The most popular comedy shows in London

In his latest dizzyingly high concept show, avant comedy legend Stewart Lee bemoans his irrelevance – something he’s been been bemoaning for decades, often with zeitgeisty results – in a new show in which he promises to unleash a new, callously offensive stage persona to compete with the likes of Ricky Gervais and Dave Chappelle. The Man-Wulf is, apparently, ‘a tough-talking werewolf comedian from the dark forests of the subconscious who hates humanity’. Expect nuclear levels of irony. 

Brilliantly, often sickeningly funny anti-comic Patti Harrison has a new show entitled Don’t Ask that’ll be previewing at Soho Theatre Dean Street before hitting the Edinburgh Fringe. This is not that show: it’s a one off event for Soho Theatre Walthamstow and we have no real idea what it is actually involved (though presumably it’ll have some bearing on Don’t Ask). The actual show description is entirely nuts but to give you a flavour we’re told it will be a two hours ‘of what-is-not-legally-allowed-to-be-called-comedy-at-this-moment-but-in-the-future-will-be-called-comedy-and-definitely-will-not-be-called-porn’.

You might know Gregg Turkington better as failed, sweat-drenched anti-comedian Neil Hamburger. And you might recognise Tim Heidecker as the Tim half of hyper-influential absurdist duo Tim & Eric. Well forget all that, Gregg and Tim are here in their capacity as film critics for a few (mostly sold-out) nights at Soho Theatre Walthamstow. They’re not REALLY film critics of course. The On Cinema web series and podcast is a stomach-turning parody of pompous, uninteresting and uninformed critics (the type of which we definitely don’t employ at Time Out). Expect awful drawn-out anecdotes, incorrect trivia and an unshifting sense of awkwardness and unresolved tension. Five popcorns!

Neon Nights is the gorgeous Soho Theatre Walthamstow’s monthly showcase spectactular and typiclaly features a big name headliner with stars ion various degrees of rising in support.  Upcoming shows include Phil Wang (June 27) with Catherine Bohart as host and Olga Koch, Jin Hao Li, Josh Pugh and Fatiha El-Ghorri supporting. On July 25 it’s Sam Campbell with Ania Magliano as host and support from Desiree Burch, Jessica Fostekew, Slim and Urooj Ashfaq. On Sep 26 it’s Bridget Christie with Kemah Bob as host plus Sindhu Vee, Jen Brister, Rhys James and Amy Gledhill.

15 acts compete in this heat of the 2013 Laughing Horse New Act of the Year competition, plus MC Lewis Bryan.