The best of the week's live comedy

The best of the week's live comedy, picked from the 6,000+ events Chortle currently has listed. Use our search panel to check out our full listings by date and region.

Sunday January 30

BRISTOL: The city’s Slapstick Festival concludes with events featuring Armando Iannucci, Richard Herring and Jon Culshaw, and Arthur Smith. Website.

LONDON: Comedians from the Middle East showcase their wares at 2Northdown in King’s Cross. The Weapons of Mass Hilarity line-up includes Shirley & Shirley, Sophie Galustian, Laila Alj and David Lewis.

Monday January 31

LONDON: Get a sneak peak at Russell Howard’s new material as he performs an intimate work in progress at the 100 Club on Oxford Street. Tickets

Wednesday February 2

LEICESTER: Britain’s longest-running comedy festival returns to live performances in force: with more than 800 events across 64 from now until the 20th, featuring the likes of Katherine Ryan, Mark Watson, Ahir Shah, Catherine Bohart, Ed Gamble and Henning Wehn. Our opening night pick is Ian Stone at the Peter Pizzeria. Visit the website for further details of the whole festival.

POOLE: Wonderfully wry musical siblings Flo & Joan kick off a 60-date tour of the UK at the Lighthouse, which will be followed by a stint at the Edinburgh Fringe. Flo & Joan: Sweet Release tour dates.

GUILDFORD: It will, of course, be missing one it's most-loved players - but Jack Dee is bringing the touring version of Radio 4’s I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue to G Live tonight.

Thursday February 3

LEICESTER: Ed Gamble kicks off his new tour, Electric, at the De Montfort Hall as part of the city’s comedy festival. His sixth nationwide tour will see the former Taskmaster winner play more than 50 dates across the country. Ed Gamble tour dates.

BIRMINGHAM: Jason Manford is the big-name draw at Just The Tonic at Rosie’s Nightclub, but there’s a strong supporting bill, too, including Adam Bloom, Britain’s Got Talent’s Micky P Kerr and local circuit stalwart (and TV acting regular) Jo Enright. Tickets.

BILSTON: As part of the Wolverhampton Literature Festival, Miles Jupp comes to the Town Hall tonight to talk about his novel, History, with Phil Wang discussing his memoirs, Sidesplitter, tomorrow. Tickets

Friday February 4

NOTTINGHAM: After a couple of warm-up dates in London’s Soho Theatre, Nish Kumar hits the road with his new tour, inspired by the bread roll one well-heeled member of the Lord’s Taverners threw at him when he ill-advisedly unleashed some Brexit material at them. Nish Kumar review and tour dates

Saturday February 5

LANCASTER: There’s a good and varied bill at the Grand Theatre tonight, with the cheerily astute Daliso Chaponda, insoucient Frenchman Marcel Lucont, and master of observational comedy Paul Tonkinson, all hosted by Tony Vino

Published: 30 Jan 2022