December means Christmas and Christmas means a host of bizarre and delightful one off, high concept comedy shows, ranging from comedians singing carols for a good cause, to Adam Riches pretending to be Sean Bean for inscrutable reasons of his own. We’ve gathered some of our favouite whimsical season one-offs as this month’s picks.
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? Brilliantly high concept sketch absurdists have made an extremely improbable Christmas album – A Very Sheeps Christmas – and this Christmas they’ll be reuniting to perform it for one night only. Seasonaly appropriate or not, it’ll be a laugh, and will feature copious special guests: Lolly Adefope, Emma Sidi, Phil Ellis, Ania Magliano, Ben Ashenden, John Tothill, Amy Annette, Johnny White Really-Really and Jenny Bede.
Where is it? Soho Theatre Walthamstow.
What is it? The West End's premier piss artists are taking up residence in Leicester Square Theatre this Christmas, with a musical romp through Dickens' timeless story A Christmas Carol. The casts of Sh!t-faced Shakespeare and Sh!t-faced Showtime will team up to perform a musical tale of Scrooge's festive redemption, with their signature twist: one cast member is genuinely drunk. In true improv tradition, each show is different, and the performers will go along with whatever bonkers plot twists their drunken costar dreams up.
Where is it? Leicester Square 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.
Discover Time Out original video
