London is full of stand-up citizens.
And, luckily for us, plenty of great comedy clubs for them to perform in.
See, London can boast one of the most prolific, varied, and adventurous comedy scenes in the world, offering rooms of all sizes, and acts to suit all tastes. It’s also surprisingly affordable. So right here, and right now, allow us to serve (on a comedy tiny plate) our tightly curated edit of the best comedy shows playing in the capital this month.
Because in a stressful and difficult world, comedy is good for what ails you.
BEHOLD THE BEST LONDON COMEDY SHOWS THIS MONTH –
1) Hackney Comedy Experience with Adam Buxton | EartH
Adam Buxton rose to fame as one half of the legendary comedy duo Adam & Joe (but we won’t tell you which). And according to Google, one of the things most frequently asked about him is ‘Where is Adam Buxton?’, so it gives us great pleasure to say with almost 100% certainty that between the hours of 7 and 10.30pm on Friday 31st May he will be at EartH in Dalston, headlining a corker of a comedy gig that also features sets by Sindhu Vee, Michael Odewale, Mat Ewins and Sarah Keyworth.
Dinner before: Fantastic Mexican food at Corrochio’s
Drinks after: Craft brews at Red Hand
Details: The Hackney Comedy Experience with Adam Buxton is on at EartH in Dalston on 31st May. Tickets are £25.71, and you can book HERE.
–
2) Séayoncé: She Must Be Hung! | Soho Theatre
Full props to Dan Wye for not only conceiving of one of the greatest drag names of all time, but for fully committing to the bit and continuously reinventing his dazzling intersection of drag, stand-up and psychic mediumship. After hoovering up critical acclaim, sell-out shows and plaudits like the Vault Festival After Dark award, all seems to be going swimmingly for our mystic heroine – until she finds herself at the centre of a witch trial. There will be jaw-dropping theatrics. There will be mystical show-tunes from Séayoncé’s murderous side-kick. And there will be plenty of innuendo… by which we mean very explicit, absolutely filthy gags.
Dinner before: Start the night with a bang at Gunpowder
Drinks after: Nightcaps at Bar Termini
Details: Séayoncé: She Must Be Hung! is on at the Soho Theatre from 30th April – 17th May. Tickets cost £18; you can book here.
–
3) Tom Lawrinson: Hubba Hubba | Soho Theatre
Seeing as the guy’s racked up over 125 million views online, it’s statistically very likely that you’ve seen one of Tom Lawrinson’s sketches on social media (and it’s also highly likely that you laughed at it). That, or he has one very, very devoted fan. Either way, if that’s you, you should waste no time in seeing him in 3D at the Soho Theatre, for the London leg of his stand-up tour. Hubba Hubba raked in the 5* reviews at the Edinbugh Fringe last year for its sheer wackiness, which sees him veer from wood pigeon skits to off-the-cuff comedy.
Dinner before: Margs and oysters at Rita’s
Drinks after: Subterranean cocktails at Swift
Details: Tom Lawrinson: Hubba Hubba is on at the Soho Theatre from 20th-22nd May. Tickets start at £17; you can book here.
–
4) Knock2Bag Comedy Night | MOTH Club
Credit: Claire Haigh
Oddly-named, immaculately-curated – for some time now, Knock2Bag has offered some of the most exciting mixed-bill comedy lineups in London, inevitably jam-packed with a gorgeous combination of established headliners and buzzy newcomers. It’s probably the coolest comedy night in London, and at its home in Hackney’s legendary MOTH Club K2B now serves up a weekly box of delights. Coming up this month: headliners like Maisie Adam, Jamali Maddix and Jazz Emu.
Dinner before: Fun & flavoursome Chinese at Lucky & Joy
Drinks after: Head to the cult wine bar 107
Details: Knock2Bag Comedy Night is next on at MOTH Club (nearest station Hackney Central) on 9th May (Maisie Adam, Emma Sidi); 16th May (Jamali Maddix, Chloe Petts); 23rd May (Jazz Emu, Ben Pope); and 30th May (Jamali Maddix). Tickets are £16.83, and you can book HERE.
–
5) Fool’s Moon | Soho Theatre
Book tickets to Fool’s Moon, and you’re likely to strike gold. It’s a bonkers, genre-bending, utterly electrifying scratch night of weird and wonderful performances from the most adventurous performers on the comedy circuit. We’re talking the winner of Not Another Drag Competition Cabbage The Clown; award-winning character comic Lorna Rose Treen; queer ventriloquist Lachlan Werner; clown-slash-priestess Lucy Hopkins; and many more talented, artsy anarchists, all throwing a load of wild stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks. It should be a lot of fun.
Dinner before: Kebabs of dreams at Berenjak
Drinks after: Slip underground at Bar Lina
Details: Fool’s Moon is next on at the Soho Theatre on 13th May. Tickets are £14+, and you can book HERE.
