Tom Stade brings Tom Stade Rules to the Midlands

Canadian comedy powerhouse Tom Stade is heading to the Midlands with his brand-new stand-up show, Tom Stade Rules, bringing his trademark swagger, razor-sharp observations and gloriously unfiltered humour to venues across the region.

Now embarking on his 16th stand-up hour, Stade’s latest show follows a sell-out, five-star Edinburgh Fringe run and sees the veteran comedian turn his attention to the changing rules of modern life, shifting moral codes and the question of who really gets to decide what’s right and wrong.

With dates at venues across the region, Midlands audiences will have plenty of opportunities to catch one of stand-up’s most distinctive voices live.

Ahead of the tour, Tom chats to us about the inspiration behind Tom Stade Rules, how social media has transformed the comedy industry, finding the funny in life’s uncomfortable truths and why, after nearly four decades on stage, the thrill of making an audience erupt with laughter still keeps him coming back for more.

Your new show is called Tom Stade Rules. What inspired the title, and which of society’s “rules” are you most looking forward to taking apart on stage?

The title Tom Stade Rules is a bit tongue in cheek really, because I’m not even sure what the rules are anymore, never mind who’s making them. I’ve spent 38 years on stage saying whatever I think, and now I find myself questioning things I wouldn’t have given a second thought to 20 years ago.

But the show isn’t really about society’s rules; it’s about me trying to figure out what my own moral rules are. What do I actually believe? What’s right, what’s wrong, and how much of that is genuinely me, and how much is just society telling me what to think?

We’re living in a world where everybody seems absolutely convinced they’re morally right, and I’m starting to wonder if anybody’s actually stopped to think about it. Including me.

So I’m not going on stage to tell people how to behave. I’m going on stage to figure out exactly how I’m supposed to behave. And hopefully, we can all have a good laugh while we work that out.

Seeing as the show lampoons modern life, what are some of the biggest changes you’ve noticed over the last 30 years in comedy

Like any business, the comedy world changes, and you have to accept that. I think we all know the biggest shift in comedy by far is social media. It has definitely changed the way comedians and audiences view comedy.

The old way of driving across Canada for 10 years, playing in smoky old bars and honing your craft, is gone because now content is king. It has given new comedians the opportunity to build their own audiences without waiting for someone in the industry to give them permission, whether they’re ready or not, which is absolutely awesome. But it also means you’ve got to be more than just funny.

You’ve got to be your own promoter, producer, editor and marketing department. And I really do think that’s the biggest change I’ve seen in 30 years.

And it kinda makes me laugh to think what kind of content Lenny Bruce would’ve had to put out to get noticed.

You’ve built a reputation for being gloriously unfiltered while still connecting with audiences of all ages. How do you strike that balance between pushing boundaries and bringing everyone along for the ride?

I don’t really think about pushing boundaries. I think the audience will always decide where the boundaries are, because I’ve always loved taking people somewhere they weren’t expecting to go, getting them laughing at something they probably thought they shouldn’t.

That’s the kind of humour that makes me laugh. There has to be an edge to it. And the thing is, none of us are saints, so I don’t see the point in treating people like we are. And by keeping it real, I think it connects us all.

I’m much more interested in finding out what’s underneath what we pretend to be. I believe that’s what they call holding up the mirror.

You’ve got different generations, different opinions, different moral codes, and somehow, by the end of the night, all us saints are looking at ourselves in the mirror, laughing at our own ridiculousness.  And it really doesn’t matter what age you are.

This is your 16th stand-up hour and follows a critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe run. After so many years on the road, what still excites you about creating a brand-new show and taking it on tour?

I still get a massive buzz out of it. There’s nothing better than coming up with a new bit, trying it out on an audience and hearing the place erupt. There’s no other rush like it.  It’s probably my last true addiction, and there isn’t any meeting that’s ever gonna get me to stop.

And being on the road, meeting people, having a laugh and getting into all sorts of ridiculous conversations. After 16 different shows, you’d think I’d have had enough, but apparently, I haven’t got anything better to do!

You’ve performed everywhere from major international comedy festivals to entertaining British troops overseas. Are there any standout moments from your career that have particularly shaped the comedian you are today?

There’s no one gig that has shaped me into the comic I am today, but definitely going out to Afghanistan was pretty unforgettable.

I believe I’m one of the first comedians, along with my fellow brother Phil Butler (RIP, you gorgeous man), in the history of war to entertain troops on the front line of a war zone. We did a FOB — the soldiers will know what that is.

You’re on stage in a MASH-type base, making a bunch of soldiers laugh in the middle of a war zone. I almost caused an international incident when the call to prayer came on in the middle of my act. Thank God it didn’t make the BBC News!  Now, that gig was definitely unforgettable. I loved those soldiers.

I’ve played some incredible venues over the years, but a great gig is a great gig, whether it’s 30 people or 3,000. I’m just happy they’re still letting me do this!

You’ve made the UK your home and have toured the country extensively for years. What is it about performing live for British audiences that keeps you coming back with a new show year after year?

Easy one. Every part of the country has its own way of taking the mickey (as you Brits would say – I’d phrase it differently 🙂 .  Glasgow, Liverpool, Newcastle, London — they’re all completely different, but they’ve all got that same ability to find the funny in absolutely everything.

The British can be miserable son of a guns. The weather’s terrible, the trains don’t work, everything costs a fortune, but you guys still find a way to laugh about it.

And I love that. It’s easy to laugh at the good times, but here in the UK, you can be having the worst day of your life, and the first thing you’ll do is find a way to laugh at it.  So I guess I’ll keep calm and just keep carrying on.

Tom Stade’s Midlands tour dates

• Sunday 18 October 2026 – Glee, Birmingham
• Sunday 25 October 2026 – Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
• Sunday 1 November 2026 – Royal Spa Centre Studio, Leamington Spa
• Sunday 8 November 2026 – Artrix, Bromsgrove
• Friday 27 November 2026 – Foxlowe Arts, Leek
• Friday 4 December 2026 – Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
• Sunday 28 March 2027 – Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford
• Thursday 6 May 2027 – Town Hall, Kidderminster