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 June 1

HEVER CASTLE:An appropriately ancient location for comedian and historian Paul Coulter's tour of his 2024 Edinburgh Fringe show, 5 Mistakes That Changed History, that coincides with a book of the same title also being released this week. He joked: 'We all make mistakes but writing this show was certainly not one of them!' 5 ​Mistakes That Changed History tour dates.

LONDON: It's decent weather for a rooftop comedy club, with the highly skilled Jeff Innocent heading a line-up atop the Bussey Building in Peckham. Michael Akadiri, Sara Barron and Laura Smyth round out a strong bill.

NOTTINGHAM: Mock The Week's Ed Byrne performs an early and late show at Broadway Theatre, supported by the very silly Rob Rouse and MC extraordaire Sally-Anne Haywood.

Monday June 2

LONDON: In O – which is on at Soho Theatre tonight and tomorrow, Shetland comedian Marjolein Robertson talks about a rarely spoken-of health condition that was almost fatal – a story she combines with the myth of the Sea Midder.

Wednesday June 4

LONDON: Tim Minchin returns with his new tour, Songs The World Will Never Hear, marking the 20th anniversary of his arrival on to the British comedy scene, which kicks of at the Soho Theatre Walthamstow today. He said: 'Incredibly, many of my UK fans have been by my side for two decades. They have never flinched as I’ve turned corners and reinvented myself, always engaging open-heartedly with whatever I have to offer. I’m the luckiest artist on the planet, and I can’t wait to be back to deliver a big joyous show, spanning the whole bloody thing.' Ed Gamble, Bridget Christie, Alex Horne and Alan Davies. <a data-cke-saved-href=" https:="" venues="" www.chortle.co.uk="">Listings and tickets

Thursday June 5

EXETER: The city's comedy festival returns with 60 shows, across four days and 15 venues, mostly around Fore Street, to create a proper festival vibe. This year’s line-up brings some big names, such as Bridget Christie, Tim Key, Mark Watson, and Josie Long, as well as some more grassroots acts. For full information, visit exetercomedyfestival.com.

BRACKNELL: Suzi Ruffell kicks off her new stand-up tour The Juggle about how it's 'hard to be good all the time: a good mother, a good daughter, a good partner, a good friend, a good person' . In the press release announcing the show, she said: ' I am juggling as I write this, my daughter is asking me constantly what I am doing, she can see I am not 100 per cent invested in playing cafes, dinner is cooking and the cat is meowing for her food too. To be honest, I think touring might feel like a bit of a holiday.' Ruffell's debut book, Am I Having Fun Now?, is set to be released today too. Suzi ​Ruffell tour dates.

MILTON KEYNES: Comedy Cow's Prime Cut at the Milton Keynes Theatre is a triple headliner bill, featuring medic turned comic turned bestselling author Adam Kay, winningly neurotic Mark Watson and the sharp-witted wastrel Seann Walsh and all MCed by livewire Ninia Benjamin. Tickets.

Friday June 6

SALFORD: The King Arms hosts the first Greater Manchester Improv Festival over this weekend, with 16 shows and four workshops. They include ComedySportz, Murder Inc., Shakespeare On The Spot and The Totally Improvised Musical. Festival organiser says: 'Improv can move you, and it can have you roaring with laughter. Above all, it is playful and fun. I think we could all do with a bit of that these days.' All the details are here.

LONDON: A great bill at the long-running Banana Cabaret in Balham's Bedford pub tonight and tomorrow features playfully snarky Carey Marx, uber-intense Dan Tiernan, straight-talking Lily Phillips, and affable Tom Toal.

Saturday June 7

LONDON: Tony Hinchcliffe brings his Kill Tony podcast stand-up variety show to The O2. It features a parade of aspiring stand-up comedians who are given the opportunity to perform a minute of stand-up to try to impress the panel and a live audience, followed by an interview.

LONDON A typically strong line-up for the latest installment of the Live At Union Chapel stand-up nights in Islington features Sara Pascoe, Iain Stirling, Stephen Bailey, Daniel Foxx and Kyrah Gray.

Published: 1 Jun 2025