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 May 17

GLASGOW: US comedian and podcaster Joe List – who was previously Louis CK's tour support – is in the UK, playing Oran Mor tonight, London's Leicester Square Theatre later in the week, then Bristol's Hen and Chicken on Sunday before popping over the Irish Sea to the Ambassadors in Dublin and the Belfast Limelight next week.

ARBROATH: At the Webster Theatre, lobetrotting Scottish comedian Danny Bhoy - now resident in Australia – begins a UK tour of his show Dear World…, which he describes as a hybrid of stand-up and theatre as he reads from fictitious letters he has ‘written’ to various people and organisations. Danny ​Bhoy tour dates

Monday May 18

LONDON: The show David Elms Describes a Room is both as simple as it sounds and far more complicated. The comedian and improviser puts together a detailed mental image of a room, asking the audience for their input every step of the way. It brings everyone together in a delightful sense of community, with the charming Elms a personable guide, who then creates a very funny scenario from the location we have all just described. He's at the Soho Theatre for two weeks from today - and read our four-star review here.

Wednesday May 20

LONDON: Richard Herring, who's had experience of testicular cancer, is part of the fundraiser B*ll*cks to Cancer at the Rich Mix Studios in Bethnal Green alongside Freestyle Comedy rapper Abandoman and a full supporting bill.

Thursday May 21

LONDON: A long weekend of stand-up is coming to one of London’s hidden architectural gems. The Crystal Palace Subway was built in the style of a Byzantine crypt in 1865 to connect rail passengers to the Crystal Palace Great Exhibition building. The likes of Daniel Kitson, Kerry Godliman and Sam Nicoresti are playing over the next few nights, with Elis James, Peter Flanagan, Scott Bennett and Sharon Wanjohi kicking things off tonight, with an early and late show.

LONDON: A Saturday Night double at The Trafalgar in Chelsea tonight with Ayoade Bamgboye and Paddy Young playing the Always Be Comedy night, alongside Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Sam Nicoresti.

MORECAMBE: Mock The Week's Ed Byrne and quick-witted Hayley Elis play the Platform, presented by Just The Tonic comedy club. Tickets.

Friday May 22

WELLS: Bridget Christie, Lou Sanders and Ian Smith are among those playing the opening night of the Wells Comedy Festival across this Bank Holiday weekend as it celebrates its 10th anniversary. Website.

HAY-ON-WYE: If you're at the Hay Literature Festival, there's a stand-up show tonight featuring Tom Allen – whose novel Common Decency is out this week – alongside Fatiha El-Ghorri, Jack Skipper and Suzi Ruffell .

Saturday May 23

LONDON: Sooshi Mango, who bill himself as 'Australia's fastest-growing ethnic comedy troupe', are at the Shepherds Bush Empire tonight with their Home Made World Tour. Tickets

Published: 17 May 2026