The top London comedy shows to see in March

What is it? You’ll have a job getting into any of James Acaster’s bewildering multitude of new material London shows this March, although some have waiting lists and it looks like his Hackney Empire shows (technically in April) aren’t entirely sold out at time of writing. But you can also catch him at the head of a frankly sensational bill at a charity gig for The Bike Project earlier in the month at the Union Chapelon March 10, with tickets still abailable at time of writing.

Where is it? Various.

What is it? Thanks to the ongoing cult behemoth that is Taskmaster, its host Greg Davies finds his stand up career hitting new highs, with a month of shows at the Apollo for his new show Full Fat Legend to be followed in December with his debut at the O2 – his biggest show to date. Despite the immodest name, the new show is, in essence, an autobiographical exploration of what an idiot he is. 

Where is it? Hammersmith Apollo (and The O2 in December).

What is it? A victory lap for last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe Comedy Award winning show from trans comic Sam Nicoresti. After hovering on the fringes of the Fringe for years with shows too weird or not quite finished enough to click with a wider audience, the pointedly more mainstream Baby Doomer did the trick perfectly, an eccentric but accessible meditation on the trans experience, groaning with actual jokes.

Where is it? Soho Theatre.

What is it? In this sweet debut Fringe hour,  Lewisham-born-and-bred stand up Toussaint Douglass threatens us with 55 minutes of jokes about pigeons. That’s not quite what we get (maybe 15 minutes) but it’s a charming show that deservedly netted him the best newcomer award at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Where is it? Soho Theatre.

What is it? Jordan Gray’s last show Is It a Bird? – an ebulliant set that featured highly original musings on both superheroes and being transgender – propelled the comic’s star to new hights. Inevitably it also aroused the ire of the not inconsiderable number of people in this country who dislike trans people. Amusingly dissecting the backlash to Is It a Bird? it also includes cowboys and songs.

Where is it? Soho Theatre Walthamstow.

What is it? Andrew Doherty’s idiosyncratic folk horror comedy Gay Witch Sex Cult was one of the most arresting stand up debuts at the 2024 Fringe. And its follow up Sad Gay AIDS Play is a lot of fun. But it also sails into tropier waters than its predecessor, and though hardly a run of the mill stand up show, it does feel like it’s treading on some pretty well worn ground.

Where is it? Soho Theatre.

What is it? Even by the fairly vague naming conventions of stand up comedy shows, it’s hard to imagine what sardonic Anglo-Russian Olga Koch’s new show Fat Tom Cruise will be about. Apparently it revolves around a story Koch has to tell. And furthermore, it’s a genre-defying show with immersive elements. This could mean everything or nothing, but Koch is an undoubtable pro and if she’s stretching her wings a bit formally then so much the better.

Where is it? Soho Theatre.

What is it? Ultimate millennial wit Amstell returns to live action with a storytelling based show that revolves around his achieving a measure of contentedness in middle age and how a chance encounter with a former pop star crush at an LA party threatened to jeapordise that. If the word ‘storytelling’ sounds like a red flag meaning ‘no jokes’ then fear not: review of I Live It. Here’s initial London run suggest that despite its thematic coherency, it’s basically business as usual for the self-lacerating introvert.

Where is it? Arches at London Bridge.