The best of the week's live comedy

The best of the week's live comedy...

Sunday May 27

BRIGHTON: It's the last full week of the Fringe, and our stand-out pick of tonight is Spencer Jones's wonderful, childishly silly, The Audition at Komedia. And if you can't make that, check out the TV adaptation on iPlayer

WELLS: England's fourth smallest city also concludes its comedy festival, with the likes of Richard Herring, Colin Hoult, Tim Key and John Kearns in town tonight.

Tuesday May 29

LONDON: It's not the easiest subject to make comedy from, but Lou Conran has turned her heartbreaking story of baby loss into a charming and engaging show, not by making light of her situation but by vividly describing the characters involved and being honest about the tumultuous emotions she went through. I Love Lou C is at the Soho Theatre tonight and tomorrow.

Wednesday May 30

MANCHESTER: Tim Key retraces his steps the morning after what he imagines was a delightful date in this excellent show which turns stand-up into a quirky tragi-comic romance. On at the Dancehouse Theatre tonight.

BRIGHTON: Joel Dommett is to host a benefit for Comic Relief at Komedia tonight, introducing  Sofie Hagen,  Larry Dean, Angela Barnes,  Catherine Bohart, Lauren Pattison and Brennan Reece. The  I'm a Celebrity... star says: 'I always love performing in Brighton, and not only because the transport links back to my house are fantastic, but it’s like London’s fabulous little brother who went to fashion college and joined an improv group.' At least £5 or the £18 ticket price goes to Comic Relief. 

Thursday May 31

LONDON: Still the daddy of the mixed bill comedy clubs, the Comedy Store produces yet another excellent bill right across this weekend with droll Alun Cochrane, livewire Felicity Ward, engrossing Glenn Wool, sardonic Mike Gunn and political Ian Stone.

Friday June 1

LONDON: Something different at the National Gallery as curators choose paintings from their archives for comedy troupe Do Not Adjust Your Stage, pictured, to improvise around, having never seen the artwork before they are shown it on stage. Blank Canvas kicks off at 7pm in the Trafalgar Square gallery itself.

LONDON: Plenty of politicised passion on display at London's Live Comedy in Leicester Square tonight and tomorrow, as the socially aware line-up of Ahir Shah, Jamali Maddix, and Alice Frasier offer their funny and insightful take on the state of the world. And it's all leavened by the musical comedy of Kate Lucas.

Saturday June 2

LONDON: You can't go wrong at Islington's Union Chapel tonight, with wonderfully eccentric one-liner king Milton Jones and the ultra-inventive ventriloquism of Nina Conti.

EDINBURGH: Oxide Ghosts, the show that offers a peek behind the scenes into the making of Chris Morris's controversial Brass Eye comes to The Stand. It comprises unseen material from the personal archive of director Michael Cumming, who shares insights into the process of making the legendary series. There are two shows at 2pm and 4.30pm, then it's at the Glasgow Stand at 1.30pm tomorrow.

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Published: 27 May 2018