Even by London’s standards, November is an eclectic month for comedy, with our most anticipated shows including Joe Kent-Waters’ hell-set Frankie Monroe DEAD!!! (Good Fun Time), an evening of Vaudeville with beloved US actor John C Reilly, and the return of the ever gloriously baffling Tim Key.
There are far, far too many one-off, multi-performer comedy nights in London for us to compile a single coherent page with our favouites on, which is entirely to London’s credit. So do check individual bills of comedy clubs online for that sort of thing. But if you’re looking for an individual comedian with a full headline show then this page is here to compile the Time Out editorial team’s top choices, often with our reviews from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The best comedy clubs in London.
The best new theatre shows to book for in London.
What is it? Joe Kent-Waters’s second show is basically a bigger budget remake of his first show, and sees the hilarious return of his creation Frankie Monroe, a hulking, gravelly-voiced, white-faced men’s club owner and self-declared ‘biggest bastard in Yorkshire’.
Where is it? Soho Theatre.
What is it? There’s something genuinely heartening about the fact that Tim Key – essentially a weird poet – has become such a big deal. There’s no clear explanation as to what his new show Loganberry is about, and it seems like a stretch to imagine it’s signifcantly related to his excellent previous show Mulberry. But really just enjoy the ride as the shambolic master settles in at Wilton’s for a couple of weeks.
Where is it? Wilton’s Music Hall.
What is it? US actor John C Reilly is a man of many parts, probably best known as a supporting actor in a slew of great films around the turn of the century including Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Gangs of New York, The Thin Red Line, The Hours and The Aviator. Anyway: he also does a vaudevillian comedy show which has won praise in the US and now makes its UK debut via two shows at Soho Theatre.
Where is it? Soho Theatre Walthamstow.
What is it? Slapstick comedy sensation Starr attempts to perform every single Penguin Classic novel – from Frankenstein to The Grapes of Wrath – over the course of one joyously bonkers 70-minute show. Do not expect to learn that much about English literature.
Where is it? Arts Theatre.
What is it? Nigerian standup Bamgboye took the best newcomer award at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe with Swings and Roundabouts her debut show which charted her move to the UK in her twenties, and showcased her often disorientating mastery of accents. Critics praised her confidence, poise and original, outsider-ish eye on British culture.
Where is it? Soho Theatre.
What is it? Wide-eyed Indian stand-up Urooj Ashfaq made a big impression at the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe with her deft, warm Oh No!, an account of her experience with therapy that led to her winning that year’s best newcomer comedy award. Now she’s back and already riffing on her squeaky clean image with How to be a Baddie in which she claims to have undergone a complete personality overhaul.
Where is it? Soho Theatre.
What is it? Though Ricky Gervais is an infinitely more polarising figure than he was 10 or 20 years ago, his popularity remains undeniable, with a lengthy run of London dates split between the Palladium and Wembley Arena lined up. Honed by a tour that’s already run for over a year, new show Mortality promises to look at the absurdities of life and death.
Where is it? London Palladium and Wembley Arena.
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