–
6) Luke Rollason Luke Rollason Let Down Your Hair (WIP) | The Bill Murray
You may know Luke Rollason best as Jizzlord, an actual character he plays in an actual TV show on Disney+. But the multi-hyphenate maestro is a physical comedian first and foremost, and he’s back in his element with this work in progress show at The Bill Murray. Expect the fairytales and fantasies of your youth to get a thorough dissection through what the broadsheets have hailed as “gloriously daft” clowning.
Dinner before: Tongue-tingling flavour at Tofu Vegan
Drinks after: Nip off for a pint at the Duke of Cambridge
Details: Luke Rollason Luke Rollason Let Down Your Hair WIP is on at The Bill Murray (closest tube station Angel) on 13th May. Tickets cost £7.65 + bf, you can book here.
–
7) Flo & Joan: One-Man Musical WIP | The Bill Murray
Performing a one-man show is a lot less terrifying if there’s someone else on stage with you. So we can see the logic behind the upcoming show from award-winning musical duo Flo & Joan. The sisters have performed their unique comedy stylings on Live At The Apollo, Off Menu, and at the legendary Stamptown comedy night, so to be getting a peek at their next full-length show is quite something…
Dinner before: Desi pub delicacies at The Tamil Crown
Drinks after: Canal-side nightcaps at The Narrowboat
Details: Flo & Joan: One-Man Musical WIP is on at The Bill Murray (closest tube station Angel) on 1st June. Tickets cost £7.65 + bf, you can book here.
–
8) Live at the Chapel | Union Chapel
A monthly fixture for those who are religious about their comedy. Union Chapel is a stunning venue, and the lineups at this iconic night are equally impressive. This month, the headliner is the one and only Bridget Christie, performing alongside Harriet Kemsley, Jin Hao Li and Daniel Kitson. Your comedy prayers have been answered.
Dinner before: Fresh, hand-rolled pasta at Trullo
Drinks after: Lively wines at Yield N1
Details: ‘Live at the Chapel’ is next on at Union Chapel (nearest station Highbury & Islington) on 11th May 2024. Tickets are £27.50 and available HERE.
–
9) Doctor Brown: Beturns | Soho Theatre
Despite growing up in the old backwater town of LA with a totally run-of-the-mill name, Phil Burgers has managed to make a career in comedy. His alter-ego, Doctor Brown, is an absurd, silent, instantly loveable clown. His short film The Passage was showered with awards. His Edinburgh shows have been lavished with praise. And this is his first solo show in 12 years. Catch it over a fortnight at the Soho Theatre, before he follows up with his award-winning show, the unpronounceable Befrdfgth – which he promises contains “no clever jokes”.
Dinner before: Old-school Italian-American at Grasso
Drinks after: Stick around in the theatre bar for some of Soho’s best value drinks
Details: Doctor Brown: Beturns runs at the Soho Theatre from 22nd April – 4th May. Tickets start at £13; you can book here. Befrdfgth runs from 9th-11th May, and you can book tickets for that (£19+) here.
–
10) Austentatious | The Arts Theatre
The phrase ‘Improvised Jane Austen comedy show’ might, conceivably, send a shudder down the spine of the prospective theatregoer – but that’s only if they’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, and haven’t heard of the critically-adored, five star, sell-out, now-performing-regularly-in-the-West-End triumph that is Austentatious. A pool of London’s finest improvisers contribute to this well-loved, well-dressed, and impeccably-delivered show in which, with the help of a title collected from a pool of audience suggestions (near-misses are also read out at the start, and there are invariably some bangers), an entire narrative is spun from nothing before your very eyes. Loosen your bodices, and bring your smelling salts – you may well laugh yourself into a state of hysteria.
Dinner before: London’s best-value steaks at Flat Iron Covent Garden
Drinks after: 19th century cocktails at Mr Fogg’s Tavern
Details: Austentatious plays Mondays and occasional Sundays at the Arts Theatre (nearest tube Leicester Square). Tickets start at £22.90 (standing) and are available HERE.
BOOK AHEAD:
Ed Gamble: Hot Diggity Dog | Hackney Empire
Ready to take a risk on Ed Gamble? After all, the guy’s only the co-host of one of the most ridiculously successful podcasts of all time, a published author, and one of the most prolific comedians on stage and screen. So chances are his upcoming show at Hackney Empire, which promises “classic Gamble ranting, raving and spluttering”, will be pretty good.
Dinner before: Pasta at Pophams
Drinks after: Pints at Pub on the Park
Details: Ed Gamble plays the Hackney Empire (nearest tube Hackney Central) from 25th-29th June. Tickets start at £26 and are available HERE.
–
Six Chick Flicks | Leicester Square Theatre
Described as “if Legally Blonde Pretty Woman Dirty Danced on the Beaches while writing a Notebook on the Titanic”, Six Chick Flicks is the work of two New York City comedians (Kerry Ipema & KK Apple), who eviscerate and evangelise their favourite movies in equal measure while singing, dancing, chatting, and laughing. Their Edinburgh run sold out, and the reviews have been stellar…
Dinner before: Tequila-buttered mussels at Rita’s
Drinks after: Pudding & cocktails at Basement Sate
Details: Six Chick Flicks is showing at the Leicester Square Theatre from 25th-29th June. Tickets are £18, and you can get them here.
