The best of the week's live comedy

The week ahead in live comedy.

Monday August 14

EDINBURGH: The Chortle Student Comedy Award reaches its climax, with just eight of the best young comedians gathering for a shot at the title, the £1,000 prize, and the kudos it attracts. Mark Watson hosts Dillon Mapletoft, Harrison Charles, Frank Foucault, Haydn Jenkins, Jack Gleadow,Tony Wright, Riordan DJ and  Sam Knights . It's at Pleasance One at 10.30pm and tickets are available here.

LONDON: American comic Brent Morin makes his UK debut. Brent is the co-star on the NBC live comedy series Undateable, which has just come to an end after three seasons, and recently released his new Netflix special I'm Brent Morin. He is, as the cliché goes, here all week at the Soho Theatre.

Wednesday August 16

LONDON: You'll be very lucky to get in, but Dara O Briain is doing a work-in progress gig at the super-intimate Canal Cafe theatre tonight.

Thursday August 17

LONDON: Canadian-French-Moroccan stand-up Gad Elameh is working on his new English-language comedy special, having shared a high-profile bill with Jerry Seinfeld at  Just for Laughs in Montreal last month (a href="https://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2017/07/27/37171/jerry_seinfeld_and_gad_elmaleh_">Review). He's based in the States, but makes a rare three-night visit to the Soho Theatre from tonight.

EDINBURGH: Joe Lycett's only scheduled appearance at the Fringe this year is a fundraiser for The Buzz Project, which helps young people in the Highlands. It's on at the  New Town Theatre at 7.20pm tonight.

MANCHESTER There's a strong line-up at the Comedy Store this weekend, with quirky charmer Tom Wrigglesworth introducing whip-smart Adam Bloom and ebullient Jarred Christmas tonight. Then silly prop comic/magician Otiz Cannelloni and the assured observational comic Luke Toulson join in the fun for the weekend gigs.

Friday August 18

EDINBURGH Over the years, the Fringe's Comedy Gala has raised  nearly £500,000 for HIV and Hepatitis C charity Waverley Care. This year's installment is hosted by Rob Beckett and Russell Kane, and features Al Murray, Mark Watson, Shappi Khorsandi, Simon Evans, Ivo Graham, Iain Stirling, Suzi Ruffell and  more. The two-and-a-half hour extravaganza kicks off at the Edinburgh Playhouse at 7.30pm.

• Search our full listings for comedy near you using the pull-down menus on the left of this page.

Published: 13 Aug 2017