The best live comedy of the next fortnight

The best of the forthcoming live comedy gigs, over this quiet period, interrupted only by the madness of New Year's Eve...

Wednesday 27 December

LONDON: Bill Bailey hosts a special festive version of his forthcoming tour show Larks In Transit. Christmas Larks! Is at the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire until Saturday.

GRANTHAM: Stir yourself out your post-Christmas slump for a line-up at the Guildhall that includes professional smartypants Paul Sinha and copper-turned-comedian Alfie Moore.

LIMERICK: A hometown gig for the Rubberbandits, as the outlandish plastic-bag-clad rappers play Dolan's tonight.

Thursday December 28

LONDON: Sinha's also on at the Comedy Store this weekend, alongside comic's comic Adam Bloom, stand-up stalwart Ben Norris, ace storyteller Carl Donnelly and raucous Mandy Knight

Friday December 29

LONDON: Impressive improvised musical Showstoppers! are staging a couple of kids' shows at Christmas At Leicester Square today and tomorrow – expect a witty epic with plenty of toe-tapping tunes, all created on the fly. At 1.30pm today and tomorrow, and also 11.30am tomorrow.

Wednesday January 3

LONDON: Starting at Soho Theatre tonight is a double-bill of the joint best newcomer winners from last year's Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Angus Gordon and Aaron Chen, both of which have a definite 'anti-comedy' sentiment. Here are our reviews of their shows from Oz: Gordon and Chen. They are at Soho til the 12th, then have a gig at the Rose Theatre in Edinburgh on the 14th.

• Search our full listings for comedy near you using the pull-down menus on the left of this page.

Published: 24 Dec 2017