Out for the Count?

Arthur Strong's 'farewell tour' and the rest of the week's best live comedy

The best of the week's live comedy, picked from the 5,822 events Chortle currently has listed. Use our search panel to check our full listings by date and region.

Monday February 5

LONDON Frank Skinner starts a new two-week West End run of his latest stand-up show, 30 Years Of Dirt at the Gielgud Theatre., having previously sold out seven dates at the Lyric, just down Shaftesbury Avenue.

Tuesday February 6

BRIGHTON: Katherine Ryan heads a top-flight line-up at the The Rockinghorse Comedy Night at the Theatre Royal, raising money for sick children across Sussex. Also bringing the LOLs are Jen Brister, Joe Wilkinson, Maisie Adam, Suzi Ruffell and Tom Davis. There are a very limited number of tickets still available here.

Wednesday February 7

LEICESTER: More than 700 shows are taking part in this year's Leicester Comedy Festival - kicking off today and running to February 25 - a figure that's even higher than its pre-pandemic peak. Check out the Leicester Comedy Festival website for all the details. Opening day's highlights include Luisa Omielan with a three-night run of her show Bitter in the Aylestone Black Horse ahead of her traditional Valentine's Day party gig and a full tour starting later this month, Luisa Omielan tour dates.

DERBY: Count Arthur Strong starts his farewell tour… though it's also billed as 'part one', so hopefully the befuddled old theatrical trouper has quite a few more chaotic performances in him yet… Count Arthur Strong tour dates.

Thursday February 8

CARDIFF: The Revolution bar launches a new comedy night, with Matt Richardson, Jenny Collier, Jacob Nussey and MC Jonathan Mayor on opening night.

LONDON: There's lots of talent at the Country Mile Comedy Club at The Star Of Kings in Kings Cross tonight - and all for £7. The bill includes Olga Koch, Paddy Young, Helen Bauer, Joe Kent-Walters, Sharon Wanjohi and Britney and is also fundraising for FareShare UK.

Friday February 9

LEICESTER: Fin Taylor’s tour – entitled Ask Your Mother – gets under way at The Y, as part of the city's comedy festival. Promoters describe it as ‘a new hour of brutally funny stand-up’ from the comic, who has had viral success with his web series Fin Vs The Internet as well as TV appearances on the likes of Have I Got News For You and The Mash Report. Fin Taylor tour dates

DUBLIN: Bill Bailey starts his arena tour, Thoughtifier, which promises to 'celebrate our flawed humanity' as AI machines are poised to take over. It's described as a 'magical, musical mystery tour of the human mind, along with some other pressing matters about whales, biophilia, unrequited love and other thoughts. Amplified with music.’ Bill Bailey tour dates.

Saturday February 10

GLASGOW: At The Stand, Sri Lankan comic Vidura Bandara Rajapaksa starts a tour of French Kiss Tunnel a show about love and relationships delivered in ultra-low-key style, punctuated with music. Tour dates.

NEWBURY: The No Mo Chemo Show at the Corn Exchange is a night of music and laughter in aid of Breast Cancer Now, with the comedy coming courtesy of intense Nick Helm and the more whimsical Paul F Taylor.

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Published: 4 Feb 2024