The week's best live comedy

The best of the week's live comedy, picked from the 4,799 events Chortle currently has listed.  Use our search panel to check our full listings by date and region.  

Sunday September 18

BRIGHTON: Friends of Phil Jerrod are tonight staging a major gig in his honour, raising money Sarcoma UK. The incredible line-up at the Brighton Dome  boasts Angela Barnes, Carl Donnelly, Joe Foster, Kerry Godliman, Mark Steel, Michael Fabbri, Romesh Ranganathan, Seann Walsh and Tom Allen.

BRISTOL: It's long sold out, but James Acaster headlines a strong bill at the Old Vic that also includes Catherine Bohart, Celya AB and Fin Taylor

Tuesday September 20

LONDON: After knocking it into shape at Edinburgh, Stewart Lee unveils his latest stand-up show Basic Lee, with a three-month residency at Leicester Square Theatre. He promises a pared-back approach 'after a decade of ground-breaking high concept shows involving overarched interlinked narratives, massive sets and enormous comedy props'. Though we'll believe that when we see it. Lee then tours the show across the UK in 2023 and into the spring of 2024.  Stewart Lee tour dates

LONDON: Is It A Bird? - Jordan Gray's celebration of her transgenderism - was one of the best-reviewed shows of the Edinburgh Fringe, and now arrives at the Soho Theatre for a near two-week residency.  Review.

LONDON: Harry Hill begins a week of 'Experiments in Entertainment' work-in-progress gigs at the sympathetically restored Wilton's Music Hall near Tower Bridge.

Wednesday September 21

MANCHESTER:  The Laughterama Comedy Festival kicks off at the Castlefield Bowl with a top-notch line-up of  Daniel Kitson, David O'Doherty, Josh Jones, Lou Sanders and Rose Matafeo.  Others appearing during the five-day event include Nish Kumar, James Acaster,  Aisling Bea and Dylan Moran.  Full listings and ticket links are here.

LONDON: The Hackney Empire hosts a Stand Up For Pakistan in aid of the Disaster Emergency Committee's relief efforts following the devastating floods that hit the country - but have been forced out of UK media coverage by wall-to-wall royal reportage. The bill includes Asim Chaudhry, Milton Jones, Nabil Abdulrashid,  Eshaan Akbar, Kae Kurd, Shazia Mirza, Tez Ilyas, Noreen Khan, and Aatif Nawaz.

LONDON:  Guz Khan is also donating the proceeds of his West End gig tonight to the same cause. He'll be joined by Romesh Ranganathan, Asim Chaudhry, Riz Ahmed, Sukh Ojla, and Kane Brown for the first of his three-night residency at the  Harold Pinter Theatre.

Thursday September 22

LONDON: Conway Hall hosts a benefit for menstrual health charity Bloody Good Period featuring Sindhu Vee, Suzi Ruffell, Zoe Lyons, Jen Brister, Maureen Younger, Michelle De Swarte, Sara Barron and Shirley & Shirley./p>

Friday September 23

LONDON: After being so rudely interrupted by the global pandemic, Ben Elton's stage version of Upstart Crow returns to the West End, with David Mitchell as Shakespeare and  Gemma Whelan as the much smarter Kate. It's running at the Apollo Theatre until December 3. Get Upstart Crow tickets here.

LONDON: Taskmaster's Jamali Maddix and entitled, self-centred voice of his generation, Leo Reich, are joined by Celya AB, Laura Lexx and Tessa Coates for a great night at the Clapham Grand.

BRIGHTON Nish Kumar headlines the last Stand-up Under The Stars of the season at Brighton Open Air Theatre alongside Amy Gledhill – nominated for best newcomer at the Fringe last month – Adam Hess and Fatiha El-Ghorri.

Saturday September 24

NEWCASTLE: A cathedral isn't the most obvious place for a comedy gig, but the line-up here is strong, headed by Phil Wang who's backed by local hero and Dave's Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Lauren Pattison, camp as a choirboy Stephen Bailey, plus Anja Atkinson, and Hal Branson. Tickets.

LONDON: Following Guz Khan's run at the Harold-Pinter, an unbeatable one-off featuring RTS winner. Simon Amstell, double Emmy winner Brett Goldstein, Bafta-winner Aisling Bea plus Athena Kugblenu and Lou Sanders. Tickets.

Published: 18 Sep 2022