The week's best live comedy

The week's best live comedy on radio and TV.

Monday October 14

LONDON: The Comedy Store hosts a benefit for Parkinson's UK with Paul Sinha and Vicar Of Dibley writer Paul Mayhew-Archer – both of whom have the condition – very ably backed by Alistair Barrie, Laura Lexx, Paul Tonkinson, Rob Deering.

LONDON: The first of the West End showcases put on by Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Award at the Duchess Theatre features this year's winner Jordan Brooks alongside nominated sketch duos The Delightful Sausage and Goodbear.

LONDON: And you're spoilt for choice at the Soho Theatre this week, with Max & Ivan's gag-packed, perfectly-constructed story Commitment at 9.15pm and Lucy Pearman's mix of physical play and personal revelation, Baggage, at 9pm – both running until Saturday. Or there's Darren Harriott's Edinburgh Comedy Award-nominated storytelling show Good Heart Yute tonight and tomorrow at 9.30pm.

Tuesday October 15

LONDON: A big fundraiser for homeless charity St Mungo's at Shepherds Bush Empire features Stewart Lee, Doc Brown, Jessica Fostekew, Olaf Falafel and Shappi Khorsandi. Tickets.

IPSWICH: Rejoice as Tim Minchin starts his first UK tour since 2011, having spend some of the intervening time working on the DreamWorks movie Larrikins that got cancelled before release. No wonder the Back tour is billed as ‘old songs, new songs, f*** you songs’. Dates

NEWCASTLE: Daniel Kitson brings his latest theatre show, Keep, to Northern Stage for the rest of the week. Review.

Wednesday October 16

DUBLIN: American comedy band Ninja Sex Party perform at Vicar Street tonight before hitting the Oxford Academy on Thursday, and London, Manchester and Edinburgh next week. But tickets are harder to find than... well, a ninja.

Thursday October 17

BRISTOL: Rory Bremner discusses his life in satire at St George's, featuring clips of his comedy heroes and career snapshots. Hosted by Front Row's Matthew sweet, the gig is a fundraiser for the city's Slapstick festival of vintage comedy.

Friday October 18

LONDON: A strong bill at the Hackney Comedy Experience at EartH tonight with The Mash Report's Nish Kumar, Shooting Stars' Angelos Epithemiou, Taskmaster's Rose Matafeo and Edinburgh Comedy Award nominees Sara Barron and Felicity Ward.

BIRMINGHAM: Rhys James starts a UK tour of Snitch, his fifth solo show but the first he has taken on the road. Inspired by being asked to go back to his school and inspire the Year 11s, the show also takes on 'cancel culture' – arguing we aren't cancelling nearly enough things. Click here for tour dates, starting the Glee tonight.

Published: 13 Oct 2019