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 15

BRIGHTON: Lovely weather for a week of gigs at the open-air theatre, starting with a family show with Mark Simmons, Sara Pascoe and Suzi Ruffell on stage this afternoon. Others appearing across the week include Romesh Ranganathan, Al Murray, Maisie Adam and more. Full listings.

BIRMINGHAM: Bring The Laughter at the Glee offers a nicely mixed bill, with Man Like Mobeen's Guz Khan, stage and screen star Richard Blackwood (just announced as the new team captain on ITV panel show, Sorry I Didn't Know), Paralympian turned stand-up Ricky Balshaw and intriguing Chinese up-and-comer Blank Peng.

YARM: Frankie Boyle headlines the Ripping Yarms club in North Yorkshire, with fine support from Laura Smyth, Sol Bernstein and MC Danny McLoughlin. The brutal Scotsman is doubling up with a Billingham Forum Theatre, where he's backed by privileged rapper MC Hammersmith, stand-up Chris Washington and host Matt Reed.

Monday June 16

LONDON: The London Clown Festival kicks off at the Soho Theatre with a gala show. That's sold out, but tickets are still available for other acts over the week, including Lachlan Werner, Lil Wenker and Jessica Barton.

LONDON: Also at the same venue, Kieran Hodgson unveils his new show, Voice of America, with a two-week residency before it heads to the Edinburgh Fringe. It's described as the first time the Two Doors Down star has engaged with current affairs, with an ever-evolving political stand-up routine drawing on his talents for doing voices.

Tuesday June 17

LONDON: Stewart Lee is among the guests at Cray Cray Cabaret, Phil Nichol's excellent monthly extravaganza at the Comedy Store, with music provided by David Tim and his Big-Ish Band Other comics on the bill are Ali Woods, Andrew O'Neill, Sarah Kendall and singer Sarah‌-Louise Young.

Wednesday June 18

MANCHESTER: Jon Richardson, headliners a benefit for mitochondrial disease charity, The Lily Foundation, at the Frog And Bucket, with a bill that also includes Josh Jones, Faizan Shah, Chris Washington and Sally-Anne Hayward.

LONDON: There's a strong line-up of up-and-coming comics at the Seven Dials Playhouse, including Chloe Petts, Jin Hao Li, Sharon Wanjohi, Sam Nicoresti and So You Think You're Funny? winner Alana Jackson – all appearing alongside Friday Night Dinner and Plebs star Tom Rosenthal.

Thursday June 19

LONDON: Stand Up for Refugees, a comedy gig in aid of Refugee Action at the Clapham Grand, boasts a packed – and top-notch – bill comprising Mark Watson, Olga Koch, Ali Woods, Esther Manito, Jen Brister, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Milo Edwards, Sikisa, Tadiwa Mahlunge and Rajiv Karia.

Friday June 20

LONDON: The swanky Cadogan Hall, just off well-heeled Sloane Square, plays host to another of its top-flight stand-up shows, with QI's Alan Davies, Taskmaster stars Fatiha El-Ghorri and Mike Wozniak, Radio 5 Live's John Robins, and Welsh wonder Kiri Pritchard-McLean.

Saturday June 21

IPSWICH: Telly regular Sara Pascoe kicks off her new tour I Am A Strange Gloop at the New Wolsey Theatre. It's described thusly: 'Have you ever been awake in the middle of the night and thought something so smart and astute that you couldn't wait for the world to wake up so you could tell them? This Show Is That Thought. In that it doesn't make much sense and is a bit weird on reflection.' Dates run through to March. Sara Pascoe tour dates.

NORWICH: Some fine exponents of the art and craft of stand-up assemble in Maddermarket Theatre tonight – namely Seann Walsh, Ian Smith, Red Richardson and James Ellis.

Published: 15 Jun 2025