The best of the week's live comedy

The best of the week’s live comedy. These are socially-distanced or outdoor gigs. So check with venues about party size restrictions and any other requirements. Most shows require advance booking. Use Chortle’s search panel to check out our full listings of more than 6,000 events by date and region.

Sunday July 11

HUNTINGDON: Expect most comedy shows tonight to be cancelled for the footy. One exception is the outdoor Cambridge Comedy Festival, which is shuffling its schedule to end its stand-up programming early to broadcast the match on the big screen. Before that, the likes of Al Murray, Fin Taylor, Jo Caulfield, Paul Foot, Phil Nichol, Rosie Jones, Sean McLoughlin and Seann Walsh will be taking to the stages, Tickets are available here

Monday July 12

LONDON: In lockdown, John-Luke Roberts recorded a new comedy album, It Is Better, which was designed to be performed without a live audience, and features its own score. The ideal listening environment for the intimate recording is said to be ‘in the evening, in a comfortable chair, by a warm fire, with a nice drink’. Tonight he launches the album at the Soho Theatre with a ‘ theatrical reimagining’ of the show.

LONDON: The Balham Comedy Festival runs at The Bedford pub the home of Banana Cabaret, all week. Tonight there’s a double bill from Shappi Khorsandi and Marcus Brigstocke, and others in the coming days include Henning Wehn, Rich Hall and Boothby Graffoe. Full lineup

Tuesday July 13

LONDON: The comedy agency UTC returns to the venue from which it sprang, Up The Creek in Greenwich, to offer a showcase of some of its acts, including Eddie Kadi, Kate Lucas, Ria Lina, Russell Hicks, Slim, Tez Ilyaz and many more.

Wednesday July 14

BRIGHTON: The Comedy Garden open-air festival kicks off tonight with Russell Howard, David O'Doherty, Angela Barnes and Ivo Graham appearing in Preston Park. There are brilliant line-ups all week until Sunday, listings are here.

Thursday July 15

THORINGTON: This new open-air theatre in rural Suffolk is running a four-day comedy festival from tonight, when Desiree Burch, Milton Jones and Shappi Khorsandi pay a visit. Simon Amstell, Sara Pascoe and Nish Kumar follow, courtesy of producers Show And Tell. Full line-up.

LONDON: Double act Goodbear – aka Henry Perryment and Joe Barnes – revive their hit 2019 show Douglas for the Underbelly Festival in Cavendish Square, just behind Oxford Street, tonight. Read our original review here.

MELBOURNE: Jason Manford headlines a Just The Tonic Comedy Shindig gig in Derbyshire alongside Lou Conran, Matt Richardson and Paul McCaffrey; tomorrow it’s Milton Jones, Paul Sinha and Jo Enright at the same venue, and Rich Hall headlines on Saturday.

Friday July 16

LONDON: Charlie George acts as a comedy tour guide through the Grant Museum of Zoology, a venue that boasts bisected skulls, dodo bones and a jar of moles. Read more here.

LONDON: Isma Almas brings her story of adoption, About A Buoy, to the Soho Theatre tonight and tomorrow, taking in her own experiences of growing up in racist 1970s Britain as well as the red tape and cultural considerations of adopting a two-year-old African boy. Review.

Saturday July 17

DORKING: All good fun at Meadowbank Park where the upbeat, variety-tinged line-up of Jonny Awsum, Otiz Cannelloni, Wendy Wason and Howard Read entertain an outdoors audience.

Published: 11 Jul 2021