The week's best live comedy

The best of the week's live comedy.

Sunday February 2

SALFORD: Simon Brodkin - the comedian who famously pranked Theresa May, Donald Trump, Sepp Blatter and Kanye West, among others - embarks on his first tour as himself after finding fame via his alter ego Lee Nelson. He's announced 46 dates, kicking off at the Lowry tonight - here is the schedule.

Monday February 3

LONDON: Helen Bauer was one of the newcomers who made an impact at last year's Edinburgh Fringe with her silly, in-your-face biographical show Little Miss Baby Angel Face, which arrives at Soho Theatre for a week. Review

Tuesday February 4

LONDON: Stars aplenty at the Alexandra Palace Theatre in a benefit for Weston Park Primary School : Al Murray, Alex Horne, Flo and Joan, Lucy Beaumont, Rob Auton, Rob Delaney and Sophie Duker are all on the bill.

LONDON: There's a great line-up at the Half Moon in Putney, comprising the varied talents of Ahir Shah, Alison Thea-Skot, Catherine Bohart, John Robertson, Sindhu Vee and Monkey and Roy, the new act ventriloquist Nina Conti is developing with the Pyjama Men's Shenoah Allen.

Wednesday February 5

LEICESTER: It's the start of the city's mammoth comedy festival, which runs through until the 23rd. Many of the hundreds of shows are works in progress, but fully-formed works on opening night include Mock The Week favourite Ed Byrne, Edinburgh Fringe hit Crybabies, and spoof psychic Tom Binns. Festival website.

WATFORD: Fascinating Aida, those hardy perennials of musical comedy, kick off their first tour in six years at the Palace theatre. Dillie Keane, Adèle Anderson and Liza Pulman combine glamour, crudity and political comment in their tight cabaret numbers, which have scooped them three Olivier Award nominations over the years. Dates and review.

MAIDENHEAD: Laura Lexx, last seen on TV engaging in a Comey Central slam battle with her husband Tom Livingstone, embarks on her first UK tour. Knee Jerk is about how hard it is to be a good person in world full of fury over Brexit, carbon emissions, gender, plastics and nationality. Lexx has previously appeared on Live At The Apollo and twice won the best performer award doled out by fellow comedians. Dates

Thursday February 6

LONDON: Simon Munnery reprises his cult comedy creation, Alan Parker: Urban Warrior for a farewell national tour. An inept tinpot revolutionary with hilariously contradictory slogans, the character seems to have found a new relevance in the age of Jeremy Corbyn… He is at the Soho Theatre until Saturday before embarking on a nationwide tour in Hove next week. Dates and review

Friday February 7

LONDON: Upstart Crow hits the West End, with David Mitchell as William Shakespeare in a new stage play spawned from Ben Elton's BBC Two sitcom. The cast at the Gielgud Theatre also includes Gemma Whelan, Mark Heap, Rob Rouse, Helen Monks and Steve Speirs and from the telly version. It runs until April 25. Tickers

LONDON: An embarrassment of comedy riches in Hackney as the Empire hosts David O'Doherty, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Sara Pascoe, Spencer Jones, Suzi Ruffell and the nearby EartH has Bridget Christie, Glenn Moore, Simon Amstell, Sophie Duker and John Robins. Spoiled for choice!

Saturday February 8

LEAMINGTON SPA: Just the Tonic Comedy Club opens its latest outpost at the Assembly Hall, with opening night headlined by Reginald D Hunter very ably assisted by Andrew O'Neill, Guz Khan and Matt Richardson. It will then return every month.

Published: 2 Feb 2020