“Twins”: Chris and Matthew Ali on GlitterBeam

Comedy fans in Medway are in for something a little different as identical twins Chris and Matthew Ali take to the stage with their stand-up show TWINS, part of this year’s Medway Fringe Festival.

The brothers joined Polly in the GlitterBeam studio to chat about the show, their journey into stand-up comedy and what audiences can expect from a performance built around one simple idea: two people who may look identical, but whose lives have taken very different paths.

Watch the full interview below.

Same Face. Different Taste.

Chris and Matthew have been performing stand-up comedy for the past four years. Although they began their comedy journeys at the same time, they developed their material independently, each finding their own voice and style before bringing everything together for a shared production.

Their show, TWINS, combines individual stand-up sets with moments where they perform together as a double act, sharing stories, bouncing off one another and inviting the audience to become part of the experience.

The premise is refreshingly simple. They’re identical twins. One is straight. One is gay. From growing up together to navigating adulthood from different perspectives, the pair use humour to explore family life, relationships, identity and the strange situations that come with being constantly mistaken for each other.

Their tagline says it all:

“Same Face. Different Taste.”

Every Performance Is Different

While audiences can expect plenty of carefully crafted stand-up, no two performances are exactly alike.

The show includes live audience interaction, allowing Chris and Matthew to answer questions and respond to whatever the room throws at them. That spontaneous element means every audience becomes part of a unique performance, adding an extra layer of unpredictability to the evening.

Suitable for audiences aged 15 and over, the show contains moderate adult themes while remaining firmly rooted in storytelling and observational comedy.

Part of Medway Fringe Festival

TWINS forms part of the growing Medway Fringe Festival, a new celebration of creativity that aims to shine a spotlight on local artists and performers.

The festival began with an idea from Kieron Riddell, director of Spotlites Theatre, who envisioned a platform dedicated to showcasing Medway’s creative talent. That vision quickly gained momentum, with more than 25 organisations and stakeholders supporting the project.

Today, Medway Fringe provides opportunities for emerging performers, theatre makers, musicians, comedians and artists to present new work, helping to build a vibrant cultural programme across the region.

Rather than simply presenting established acts, the festival focuses on encouraging original ideas, supporting local creativity and giving audiences the chance to discover something new.

Event Details

TWINS

📍 Fort Luton
Magpie Hall Road
Chatham, Kent

Thursday 16 July
🕡 6:30pm

Friday 17 July
🕣 8:30pm

🎟️ Tickets: £6

Age Rating: 15+ (moderate adult themes)

Whether you’re curious about life as an identical twin, enjoy observational comedy or simply fancy discovering something different as part of Medway Fringe, TWINS promises an evening full of laughter, stories and unexpected moments.