The week's live comedy

The week ahead in live comedy.

Sunday October 8

KINGSTON: It's called the Big Charity Show, and they are not lying:  Alistair McGowan, Andy Hamilton, Robin Ince and Sara Pascoe are among the more recognisable names on the bill, but there's also silliness from the Raymond & Mr Timpkins Revue, campness from  Stephen Bailey, and musical comedy from Tamar Broadbent, all compered by circuit stalwart and telly writer Dan Evans. It's at the Rose Theatre and in aid of  Momentum, a  local charity which supports families whose children have cancer or a life-limiting condition.

Monday October 9

LONDON:  In Unf*ckable, Desiree Burch offers a bold and raucous hour of real-life storytelling, with brilliantly entertaining tales from her unconventional life, touching on big issues of sex, race and power. It's at the Soho Theatre all week following a blistering Edinburgh run. Review

LONDON: The Last Leg's Adam Hills headlines a benefit at the Comedy Store for mental health charity  Rethink, which also features Russell Kane, Elliot Steel, Nathan Caton and Suzi Ruffell.

Tuesday October 10

OXFORD: Mae Martin hits the road with a tour of her latest show, Dope, which won her an Edinburgh Comedy Award nomination in August. Dope is a fine storytelling show about her teenage years on Canadian comedy scene, weirdly hanging out with comics decades older than her, and then being suched into a world of drugs she can now look back on with a mature perspective.  Review and dates.

Wednesday October 11

LONDON: The 100 Club Presents… at 100 Oxford Street usually has a top-notch line-up, and this month is no exception. John Robins, Nish Kumar and Phil Wang represent the cream of their generation, and all three on one bill is a treat.

LONDON: The Postal Museum is an unusual location for a gig, but an apt one for Robert Popper, the man behind Channel 4 sitcom Friday Night Dinner, to read from his Timewaster Letters, in which he wrote to corporations in the guise of his sweetly dim-witted alter-ego Robin Cooper.

NORWICH: Adam Buxton returns with the 18th instalment of his multimedia show Bug, based on the most unintentionally hilarious below-the-line comments on the internet. He’s at the Playhouse tonight and tomorrow.

DUBLIN: Dara O Briain's just announced a big tour for 2018, Voice Of Reason, but before that he has a hometown residency at Vicar Street, kicking off tonight. Click here for al his upcoming dates.

Friday October 13

COLCHESTER: Ten days of LOLs kick off with a modest gig the the bar of the Headgate theatre featuring circuit acts Zahra Barri and Charmian Hughes. Visitors over the rest of the Essex town's comedy festival include Radio 4 favourite  Jeremy Hardy tomorrow, and both Phill Jupitus and mimic extraordinaire Jon Culshaw next Friday. Website

Saturday October 14

LONDON: This is surely going to be one of the most memorable gigs of the year - given that it take place on ice. Tony Law and the alternative comedians of the Weirdos collective are staging The Battle for Icetopia  at the Alexandra Palace ice rink tonight with jokes, songs and skating!  The cast  also includes will also feature Ali Brice, Marny Godden, Joz Norris, Michael Brunstrom, Matt Tedford, Helen Duff, Kat Bond, Elf Lyons, Eleanor Morton, Matthew Highton, Ben Target and Bob Slayer.

READING: There's a very strong line-up at the Comedy Loft, led by seductive storyteller Glenn Wool, backed by the skilled Larry Dean, the wry Ben Norris and  MC Sally-Anne Hayward, whose affable demeanour hides a steely wit.

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Published: 8 Oct 2017