Canadian comedian Tom Stade will bring his new stand-up show, Rules, to Oxford in November as part of a UK and Ireland tour.
The comedian will perform at the Glee Club Oxford at The Bullingdon on Wednesday 18 November 2026, with the show starting at 7.15pm. The event is listed for audiences aged 16 and over.
Rules is Stade’s 16th stand-up hour and follows his 2025 tour, Naughty By Nature. The new show takes aim at the contradictions between modern life and the conventions of the past, exploring social codes, cultural differences, identity, marriage, family life and the experience of getting older.
The material is described as a mixture of observations about changing social norms, personal stories and audience interaction, with Stade examining the rules people are expected to follow — and what happens when they are ignored.
Reviews of the new show have highlighted both the quality of the writing and Stade’s delivery. Quintessential Review praised the way his personal reflections and anecdotes come together into a tightly constructed hour, noting his use of callbacks, carefully built set-ups and punchlines.
Edinburgh Reviews described the performance as a demonstration of Stade’s experience, highlighting his storytelling, crowd work and ability to appeal across different generations.
One4Review similarly praised his timing and stage presence, while Fringe Radio noted that the show tackles subjects including culture, race and politics through comedy rather than treating them as dry topics.
Other reviews have focused on the physical energy of Stade’s performances. The Mail on Sunday compared his energy with that of a Porsche 911, while the Scotsman described him as a performer capable of combining humour with a more thoughtful side.
Stade has been performing stand-up in the UK since moving from Canada in 2001. His television appearances have included Live at the Apollo, The John Bishop Show, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and Mock the Week. He was also a co-writer and co-star of Channel 4’s Tramadol Nights and has performed at comedy festivals in the UK and internationally.
He has toured the UK with a new show each year since 2011, while appearances at festivals have taken him to cities including New York, Montreal, Toronto, Melbourne and Edinburgh. His previous tour, Naughty By Nature, played extensively across the UK in 2025.
The Rules tour began in September 2026 and includes more than 60 dates across the UK and Ireland. After Oxford, the tour continues with dates in Reading, Cheltenham, Swindon and Lincoln before resuming in March 2027.
At the Oxford venue, doors open at 6.45pm and last entry is at 7.15pm. The Glee Club Oxford is at The Bullingdon on Cowley Road.
