The comedy week ahead

The comedy week ahead.

Monday April 11

LIVE IN LONDON: Leicester Square Theatre's Sketch Off competition reaches its climax, with Jasper Cromwell Jones, Laughing Stock, Jerks, Kit Sullivan as the Silent Mmmmm, Cook and Davies, Sisters, The Jest and Dude Looks Like A Lady vying for the first ever title.

LIVE IN LONDON: Fresh from winning its Olivier Award, the highest accolades for British theatre, the brilliant improvised musical Showstopper! returns to the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, for another in its series of occasional one-offs.

LIVE IN LONDON: Leading German comedian Michael Mittermeier returns to the UK for a week-long run of his show Das Blackout at the Soho Theatre. In English, we should probably add.

Tuesday April 12

LIVE IN SHREWSBURY: An interesting idea to bridge the gap between comedy clubs and big tours, the All Star Stand-Up Tour features four diverse acts, all of whom have nudged past headliner status to be able tour arts centre-sized venues under their own name, now joining forces to attack the bigger theatres. It's the same bill every night, and it's a good one: prince of puns Gary Delaney, comedy magician Pete Firman, livewire Jarred Christmas and sardonic life observations from Sean Hughes. Click here for the full schedule.

LIVE IN EDINBURGH: The first of two nights at the Usher Hall for the always superlative Dylan Moran. Tickets.

Thursday April 14

LIVE IN LONDON: A big show for a big act, as Nick Helm blasts his way into the Forum, Kentish Town, for an All Killer Some Filler show. Modestly billed as 'the greatest live event ever attempted', this will feature all his dick-kicking rock hits. Tickets.

LIVE IN GLASGOW: Mark Thomas brings his show Trespass to the Tron for two nights, making mischief while highlighting the way public space is being privatised - with implications for things like the right to protest - with barely anyone noticing.

RADIO: David Baddiel hosts the second series of panel show Don’t Make Me Laugh, in which comedians have to go against all their instincts and try NOT to make an audience laugh. Episode one features Clive Anderson, Nick Helm, Yasmine Akram and Richard Osman.. Radio 4, 6.30pm.

Friday April 15

LIVE IN BRISTOL: Sam Simmons brings the wonderful car crash of absurdity that won him last year's Edinburgh Comedy Award to the Cube Cinema. If you like Vic & Bob, you'll love Spaghetti For Breakfast.

ON DEMAND: Good news! The second season of Tina Fey's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt lands on Netflix today. The fast-paced series makes kooky cool, thanks to star Ellie Kemper's naive enthusiasm and the cast of over-the-top oddballs she encounters in New York, after escaping a doomsday cult that kept her in a bunker for 15 years.

Saturday April 16

LIVE IN LONDON: The Knock2Bag nights – crazy name, crazy comedy – always celebrates the most inventive in alternative comedy, and tonight's offering at the Rich Mix Studios in Shoreditch is no exception, with Aisling Bea, Jordan Brookes, Matt Rees, Matthew Crosby and Tony Law.

LIVE IN LONDON: There's also a strong bill at the 99 Club in the Strand Palace hotel, with charmer Ed Gamble, deadpan Phil Wang, posh boy Matthew Osborn, and energetic Suzi Ruffell

Published: 10 Apr 2016