The week's best live comedy

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

Sunday May 29

LONDON: Barry Humphries concludes his reminiscence show The Man Behind The Mask with three Sunday night engagements at the Gielgud Theatre in the West End. Review.

Monday May 30

KINGSTON: Amazingly, at the time of writing, there are still a handful of tickets left for the Alan Carr & Friends: Chatty for Charity gig at the Rose Theatre, in which the telly star is joined by an A-list line-up comprising Josh Jones, Nathan Caton, Rich Hall, Suzi Ruffell and Tom Allen to raise funds for Neuroblastoma UK and the venue itself.

Thursday June 2

LONDON: Stand-up Jenan Younis, pictured, set up the Weapons of Mass Hilarity comedy night to showcase comedians from the Middle East and beyond after experiencing racism in the comedy industry. When starting out, she found promoters were almost seven times more likely to respond to emails if she used the Anglicised name ‘Janine Young’ rather than her real one. Now the night has spawned the UK’s first Middle Eastern comedy festival, being staged at 2Northdown this bank holiday weekend. It starts with a line-up showcase tonight, followed by ten one-hour shows from the likes of Mara Shehata, Darius Davies and Patrick Monahan. Website

BIRMINGHAM: The first of a run of three hometown gigs for Joe Lycett as he brings his ongoing tour - More, More, More! How Do You Lycett? How Do You Lycett? - to the Hippodrome for three nights. Joe Lycett tour dates

Friday June 3

LONDON: The Comedy Allstars bill at Underbelly’s Cavendish Square Spiegeltent tonight offers a fine selection from stand-up’s leading edge, courtesy of Felicity Ward, Ian Smith, Jimmy McGhie, Rachel Fairburn and Esther Manito.

ALTRINCHAM: Overfriendly housewife superstar Barbara Nice, finely-tuned circuit favourite Nick Doody and charming Hayley Ellis comprise the appealing bill at Manford’s Comedy Club at the Garrick Playhouse tonight.

Saturday June 4

LONDON: The Union Chapel in Islington tonight hosts sharp and funny social insight from Andrew Maxwell, Jamali Maddix and Reginald D Hunter, along with the delightful sausage Amy Gledhill. Tickets

MIDDLESBROUGH: A rock-solid line-up at the town hall’s Big Mouth Comedy Club features circuit stalwarts Brennan Reece, Tom Wrigglesworth and Freddy Quinne.

Published: 29 May 2022