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.
Ferbruary is a relatively quiet month after the business of the Christmas season and its aftermath, but there’s still plenty of laugh to be had, from the London debut of Jordan Brookes’s batshit mental Titanic opus Fontanelle, to a last chance to see the live Taskmaster show (for now).
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The best new theatre shows to book for in London.
What is it? Aggressively odd comic Jordan Brookes returns with this batshit opus about his increasing obsession with the RMS Titanic.
Why go? It’s been pretty comprensively spoilered by the trailers, but what elevates Fontanelle from the ridculous to the sublimely ridiculous is that what starts off as a ‘mere’ stand-up show transitions into Brookes’ (very mad, very funny) attempt to write a Titanic musical. Just gloriously loopy, albeit in an ineffably sinister way.
What is it? Agit prop comic Mark Thomas spent much of his middle years crafting high concept shows that were closer to storytelling theatre than stand up per se. Now in his sixties, he’s gone back to his roots – kind of – with Gaffa Tapes.
Why go? Thomas is just a delightful presence – unless you’re a Tory – and the prospect of seeing him tell actual jokes again is an enticing one.
What is it? US musical comic Cat Cohen has become something of a superstar with her two hit shows The Twist..? She’s Gorgeous and Come For Me – in which she styles herself as a kind of deluded, overbearing Streisand-style diva, interspersing conversational stand-up with musical numbers and the odd ‘poem’. Now she’s back with some very new material.
Why go? Because if you like Cohen’s shtick – check out The Twist..? on Netflix if you’re not sure – then this is a rare chance to see her work through never-before-seen gags.
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