The best of the week's live comedy

The best of the week’s live comedy. It’s pretty much wall-to-wall Edinburgh Fringe previews this week, which makes recommendations difficult, since the shows haven’t been tried and tested...even if they should be shaping up nicely just a couple of weeks away from the festival. Here are some of the other offerings this week:

Monday July 16

LONDON: New Orleans native – and self-confessed ‘moron’ – Sean Patton segues effortlessly between club-style gag-driven comedy and a thoroughly involving storytelling style. He’s performed at festivals around the world – including Latitude yesterday – and now lands at Soho Theatre for the week.

Thursday July 19

LONDON: The Ealing Comedy festival kicks off in Walpole Park with a magnificently starry line-up every night. Tonight the triple headlines of the one-line maestro Milton Jones, magician Paul Zerdin and languid social commentator Reginald D Hunter.

YORK: The Great Yorkshire Fringe takes to the streets of the county town for the next 11 nights. Omid Djalili is the biggest name on opening night, with the likes of Michael Palin, Stephen K Amos, Gyles Brandreth, Rachel Parris and Tony Slattery popping by on later days. Check the website for the low-down.

LLANGOLLEN: The comedy club in this small North Wales town ends its season – but kicks off the multi-arts 21st Llangollen Fringe Festival – with a special bill featuring Lloyd Langford.

Friday July 20

LONDON: Tonight’s line-up at Ealing boasts Nish Kumar, Tom Stade, Felicity Ward and local girl Shappi Khorsandi.

LONDON: There’s a very strong line-up at the MCT at Alleyn’s, the swanky private school in Dulwich. James Acaster heads the bill, with sterling and inventive support from Pat Cahill, Yuriko Kotani and Ian Smith

Saturday July 21

READING: The cream of the circuit is heading to the Comedy Loft, with the smart and meticulous Adam Bloom, the hugely likeable entertainer Jack Gleadow, the intelligent observer of his married life Josh Howie, and the skilled compering of Sally-Anne Hayward

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Published: 15 Jul 2018