The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20230522123610/https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/comedy

Follow us:

BREAKING
42m Suella Braverman ‘must go’ if she broke code in speed row, PM told
28m Police looking for Madeleine McCann ‘to search Algarve reservoir’
37m Belarusian blogger arrested on Ryanair flight pardoned
4h Hinge and Bracket star George Logan dies aged 78
2h Mount Etna eruption grounds flights at Sicily’s Catania airport
3h Wise CFO to quit after CEO says he will step away
Comedy
Image
Comedy
2m

Micky Flanagan at the O2 review: precision tooled for laughs

His first tour in five years sees not much changed for the comic, but his wit is still as sharp and smooth as ever

<p>Russell Howard </p>
Comedy

Russell Howard at the Palladium review: peppered with punchlines

With familiar themes, even when the material is new this has the feel of a greatest hits set

Comedy

Harriet Dyer at Soho Theatre review – powerful and compelling

A captivating presence, Dyer tells the story of a traumatic event that has cast a shadow over her life - humour is one of the ways she has coped

Watch Now

Evening Standard Big Comedy Night with Uber

NOW PLAYING

Evening Standard Big Comedy Night with Uber

NOW PLAYING

The Destination: Jessica Fostekew on the magic of comedy

NOW PLAYING

The Journey: Jessica Fostekew on new comedy gigs

NOW PLAYING

The Introduction: Comedian Jessica Fostekew on awkward gig moments

NOW PLAYING

The Destination: Comedian Huge Davies on his relationship with ducks

Comedy

Nick Mohammed at Duke Of York’s Theatre review: a bona fide hoot

Mohammed is touring the highlights from his pre-Lasso comedy alter ego Mr Swallow

Comedy

Grace Campbell at Clapham Grand: propelled by force of personality

What Campbell lacks in stagecraft finesse she makes up for in confidence

Comedy

The Wrestling at Indigo2: grappling comics brought glorious chaos

Wrestling is as close to showbiz as it is to sport, so it is unsurprising that it comes naturally to comedians

Comedy

Chris Rock Live on Netflix: revenge served ice cold

The first live comedy special for the streamer was always going to serve up a slapback, and it was worth the wait

Comedy

Our guide to London’s best free comedy venues

Save your pennies but have a fantastic night out with our picks of London’s best free (and cheap) comedy events

Comedy

Babatunde Aléshé at Leicester Square Theatre: infectiously upbeat

Babahood certainly delivers a good night out, it just needs more bite

Comedy

Sara Pascoe: Success Story at Shaftesbury Theatre - hugely enjoyable

Pascoe has a fresh take on well-trodden issues and a playful, engaging style that draws you in

Comedy

Chloe Petts at Soho Theatre review – a rising star

The commanding stand-up’s engaging debut is an illuminating insight into the hot topic of gender

Comedy

Liz Kingsman: One Woman Show at the Ambassadors Theatre - exquisite

It’s even better than last time: break a minor byelaw if it helps you get to the gig

Comedy

Peter Kay at the O2 Arena review: delivered in spades

Kay’s material still trades on shameless nostalgia but the audiences left with smiles on their faces

Comedy

Jerry Sadowitz at the Apollo: uncomfortable but hard to take seriously

The Edinburgh controversy certainly sold tickets but it seems likely the deliberately offensive comedian won’t be going mainstream anytime soon

Comedy

Nick Helm at Bloomsbury Theatre: the ultimate in pandemic humour

Other comedians might as well give up; they are unlikely to improve on this

Comedy

Marc Maron at Bloomsbury Theatre: at his best when he got personal

These two solo shows revealed the other side of the famous podcaster’s repertoire

Comedy

Rich Hall at Soho Theatre: gruff exterior conceals a slick performer

The American comedian is an essential worker if you’re in need of a dose of curmudgeonly humour

Comedy

Dave Gorman at Hackney Empire review: hilarious feelgood standup

Audiences will be educated as well as spectacularly entertained

Comedy

The best Edinburgh Fringe comedy shows coming to London

Some of the top acts of the 2022 fringe are bringing their shows to London. Here’s our pick...

Comedy

Stewart Lee, Leicester Square Theatre: classic Lee, maybe too classic

Easy gags and brilliant ideas combine to make this a show for the faithful, if not necessarily one to win new converts

Comedy

Kemah Bob’s FOC IT UP! podcast is blowing comedy’s doors wide open

The Texan comic says the comedy scene doesn’t cater for all audiences - or comics

Comedy

Joz Norris at Soho Theatre: a brilliantly madcap magic meltdown

This brilliant show was a Fringe highlight - now it’s landed in London

Showbiz

How to get tickets for Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle’s London shows

This will be the first time the two comedians perform together

Comedy

Colin Hoult at Edinburgh Fringe 2022: gloriously over the top

The Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee’s character comedy is immaculately observed

Comedy

Edinburgh Fringe 2022: Jordan Gray is a bona fide star

This brilliant show could well make history at the Fringe this year

Comedy

Leo Reich at the Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh review: Brilliant

One of the most exciting breakout stars at the Fringe this year

Comedy

Maisie Adam at Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh: Brilliantly observed comedy

Her show is a succession of brilliantly observed dispatches from her life

Comedy

Chloe Petts at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh: Stunningly accomplished

Petts handles hot topics like gender in an accessible, calm and funny way

Comedy

Edinburgh Fringe 2022: Zach Zucker leaves us laughing against the odds

After having to rewrite his show due to a tragedy in his hometown, the American comedian still keeps his humour high-octane

Comedy

Kate Barron on how losing 13 stone has led to her new Edinburgh show

The Canadian comic’s personal new festival hour Losing Myself has sparked emotional responses from audiences

Comedy

Edinburgh Fringe 2022: Our pick of the 20 must-see comedy shows

This year promises an festival like no other. Here are the shows not to miss at the annual jamboree

Comedy

Luisa Omielan at Soho Theatre review: Why is she not a household name?

This Greatest Hits-style set features plenty of punchy routines

Comedy

Comedian Sikisa on Edinburgh, immigration and her love for Brixton

Discovered while working in a pub, the comic has to take holiday allowance from her legal work to make her Edinburgh Fringe debut next month

Comedy

Fran Lebowitz at Theatre Royal review: Excoriating and witty

While not a stand-up, the wordsmith has the natural cadences of a classic acerbic New York comic

Comedy

Joe Lycett at the Eventim Apollo review - a great show

Brummie stand-up shows when it comes to comedy with a message, he’s still very much the boss

Comedy

Rosie Holt on how her political comedy side hustle made her a star

The actor and comedian so perfectly skewers the automatons wheeled on by the government to defend the indefensible that some people thought she was real

Comedy

Dylan Moran, Eventim Apollo: When he’s good, he’s very very good

He wandered off topic a bit too often but it’s good to see him back