The week's best live comedy

The best of the week's live comedy.

Sunday March 8

LONDON: Tom Allen, Tim Vine and Angela Barnes are among the top-flight comics performing on a varied benefit bill at the Backyard in Bethnal Green to help underprivileged youngsters in East London.

Monday March 9

GLASGOW: Our hunt for the best new student comedians swings into Scotland with a showcase at Caledonian University tonight (Tickets)  and St Andrew's tomorrow (Tickets). Then we are at Goldsmiths College in South London on Thursday. (Tickets)

GLASGOW: And at the other end of the fame scale, Steve Martin and Martin Short begin their brief UK tour at the Hydro. The two met on the set of the 1986 film Three Amigos, and have been touring together since 2016. Their offering, The Funniest Show In Town At The Moment, goes on to play the  3Arena in Dublin on Wednesday, the SSE Arena in Belfast on Thursday, London's Royal Albert Hall on Saturday and Sunday, then Manchester and Birmingham next week.

BRISTOL: Following its premiere in London earlier this month, the Parapod movie goes on tour - with the comics behind it, Ian Boldsworth and Barry Dodds hosting Q&As afterwards. They are at the Everyman tonight and the future dates - and a review - are here 

Wednesday March 11

NORWICH: Soon to be seen in the second series of Ricky Gervais's After Life, Kerry Godliman has a new stand-up tour, Bosh, covering such subjects as her mum guilt and her needy cat. It's at the Playhouse tonight and Saturday, and tours the UK through to June. The schedule is here

Thursday March 12

LONDON: In Comedians' Cinema Club, comics try to recreate barely-remembered movies without any preparation, just the guidance of a director barking instructions over the mic. The result is usually delightful chaos. As part of a monthly residency at Aces and Eights in Tufnell Park, the team will tonight tackle Donnie Darko.  

Friday March 13

MANCHESTER: It's a strong weekend at the Frog & Bucket, with engaging storyteller Chris Washington, droll and downbeat Jeff Innocent, observational powerhouse Susie McCabe, and the gregarious Brennan Reece

Saturday March 14

KINGSTON: A splendid line-up at the Rose Theatre in Surrey features the impassioned intellect of Ahir Shah, the silly politics of Bridget Christie, confessional idiot John Robins and ever-engaging Shappi Khorsandi.

Published: 8 Mar 2020