin on 24th October, and what a night it was. The venue was buzzing even before the first act took the stage — a cosy, packed room full of laughter, anticipation, and that slightly electric sense that something special was about to happen.
Over the course of the evening, ten femme comedians performed — each wildly different in style, but every one bringing something bold, unfiltered, and hilarious. The line-up spanned a mix of ages, nationalities, and comedic styles, creating the kind of variety you rarely get at traditional comedy nights.
No topic was off-limits. Within minutes, the audience was howling at jokes about sex, periods, relationships, identity, and everything in between. This wasn’t a night for the faint of heart — but it was one for anyone who appreciates honesty, wit, and women speaking their truth without apology.
The atmosphere was one of joyful rebellion — loud, raw, and real. You could feel the camaraderie not only between the audience and the performers, but between the comics themselves, cheering each other on between sets.
There was a truly international flavour too — comics from the USA, Taiwan, and across the UK took to the stage. I was especially delighted when the first performer announced she was from my own hometown of Southend — because of course, Essex women always bring the laughs.
By the end of the night, my face ached from smiling. Bitches in Stitches is exactly what the UK comedy scene needs right now — inclusive, fearless, feminist fun that’s genuinely funny. I can’t wait to see what comes next for this global sisterhood of humour.
I spoke to Fran to find out a bit more about the background of Bitches in Stitches and what’s next for the feminist comedy brand.
- What inspired you to start Bitches in Stitches back in Hong Kong?
F: I wanted to create more opportunities for women in the stand-up scene to grow and succeed. In 2021, there were less than 10 of us who were doing paid gigs on a regular basis and we didn’t want to compete with one another for a five-minute spot on a male-dominated lineup. Instead, we built our own stage.
- When you started it, did you imagine it would grow into an international collective?
F: I did not. I wanted to organise one, all-femme comedy night in April 2021 — it sold out within six hours of the promo poster going live. So the venue asked us back for a repeat performance the following month, and then the month after. I expanded the collective to the Philippines in 2024 (a year after I repatriated there), and this year, merged with an all-femme, Manchester-based group of the same name and ethos, founded by Natalia Schwartz.
- How did you and Natalia connect — and what made you realise you wanted to merge your two projects?
F: In October 2024 (when I was still living in the Philippines), I received a Google Alert for “Bitches in Stitches” and discovered this group of women comics on the other side of the world, with the same mission of using laughter to lift each other up… it even had the same name! Seeing what Natalia was doing made my efforts feel like less of an uphill battle. We followed each other on Instagram right away, and later on decided to join forces when I confirmed my dates for moving to London. It seemed like a natural next step to merge into one global, all-femme community. The more of us out there, the stronger the message: comedy belongs to everyone.
- You’ve described Bitches in Stitches as a “safe space for femme comics.” What does that mean to you in practice, and how do you create that environment?
F: Bitches in Stitches is creating a safe space by producing shows that celebrate diversity and foster connections, with jokes that don’t punch down. Our shows are all about creating a community where laughter connects people instead of alienating them.
- Comedy has traditionally been quite male-dominated — what changes do you hope to see in the scene, and how do you think projects like yours help?
F: I want the number of opportunities for non-male comedians to match the breadth of talent that’s out there. Bitches in Stitches is here to make stand-up comedy more honest, more inclusive, and more representative of the world we actually live in because we believe that everyone deserves to have laughter in their lives.
- What did it feel like bringing Bitches in Stitches to London for the first time?
F: I was nervous. The stand-up scene in London is massive compared to its English-speaking counterparts in Hong Kong and Manila, but I wasn’t about to let that stop me from putting on the night. There’s no such thing as creating too many opportunities for women to succeed. I knew that I needed to partner with someone who could help me navigate the London scene and run the night, so I reached out to Arie David, who I met on the open mic circuit a year ago, before I moved here. She’s my co-founder.
- Were there any particular moments from the New Grrrl Order show that stood out to you?
F: The fact that we’d sold out days prior but people were still trying to buy tickets at the door was pretty amazing. It just goes to show how much of a demand there is for nights like ours. In terms of the actual show itself, I can’t single out any one performance because each act was so unique, and everyone brought their A-game!
- What’s next for Bitches in Stitches? World domination perhaps?
F: We’re taking our show to Edinburgh Fringe 2026 for a two-week run! It’ll be the first time our members from Hong Kong, the Philippines, and the UK all share a stage, but we’re also opening up guest spots for each show that’ll give other femme comics (who otherwise wouldn’t be able to) an opportunity to perform at Fringe. In the meantime, we’re taking donations to fund our Fringe run via Crowdfunder.
- How do you find and select performers for your shows across different countries?
F: In our Asia-based chapters like Hong Kong and Manila, we rotate the femmes and thems we know in those scenes into our show lineups based on their availability. There are notably less of them compared to the number of male comedians but we’re looking to change that! If you’re a non-male based in Hong Kong or Manila who’s interested in trying your hand at stand-up comedy, message Rose Rage (Hong Kong chapter lead) or Veronica (Manila chapter lead) on Instagram and let’s chat! For the UK, we post open calls on our socials for performers to apply, and go from there. We put out an open call three days ago for our London shows in February and March 2026 and have received nearly 40 applications! In terms of the selection process, we look for performers who have videos of themselves doing a solid tight five (5-minute performance), but can do a minimum of seven minutes on stage. Arie and I do our best to curate a lineup of diverse acts (rising stars and seasoned pros alike) who will bring in big laughs.
- Finally, what makes you laugh the most — and what do you hope audiences take away from a Bitches in Stitches night?
F: I find a lot of different things funny. It could be an hour-long satire on gender stereotypes or a fart compilation reel. For me, the most important thing is relatability — not necessarily having been in the same situation, but understanding the emotions involved.
What I hope audiences take away from a Bitches in Stitches night is community. Ultimately, we want laughter to create a sense of belonging for people who haven’t necessarily seen themselves represented much in stand-up. If the same voices keep telling the jokes, the rest of us become the punchlines. We want laughter to be a shared language that turns strangers into a room full of people who feel like they belong. Our shows are a safe space to show up as yourself, sit up front, and laugh like you mean it.
Bitches in Stitches next London night at The Hoxton Cabin is ‘The Bitching Hour’ taking place on 28th November. You can buy tickets here
Bitches in Stitches Socials-Instagram/Facebook
Review by Hayley Foster da Silva, Photos by Donna Ford
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