The week's best live comedy

The best of the week's live comedy, picked from the 6,564 events Chortle currently has listed. Use our search panel to check our full listings by date and region.

Sunday October 27

HALIFAX: The town's comedy festival crowns the winner of its new act competition in a show kicking off at the Victoria Theatre at 5pm. In the running are - Louis Etienne, Kie Carson, Melanie Judson, Andy Ellis, Jake Breeze, Mike Carter, Fil Milton, Jordan Ducharme and Edi Johnston

Monday October 28

BIRMINGHAM: For Halloween week, Archduke O’ Darkdom Garth Marenghi invites you to an evening of 'balls to the wall' horror: A double feature of highlights from his recent Incarcerat tour, along with the world-premiere reading of the scariest bits from Throttle And Bribes, a bonus story in the paperback version of Incarcerat. He's the Birmingjam Gell tonight at the Hackney Empire in London on All Hallows' Eve itself.

Tuesday October 29

LONDON: Flo and Joan's wonderfully disrespectful One-Man Musical, about Andrew Lloyd Webber (as skilfully played by George Fouracres as a pompous, egocentric arse), has a welcome run at the Soho Theatre until Satuday (but not Friday). It also returns to the venue for the week of November 25. Flo And Joan's One-Man Musical review.

CHELTENHAM: There's an appealing line-up at Howlers Comedy Club at the Playhouse tonight with Carey Marx, Meryl O'Rourke, Peter Brush and Tom Toal.

Wednesday October 30

LONDON: Paul Merton and Suki Webster return to the Comedy Store for a limited weekly season of their improv show, with guests across the run including Stephen Mangan, Marcus Brigstocke, Rachel Parris and Julian Clary.

Thursday October 31

LONDON: The Weirdos Comedy of some of the most off-the-wall acts around are back for a show about Halloween and next week's US Election. Their new comedy play, QAnon vs Dracula, about conspiracy theories and vampires runs at the Museum of Comedy for three nights. The sprawling cast of alternative comics includes Bec Hill, Matthew Highton, Sam Nicoresti, Michael Brunström and Charlie Vero Martin. Writer Adam Larter said: 'As the UK comedy scene seems to be totally chill with some of the mad conspiracy theories that dot around whether that is anti-vax, anti-trans, anti-semitic or the usual misogyny and dog-whistle racism it seems a fun time to turn all this terrifying rhetoric into a classic, poorly rehearsed comedy play.'

LONDON: Other Halloween offerings in the capital include a sold-out Spookfest led by endearingly bad writer Christopher Bliss at the Moth Club in Hackney; the Union Chapel in Islington plays host to a Ghost House occupied by Rose Matafeo, Michelle De Swarte, Jin Hao Li, Olga Koch and John Robins; and Lachlan Werner's spooky and fun ventriloquist show Voices Of Evil is on at the Pleasance, also in Islington.

SALFORD: Another show apt for Halloween, Edy Hurst's Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Himself is at the Lowry tonight and tomorrow, promising 'a wyrd and wonderfull journey of self-discoverie through the realms of the Lancashire Witch Trials, Neurodivergence and the Vengaboys'. And there's more dates around the country coming up. Edy Hurst tour dates.

BLACKBURN: Meanwhile, Clinton Baptiste, the offensive medium from Phoenix Nights as played by Alex Lowe, continues his Roller Ghoster tour speaking to those on the other side at the Empire Theatre.

Friday November 1

NOTTINGHAM: More than 130 comedians will be performing across 18 venues in the city's 10-day comedy festival, which kicks off today. Local hero Sarah Keyworth is among the opening night shows, with their award-winning show My Eyes Are Up Here at the Playhouse. Others swinging by include Scott Bennett, Alfie Moore, Clinton Baptiste and Laura Lexx, plus many more. Full listings on the festival website

DUNDEE: Karen Dunbar has a packed November, performing 24 Scottish shows across the month, often twice a night – including tonight when she's at Duck Slatterys in Dundee at 6.30pm and Markinch Town Hall at 9.30pm. The 'audience with' shows see the star of Chewin The Fat, and much else besides, sharing stories from her life and talking about her career. Karen Dunbar tour dates.

LONDON: Ivo Graham brings his latest show, Grand Designs, to the Blackheath Halls for one night only.

Saturday November 2

LONDON: Just The Tonic at the Metronome in Shoreditch continues to attract top-notch line-ups, with tonight's boasting the intense Dan Tiernan, grizzled Dave Fulton, charming Robin Morgan and compelling storyteller Sarah Kendall.

Published: 27 Oct 2024