Since it opened three years ago Shoreham’s Ropetackle Centre has been slowly building its audience.

And trustee Anne Hodgson believes the venue’s programme of Edinburgh Festival previews are helping put the Ropetackle on the map.

“There has been lots of interest,” she says. “Alot of people can’t get to Edinburgh, for all sorts of reasons – so the shows are selling really well.”

Among the big-name performers coming to Shoreham are Seann Walsh, Steve Hall of the Edinburgh Comedy Award-nominated sketch troupe We Are Klang, Dan Antopolski as part of the sketch trio Jigsaw, Patrick Monahan and Matthew Crosby of sketch trio Pappy’s.

Closing the mini-fest is Dave Gorman, who will be previewing his latest show Powerpoint Presentation, which sees him interacting with a projector screen in an all new “double act”.

“It is very good value,” says Anne. “I’m not sure you would see them in Edinburgh for these prices, and you don’t have to travel so far.

“A lot are back-to-back shows, so you see two comics in one night.

“It also gives the comics an opportunity to try out their work, which is part of our role to give artists a chance to develop, as well as trying to develop audiences.”

Among the comedy acts who have already visited Shoreham over the past three years are Andy Parsons, who previewed his latest tour at the venue, Rich Hall, Richard Herring, Barry Cryer and Gina Yashere, who brought her latest show to the space last week.

“The feedback we always get from the artists who perform here is that they really like the audience,” says Anne.

“It’s usually a very friendly audience, they don’t give them as hard a time as other places.

“It’s an intimate space, I think the artists like the smaller venue as it feels quite personal and close. I think you can get a better audience reaction to your show, which makes it perfect for a preview.”

The Ropetackle’s comedy audience has been steadily growing since it launched with the Barnstormers comedy nights, and welcomed its own resident improv group The Noise Next Door, which is doing two warm-up shows next month.

“It’s given us the confidence to put on other comedians,” says Anne. “We are now making comedy a very regular feature of our programme.

“Maybe when things are not going terribly well, comedy does better – people need a break and a good laugh.

“We try to put all different kinds of comedy shows on to challenge our audiences.”

*Seann Walsh: Ying And Young and Josh Widdicombe, Sunday, July 3, 8pm, £8.

* The Peacock And Gamble Emergency Broadcast and Steve Hall, Monday, July 4, 8pm, £8.

* The Noise Next Door: Bring The Noise and Patrick Monahan: Hug Me, I Feel Good, Sunday, July 10, 8pm, £10.

* Jigsaw – with Dan Antopolski, Tom Craine and Nat Luurtsema and Jimmy McGhie, Tuesday, July 12, 8pm, £6.

* The Noise Next Door: Bring The Noise and Matthew Crosby’s AdventureParty, Sunday, July 24, 8pm, £10.

* Dave Gorman’s Powerpoint Presentation, Tuesday, July 26, and Wednesday, July 27, 8.30pm, £15.

Call 01273 464440.