Olga Koch review – uproarious, gleefully obscene comedy

Soho theatre, LondonThe Russian-born comic racks up the punchlines as she auditions to be a Bond girl, considers British quirks and recalls her schooldaysThe comedian from far afield, observing British idiosyncrasies for the delight of British audience…

Continue Reading

‘The laughs hit me in the heart’: a view from the stage at Shakespeare’s Globe

After months of uncertainty and being told to retrain, I got my chance to act at a beautiful and iconic theatre. Fair bit of pressure not to be rubbish …It’s difficult to describe the feelings of jubilation, guilt, disbelief, confusion, gratitude and f…

Continue Reading

Disabled and clinically vulnerable shut out from return of live music and theatre

As social distancing disappears at UK arts venues, artists and audiences who need to shield are uncertain of the futurePerformers and audiences who are clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) are being shut out of the arts due to a lack of ongoing safety…

Continue Reading

The Mighty Kids Beatbox Comedy Show review – extraordinary vocal gymnastics and doofus energy

London Wonderground, Earls Court, LondonJarred Christmas’s human cartoon antics and Hobbit’s virtuoso microphone skills jolly the crowd along – but the show wasn’t as interactive as billedSome kids see a show with their parents then reflect eruditely, …

Continue Reading

Phil Jerrod, ‘spectacularly talented’ comedian, dies aged 42

Comics including Romesh Ranganathan pay tribute to ‘caring and terrific’ standup, whose death from cancer has been announcedThe comedian Phil Jerrod, known for his richly lyrical observations and tirades, delivered with surreal flights of fancy, has di…

Continue Reading

Simon Amstell review – shame, self-analysis and great gags

Soho theatre, LondonThe comedian flops in a New York hotel room, sheds his inhibitions at an ayahuasca ceremony and visits a Berlin sex club as he explores his midlife crisisNo one zeroes in on the human comedy, the gulf dividing who we wish to be from…

Continue Reading

Michael Spicer: ‘I’ve never been heckled, I’m an online comedian’

The comedy writer, performer and satirical video producer on the things that make him laugh the mostI once went to see David Kay in Edinburgh. I started laughing from the moment he came on the stage and was only able to pause for breath when he left. C…

Continue Reading

Henry Normal: ‘Comedy’s like sugar. It makes things better but I wouldn’t eat it on its own’

The producer whose TV hits include The Royle Family and Gavin and Stacey on finding the poignancy in life’s little moments, and heading back to the comedy circuit with his poetryComedians become actors, pop stars become TV presenters … we’re used to ar…

Continue Reading

Henry Normal: ‘Comedy’s like sugar. It makes things better but I wouldn’t eat it on its own’

The producer whose TV hits include The Royle Family and Gavin and Stacey on finding the poignancy in life’s little moments, and heading back to the comedy circuit with his poetryComedians become actors, pop stars become TV presenters … we’re used to ar…

Continue Reading

Joe Lycett: ‘I’m being ghosted by Peppa Pig’

The comedian, 33, talks about funny anger, homophobic hecklers, selling soffits and his trouble with Heinz pasta shapesAnger is a funny emotion. That’s how I accidentally got my consumer show. In my stand-up set, I’d read out my complaint letters. My g…

Continue Reading