The week's best live comedy

The best of the week's live comedy, picked from the 4,305 events Chortle currently has listed. Use our search panel to check our full listings by date and region.

Sunday December 11

LONDON: You've seen him on Taskmaster, now see John Kearns in the flesh at Up The Creek in Greenwich, as he plays its Sunday Special gig alongside Ania Magliano and Freya McGhee. Tickets.

MANCHESTER: Mr B, the Gentleman Rhymer, headlines a night of songs, jokes, games, poetry, and magic at Gullivers with Gideon Conn, David X Brunt, The Great Tarpini and Rod Tame

MANCHESTER: Meanwhile, there's a strong Comedy Store bill at the Bierkeller with performance powerhouses Garrett Millerick and Phil Nichol, the gregarious Rich Wilson and archly funny Stephen Bailey

Monday December 12

LONDON: It's the final of the Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian Of The Year tonight. Vying for the title are Blank Peng, Chris Weir, Dan Jones, Jacob Nussey, Luke Nixon, Philipp Kostelecky, Samantha Day, Sarah Roberts, Suzie Preece, Vidura Bandara Rajapaksa, Viggo Venn, Will Hall, Will Hitt and Will Owen. Tickets

BRIGHTON: Comedy’s very own Grouch, Dylan Moran, headlines a superb line-up of comics in a mini 'Live At Christmas' tour, with all the variety of a comedy club bill but with the quality guarantee of every act being a touring and/or TV comedian in their own right. Also performing at the Theatre Royal are Rosie Jones, Mike Wozniak, Celya AB and John Robins. The same ensemble then visits Birmingham, Cheltenham, Birmingham, Cambridge, Bath and Exeter. Dates and tickets.

Tuesday December 13

LONDON: South Korean-born, LA-based Joel Kim Booster has been named one of 'The Queer Young Comics Redefining American Humour' by the New York Times and is now at Soho Theatre for the week. The comic's TV credits include Shrill, Search Party, Sunnyside and Hulu romcom Fire Island, an updated take on Pride & Prejudice.

Wednesday December 14

LONDON: Liz Kingsman's superlative One Woman Show, inspired by Phoebe Waller Bridge's Fleabag stage show but parodying a much wider body of entitled theatrical tropes, begins a six-week run at the West End's Ambassadors Theatre. Having topped many of the 'best of 2021' lists when it was first performed, it remains one of the must-sees of recent years. Tickets

Friday December 16

LONDON: Tim Key brings his traditional Chrimbo Bimbo to the Pleasance tonight and tomorrow, and also the 21st and 22nd. Christmas jumpers heavily encouraged!

Published: 11 Dec 2022