–
THE BEST REGULAR COMEDY CLUB SHOWS
The Comedy Store Players | The Comedy Store
The Comedy Store Players is a London institution so long-running and baked into the fabric of the city that one almost forgets about it – a bit like the Tower of London’s Ceremony of the Keys (only slightly less ridiculous). The Players have been doing improv since long before it was, well, if not ’cool’, then ’ubiquitous’, and they are genuine comedy legends; among their number are Josie Lawrence, a member of the original Whose Line Is It Anyway cast, superlative character-comedian and Showstopper mainstay Pippa Evans, and acclaimed comic writer-performer David Reed of The Penny Dreadfuls. If you’re planning on ‘yes and’-ing your way to a reliable night of unscripted comedy in the heart of central London, you could scarcely do better.
Dinner before: Chicken, chicken and more chicken at FOWL
Drinks after: Guinness at The Devonshire
Details: The Comedy Store Players play at the Comedy Store (nearest tube stations Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus) every Sunday. Tickets are from £22 (concessions £17, students £12) and are available HERE.
–
The Blackout | Up The Creek Comedy Club
From its raucous beginnings, when it was launched by the legendary/infamous Malcolm Hardee (those of a strong constitution can Google ‘Malcolm Hardee + firework + buttocks’ to read about his trademark act), Up The Creek has evolved to become a jewel in the crown of South London’s stand-up scene, and one of the most beloved comedy clubs in the capital. Head to one of the weekend shows and you’ll find headliners galore – Mo Gilligan is a frequent performer, and circuit legends including Slim and Rudi Lickwood are regulars – but for a taste of the next generation of comic talent head along to The Blackout; 15 up-and-coming comedians, each attempting to get through five minutes. It’s UTC’s version of the gong show, it’s an adrenaline-filled evening, and at under a tenner a ticket (£3.50 for students!) it’s one of the best-value nights out there is.
Dinner before: Head to one of London’s staple pie joints, Goddard’s
Drinks after: A couple of pints at one of the best Greenwich pubs
Details: ‘The Blackout’ is on at Up The Creek Comedy Club (nearest stations Cutty Sark and Greenwich) every Thursday. Tickets start at £8.80 (£3.50 for students) and available HERE.
–
Banana Cabaret | The Bedford
A stalwart of Balham’s nightlife, Banana Cabaret offers a bunch of top tier acts in a hugely a-peel-ing (boooo) environment. The Bedford has a unique performance space that is beautifully suited to live comedy, and for a night of relaxed stand-up with a drink and dinner, there are few more dependable options. A highlight in the next few weeks is the 18th May show, where you can catch Best Newcomer winner Funmbi Omotayo and master of observational humour Ignacio Lopez. You’d be bananas not to.
Dinner before: Gurkha’s Diner is a Nepalese gem
Drinks after: henny’s for a glass of something nice
Details: ‘Banana Cabaret’ is on at The Bedford (nearest station Balham) every Friday & Saturday. Tickets are £17 and available HERE.
–
Always Be Comedy | The Tommyfield
Is there a better-loved MC in the business than James Gill? Is there a more lovingly-curated comedy club in the world than Always Be Comedy? Thousands of audience members – and, for that matter, thousands of comedians – would argue that the answer to both questions is a resounding and triumphant no. From its longtime home above the Tommyfield pub in Kennington, ABC hosts some of the very best mixed bill nights, Edinburgh previews, to a raucous but loving audience of regulars. In short, it’s everything a comedy club should be.
Dinner before: Pizza goodness at Theo’s Pizzeria
Drinks after: A spot of jazz at Cable Café Bar
Details: Always Be Comedy runs at the Tommyfield (nearest station Kennington) Tuesday – Friday. Tickets are £10.50 and available HERE.
–
Angel Comedy | The Camden Head
Top quality comedy, seven nights a week, completely free. Angels by name, Angels by nature – their ‘RAW’ free comedy night at the Camden Head is one of the capital’s most precious comedy resources, with a weeknight gig offering new acts the chance to perform in a warm and positive environment, frequently alongside some comic heavyweights. All-star drop-ins are frequent, the atmosphere is celebratory, the room is always full yet it’s somehow just about possible to squeeze in if you want to. Angel Comedy is pure heaven.
Dinner before: Farm-to-table cooking at The Pig & Butcher
Drinks after: Exquisite and experimental cocktails at 69 Colebrooke Row
Details: Angel Comedy runs free nights at the Camden Head (nearest tube station Angel) every night. Arrive early to ensure you gain entry (30-60 mins before the start time) – once it’s full, it’s full.
Want all of this without the comedy nonsense? Check out our guide to London’s best theatre shows…