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) 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.
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2) Hilarious | Hoxton Hall
To be fair to them, new production company Bighead has a lot to be justifiably arrogant about. After all, they’re looping in some of the biggest acts on the circuit for their one-night only shows, taking place all across London. Come May, they’re reprising their latest mixed-bill night Hilarious at the Hoxton Hall, with a blockbuster line-up including Sophie Duker, Tatty Macleod, Catherine Bohart, Flo & Joan, Katie Green, and headliner Jen Brister.
Dinner before: Rooftop dining at TT Restaurant
Drinks after: Female-led vino at Finley’s
Details: Hilarious at Hoxton Hall takes place on 2nd May. There are a few tickets left (£18.50); grab yours here.
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3) Terence Hartnett: One Ball Show | The Bill Murray
When Terence Hartnett was told his testicular cancer had spread to his lungs, he understandably reacted by… filling a notebook with jokes. After sold-out shows at the Fringe and on Broadway, he’s now bringing his bracingly frank and funny show to London. Hartnett masterfully interweaves tightly composed jokes with his own effortlessly personable storytelling, almost chucking in punchlines as throwaways and always finding a way to turn the joke on himself. A perfect hour to remind us all how to look on the bright side of life.
Dinner before: Mediterranean mezze at Brother Marcus
Drinks after: Cocktails at the Bar With No Name
Details: Terence Hartnett: One Ball Show is on at The Bill Murray in Islington on 21st April. Tickets cost £8.50; you can book here.
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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: headliners like Lou Sanders,
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 18th April (Lou Sanders, Kemah Bob); 25th April (Freddie Meredith, Isy Suttie), 2nd May (Tom Rosenthal, Lachlan Werner), and 9th May (Maisie Adam, Emma Sidi). Tickets are £16.83.
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5) Live at the Empire with Alan Davies | Hackney Empire
Here’s a comedy gig that sounds quite interesting: legendary funny man Alan Davies is leading an impressively starry line-up at the gilded Hackney Empire this month. He’ll be joined by velour tracksuit enthusiast Tim Key; award-winning Edinburgh stalwart Bridget Christie; and Funny Women finalist (and born-and-bred Hackney comedian) Fatiha El-Ghorri, while Lou Sanders comperes. But we’re sure she’ll find them all equally brilliant.
Dinner before: London’s hottest Italian restaurant, Dalla
Drinks after: Tank-fresh beers at Hackney Church Brew Co
Details: Live at the Empire with Alan Davies takes place at Hackney Empire on 26th April. Tickets cost £18.50-29, and can be booked here.
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6) Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] | Park Theatre
The Park Theatre’s putting a different spin on a murder mystery… in that the show is a total mystery to its main character, the inspector. Played by a different celebrity each night, the role is entirely unrehearsed, with lines and stage directions fed to the performer live onstage via an earpiece. It’s a little bit Sh*t-Faced Shakespeare (without the booze, presumably), a little bit Whose Line Is It Anyway, and quite a bit Murder in Successville. And with this run’s cast of Inspectors set to include Gillian Anderson, Brian Cox, Benedict Cumberbatch and Sandi Toksvig, tickets are going fast.
Dinner before: Genre-redefining pub grub at The Plimsoll
Drinks after: Conquer the Faltering Fullback‘s beer treehouse – sorry, garden
Details: Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] runs at the Park Theatre until 4th May. Tickets cost £57.50 – £99.50 (or £15 for standing day tickets) – you can book here.
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7) MC Hammersmith: Straight Outta Brompton | Leicester Square Theatre
If Bo Burnham had grown up in a middle class West London household, this is who he’d have become. MC Hammersmith is the multi award-winning, extremely serious rapper behind such hits as “Woefully Average Penis”, and fresh off the release of his debut album (Mother’s Fettucine), he’s touring the UK. His scripted stuff is uniformly excellent, but it’s his jaw-dropping ability to freestyle comedy raps based on audience suggestions that’ll really blow your socks off.
Dinner before: Blisteringly good Thai at Speedboat Bar
Drinks after: Head straight into Compton… Street, and into Swift Soho
Details: MC Hammersmith performs at Leicester Square Theatre (nearest tube Leicester Square) on 27th April. Tickets cost £19.50, and can be booked HERE.
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8) Vittorio Angelone: ‘Who Do You Think You Are? I Am!’ | Leicester Square Theatre
Vittorio Angelone is something of a sell-out, in the sense that he tends to sell out every show that he plays. And also that he shamelessly moved on from his humble roots to the bright lights of Leicester Square the moment he started doing that. Here, he’s looking inwards and indulging in a little introspection, which given that he’s half Irish, half Italian, leads to some rather interesting places. Check him out on the tik toks or the you tubes and you’ll probably contribute to his selling out too.
Dinner before: Grilled grub & Guinness at The Devonshire
Drinks after: Italian cocktails at Bar Termini
Details: Vittorio Angelone: ‘Who Do You Think You Are? I Am!’ is playing at the Leicester Square Theatre between 1st – 3rd May. Tickets start at £20 and you can get them right HERE.
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9) 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.
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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.
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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.
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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 ‘Maclolm 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.
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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.
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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.
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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 May, 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.
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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…