The Gift review – an existential ‘poo-dunnit’ that keeps on giving

Park theatre, LondonAn anonymously delivered box of something unmentionable sends an advertising worker into a spiral in Dave Florez’s comedyA cake box arrives in the post, sent special delivery to Colin (Nicholas Burns), a 40-something north Londoner …

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Inside No 9: Stage/Fright review – slick chills in Shearsmith and Pemberton’s creepy West End comedy

Wyndham’s theatre, LondonThe double act transfer their TV hit to the stage in an ingenious edge-of-your-seat, one-step-ahead show which is in love with old theatres and their ghosts‘We finally ran out of ideas!” jokes Reece Shearsmith towards the end o…

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Bron Lewis: the 10 funniest things I have ever seen (on the internet)

This comedian’s love language is sharing scare videos – but she also loves Kristen Wiig, Aaron Chen and a skit about checking out of AirbnbsSummer essentialsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastI’m Bron Lewis, stand-up comedian, r…

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My heart will go onstage: Celine Dion and Dolly Parton celebrated in outlandish musicals

The comedies Titanique and Here You Come Again pay homage to two superstars in quirky style. Actors Lauren Drew and Tricia Paoluccio explain what it’s like to portray their idols – and take on their iconic songsMost biodramas about musicians sing from …

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Sean McLoughlin: ‘I tried to focus on my jokes but Dave Grohl was in the front row!’

The standup on playing to an audience of 17,000 at the Hollywood Bowl, taking Tunbridge Wells by storm and what he regrets about his 20sHow did you get into comedy?I did my first gig at the Dog & Parrot in Newcastle in 2007. I was a jittery first y…

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‘A sight to behold!’ Soho Theatre Walthamstow brings live performance back to historic venue

After a major restoration, new theatre in east London announces opening programme with Sara Pascoe and Rosie Jones on the bill – plus panto and a new show by Bryony KimmingsIt opened as a Victorian music hall, had various incarnations as a picture hous…

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Demi Adejuyigbe’s must-see comedy backflip: ‘It’s kind of Evel Knievel!’

The Good Place writer didn’t know there were prizes at the Edinburgh fringe until his acrobatic debut show earned him a nomination. Now he hopes to spring similar surprisesIf you wanted a career that sums up the amorphous nature of modern comedy – from…

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Amy Annette: Thick Skin review – tales of 00s teenhood teleport you to the dancefloor

Soho theatre, LondonAnnette’s stage presence shines in a show full of vivid observations, campy asides and nostalgic pop cultureAmy Annette is the sort of woman who’d rather drop her phone than a lovely bit of bread, she tells us by way of introduction…

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‘I’ve finally realised I like John Shuttleworth!’ Graham Fellows on 40 years with his organ-plonking alter ego

He has notched up tours, albums, books and a sitcom. Why is he tortured by feelings of under-achievement? As Fellows hits the road, he pops an aniseed ball and discusses his new song – about an audience member falling off a cliffWhen Graham Fellows fir…

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Nina Conti: Whose Face Is It Anyway? review – masterful ventriloquist’s sublime silliness

Apollo theatre, LondonConti is in supreme command of her comedy chaos, devising voices, ad hoc songs and daft scenariosThe early phase of Nina Conti’s career was marked by restless boundary pushing, as she – and her sidekick Monkey – twisted ventriloqu…

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