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 April 23

LONDON: American comic Matt Rife – known for his self-produced comedy specials Only Fans (2021), and Matthew Steven Rife (2023), and his appearance on the comedy competition series Bring the Funny, heads to London for a short tour, playing the Leicester Square Theatre tonight and the Adelphi Theatre on Tuesday, Birmingham Town Hall on Wednesday and Manchester Academy on Thursday. According to his publicity blurb, 'his talents, looks, story and personality have earned him the nickname of The Justin Bieber of Comedy.'

Monday April 24

BIRMINGHAM: Kevin Hart starts a six-date run of UK arena shows at the Utilita Arena. The Grammy-nominate stand-up, actor and entrepreneur will also be visiting the AO Arena in Manchester, The O2 in London and the OVO Hydro in Glasgow.

Tuesday April 25

LONDON: Downstairs at the King's Head is celebrating its 40th anniversary (or thereabouts) – making it the UK's oldest comedy club never to have changed location. A film about the venue is being screened at the ArtHouse Crouch End at various dates (Cinema website) and tonight there's a sold-out gig to mark the occasion featuring Arthur Smith, Laura Smyth, Nick Helm, Phil Nichol, Ria Lina and the return of club co-founder Huw Thomas as MC.

Thursday April 27

LONDON: It's the first of the two semi-finals of the Chortle Student Comedy Award at the Bloomsbury Theatre tonight. Alison Spittle introduces the best of the next generation of comedy talent: Muhsin Yeşilada, Josh Adkins, Alex Knipe, Hannah Yarwood, Ollie Fox, Andrew Kingston, Kayvan Khazaee, Tristan Nowell, Charlotte Elvins, Ivo Pope, Mia Clock, Will Davis and Daniel Lambert. Tickets. The second semi is at the same venue on May 9.

GLASGOW: Smart and hard-hitting American comic Ari Shaffir heads to the UK for a short tour, staring at the O2 Academy tonight, and heading to EartH in London on Monday and New Century in Manchester on Sunday. His last show, Jew, was a ferocious and gag-packed takedown of religion and culture, and is now available on YouTube.

Friday April 28

MACHYNLLETH: The comedy festival in the Welsh rural market town is one of the favourites among comedians, with its intimate atmosphere and comedy-savvy audiences. Nick Helm, Fin Taylor, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Glenn Moore, Mark Silcox and Spencer Jones are among the many, many acts heading there this weekend. Website.

LONDON: Leicester Square Theatre starts a new mixed-bill comedy night. Thankfully its line-up is more exciting than its name – Live At Leicester Square Theatre – with Darren Harriott, Kae Kurd, Lloyd Griffith, Ria Lina, Stevie Martin and Andrea Hubert on the opening night. Tickets.

Published: 23 Apr 2023