‘Wow, logging that as a microaggression!’ Sophie Duker on trolling masculinity, lesbian cruises and her stripper fantasy

The standup on the bizarre gifts she’s received from fans, the intoxicating power of being an author and manifesting her ‘fiercely intellectual slutty grandma’How did you get into comedy?
If you want anything badly enough, the best way to get it is t…

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Three Men in a Boat review – quirky novella makes for perky, fun-forward theatre

Rose theatre, Kingston upon ThamesA rag puppet Montmorency, a fake moustache and an aria for reeking cheese add to the mischief of Jerome K Jerome’s very English storyBack from Lib Dem conference, Ed Davey watched this adaptation in his Kingston consti…

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The Librarians: A Very Serious Comedy! review – workplace meltdown borrows from classic sitcoms

Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh Well-tuned performances help along a familiar set of laughs as a rickety library gets a new manager and an inspectionThe sign says Plumstanton Library but this could be The Brittas Empire’s Whitbury New Town Leisure Centr…

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Robot helpers and flying houses: Edinburgh fringe tips for families

From wacky versions of The ABC Song to Quentin Blake’s eccentric Mrs Armitage, these five shows offer fun for young audiencesUnderbelly until 31 August Continue reading…

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Episode #504: Dan Wilbur

Dan Wilbur is a comedian and author of two humor books, “How Not To Read” and “Never Flirt with Puppy Killers.” He released his first stand-up comedy album, Husband Material, in 2023, has been featured on CollegeHumor, McSweeney’s and Someecards, where…

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‘I want to bury it under a roundabout!’ Kim Noble on his unusual approach to promoting his graphic novel

The unsettling performance artist, who has made some electrifying stage shows in his time, is taking a leap into literature with an eye-opening book, In Pursuit of a Wonderful Nothing. A hard sell, he thinksThere are commercial strategies to promote yo…

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John Kearns: Tilting at Windmills review – a handful of dust (and prawn cocktail crisps) in riff on TS Eliot

The Crescent, YorkThe comedian addresses a relationship breakup via The Waste Land, Aldi and a dimwit estate agentHow has it come to this? That’s what new show Tilting at Windmills finds John Kearns asking, and – after a fashion – it’s what TS Eliot as…

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Houdini’s reappearing act: David Haig’s new play lays bare the magician’s dispute with Conan Doyle

An interest in spiritualism drew the escapologist and the Sherlock Holmes author together but, as actor-playwright Haig’s drama Magic shows, also threw them into conflictIt’s the question most often posed to artists: where do you get your ideas from? D…

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‘This craving to go viral is tiresome’: the artists who’re sick of the pressure to promote on social media

From Stewart Lee in his wolf costume to Werner Herzog’s big steak sizzle-up, artists are now under huge duress to ‘chase the algorithm’ and reach audiences. Many of them are hitting burnout – and hitting backThere was a meme recently featuring Tony Sop…

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Episode #485: Mike Bridenstine, author, director and GM of the Lyric Hyperion

Mike Bridenstine appeared on this podcast three years ago in Episode 417. Since then, he has written and published his second book about comedy, “Kansas …

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