What happens when you combine razor-sharp stand-up with live illustration? Comedian, writer and cartoonist Henry Paker is set to find out in his brand-new show, Pencil Case, a unique evening that blends inventive comedy with live drawing. The tour opens this September and will take in dates until Spring 2027. Tickets are on sale now from www.henrypaker.com/. 

Henry Paker said: "I am beyond thrilled to be going on tour with my brand-new show, Pencil Case. It's a genre-defying evening that fuses stand-up comedy and live illustration. You've looked behind a wizard's curtain, you’ve visited a sausage factory, but have you ever seen inside an illustrator's pencil case? Of course you haven't. No one has, until now! I’ve had so much fun developing this show, and I can't wait to share it with the fantastic and quietly noble people of the United Kingdom.”

Henry has written for some of Britain's biggest TV comedy shows, including Mock the Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats and Would I Lie to You?. He is also one of the hosts of the hugely popular Three Bean Salad podcast and an acclaimed illustrator whose distinctive work has featured in Joe Wilkinson: My Autobiography and the best-selling children’s book Kay's Anatomy.

Henry Paker is an award-winning comedian, writer, podcaster, illustrator and cartoonist whose work spans television, radio, books and animation.

As an illustrator, Henry has collaborated with Adam Kay on seven bestselling children's books, which have sold more than a million copies worldwide and been translated into 32 languages. Their picture book Amy Gets Eaten won The Week Junior Book Awards Best Picture Book in 2024, while Kay's Incredible Inventions received the Laugh Out Loud (Lollies) Book Award in 2025. He also co-wrote and illustrated the cartoon books Don't Arm Wrestle a Pirate, selected for Richard & Judy's Book Club, and Why Steve Was Late.

Henry is the co-creator, designer and executive producer of the forthcoming animated children's series Aquila and the Medieval Misfits, produced by Tiger Aspect Kids & Family for Canal+ and ITV. He is also writing an episode of the forthcoming second series of BBC One sitcom Can You Keep a Secret, starring Dawn French, Mark Heap and Craig Roberts.

His television writing credits include School of Rock: The Musical, Michael McIntyre's Big Show, Top Gear, Jon Richardson's Ultimate Worrier, Hypothetical and Comic Relief.

Henry wrote and starred in four series of the BBC Radio 4 sketch show Small Scenes alongside Mike Wozniak, Daniel Rigby, Sara Pascoe, Cariad Lloyd and Jessica Ransom. He also co-wrote and starred in the acclaimed Radio 4 sitcom ReincarNathan, featuring Diane Morgan, Daniel Rigby, Miles Jupp, Jack Dee, Josh Widdicombe, James Acaster, Romesh Ranganathan and Sally Phillips. The series was selected as a Critics' Choice by The Observer, The Times, The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, Radio Times and the Daily Mail.

As a performer, Henry has appeared on Josh, Comedy Central at the Comedy Store and Edinburgh Comedy Fest Live.

Alongside his broadcast work, Henry's cartoons have appeared in The Times, The Observer, The Spectator and Prospect.

TOUR DATES

SEPTEMBER 2026 

THU 3 SEP 2026                         NORWICH                    PLAYHOUSE
SUN 13 SEP 2026                      TUNBRIDGE WELLS        TRINITY THEATRE
FRI 18 SEP 2026                        MANCHESTER              AVIVA STUDIOS
WED 23 SEP 2026                     BIRMINGHAM              TOWN HALL
WED 30 SEP 2026                     LIVERPOOL                  LIVERPOOL PLAYHOUSE THEATRE

OCTOBER 2026 

FRI 9 OCT 2026                         NORWICH                    PLAYHOUSE
FRI 23 OCT 2026                       NORTHAMPTON           ROYAL & DERNGATE
THU 29 OCT 2026                     LONDON                     SOHO THEATRE WALTHAMSTOW
FRI 30 OCT 2026                       LONDON                     SOHO THEATRE WALTHAMSTOW

NOVEMBER 2026 

SUN 15 NOV 2026                    GUILDFORD                 YVONNE ARNAUD
SUN 22 NOV 2026                    BRISTOL                        BRISTOL BEACON

FEBRUARY 2027 

FRI 5 FEB 2027                          EXETER                         EXETER NORTHCOTT THEATRE
SAT 6 FEB 2027                         PLYMOUTH                   THE QUAD THEATRE
SAT 20 FEB 2027                       LEEDS                           LEEDS PLAYHOUSE

MARCH 2027

THU 4 MAR 2027                       LANCASTER                  LANCASTER GRAND
FRI 5 MAR 2027                        NEWCASTLE                 TYNE THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE
SAT 13 MAR 2027                     LEICESTER                     THE Y THEATRE
WED 24 MAR 2027                   BRIGHTON                   THEATRE ROYAL BRIGHTON

MAY 2027

SAT 22 MAY 2027                     CARDIFF                      THE NEW THEATRE
SUN 30 MAY 2027                    GLASGOW                   THEATRE ROYAL GLASGOW

Picture by Matt Stronge