The week's best live comedy

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

Sunday April 27

BRIGHTON: British-based Canadian comedian Michelle Shaughnessy kicks off a short six-date tour of Too Late, Baby, about realising it may be too late to achieve her dreams. Michelle Shaughnessy tour dates.

Monday April 28

LONDON: American comic Sarah Silverman returns to the UK for her first show in 12 years. Postmortem, which is being performed at the London Palladium, explores loss and grief and serves as a tribute to her late father – the man who taught her to swear. The special will also be streaming on Netflix from May 20. Tickets

Tuesday April 29

LONDON: When he was 18, New Zealand comedian Nic Sampson really did play the Yellow Ranger in Power Rangers. Now he's reliving those glory days in a never-before-attempted cast reunion in this clever and funny meta-comedy, that was one of the under-the-radar successes of last year's Edinburgh Fringe and now plays Soho Theatre all week. Review

Thursday May 1

ALTRINCHAM: Nottingham-based Just the Tonic Comedy Club comes to Greater Manchester with a strong line-up at the Bowdon Room which include The Chase's Paul Sinha, faux French flaneur Marcel Lucont, laid-back Alun Cochrane and the quick-witted Mick Ferry.

Friday May 2

LONDON: It's a big day for comedy in the capital as the Soho Theatre opens a new outpost in Walthamstow. A lovingly restored 1930s cinema, it now houses a 960-seat auditorium – a useful size for acts too big for venues like the Soho Theatre's central London base but not yet ready for the likes of the London Palladium or Hammersmith Apollo. There are also studio spaces, four bars and a restaurant. The venue opens with a week-long run of Natalie Palamaides's brilliantly off-the-wall one-comic rom-com Weer, in which she plays both sides of the relationship. It's a big production worthy of the space. Our four-and-a-half star review.

NOTTINGHAM: The city's medieval castle plays host to a three-day bank holiday comedy festival featuring the likes of Maisie Adam, Tom Davies, Scott Bennett and Simon Brodkin. Full line-ups and tickets

GLASGOW: Described by his regular collaborator Fin Taylor as 'the most exciting comedic mind this country’s seen since Chris Morris’ – which is quite the claim – Horatio Gould's latest show explores the crisis facing young people seeking purpose in life. Return of the Space Cowboy kicks off a UK tour at Oran Mor tonight. Horatio Gould tour dates.

BRIGHTON: The city's month-long Fringe festival kicks off, with more than 4,000 individual performances and comedy a significant component, with many grassroots shows and works-in-progress towards the Edinburgh Fringe. Website

Saturday May 3

BELFAST: Hollywood superstar Kevin Hart kicks off a UK and Ireland tour with two nights in the SSE Arena, followed by stops in Dublin, Manchester, Birmingham and London.

Published: 27 Apr 2025