Jessica Fostekew review – accelerated age triggers volcanic rage

Soho theatre, London New show Mettle finds the comic annoyed about flirting, litter, the climate crisis and more, following a milestone birthdayThere are few more familiar standup comedy attitudes than: I feel like I’m getting old. It’s the one Jessica…

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No sets, less fuss, a cast of one: can standups save the UK’s cash-strapped theatres?

For the Royal Court and Park theatres, putting on comedy acts is a moneyspinning way to find new audiences. But are playhouses set to stage fewer plays?Caryl Churchill. Sarah Kane. Chris Ramsey? Heads turned late last year when the Royal Court in Londo…

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Nanny review – light comedy about the dreams and day jobs of a double act

Bristol Old VicThis play with songs has pleasing performances but needs a clearer idea of what it wants to satiriseA comedy double act since their university days and now working as nannies, Lea and Amy dream of success at the Edinburgh fringe. This ye…

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Candace Bushnell: True Tales of Sex, Success and Sex and the City review – racy, raw and riotous

London PalladiumThe fabulously gifted raconteur charts her stellar career with plenty of spit-out-your-wine moments and empowering life lessons‘Do you want to hear the story of the real Mr Big?” Candace Bushnell, the 65-year-old Sex and the City creato…

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Don’t mention the war … and the rest: the trouble with bringing back Fawlty Towers

Stage revivals of the 70s sitcom and The Fast Show have enough nostalgia value to delight fans. Less certain is what will happen to their more problematic materialThe essence of humour is surprise, according to that renowned comedy sage Immanuel Kant. …

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‘One-off talent’: UK comedy composer Steve Brown dies aged 66

Hit composer scored TV and radio as well as the stage shows X-Factor and TONY!The British comedy composer Steve Brown, who collaborated with the likes of Harry Hill, Steve Coogan and Lenny Henry, has died aged 66 from lung disease, his agent announced….

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‘One-off talent’: UK comedy composer Steve Brown dies aged 69

Hit composer scored TV and radio as well as the stage shows X-Factor and TONY!The British comedy composer Steve Brown, who collaborated with the likes of Harry Hill, Steve Coogan and Lenny Henry, has died aged 69 from lung disease, his agent announced….

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Josh Thomas: Let’s Tidy Up review – comedian returns to the stage with stories of ADHD and autism

Sydney Opera House In his new show, the creator of Please Like Me and Everything’s Gonna Be Okay takes stock of his life after two diagnoses – and interrogates whether he should, or even can, changeGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailIt’s been f…

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John Cleese brings Fawlty Towers stage show to the West End

Theatrical adaptation of the sitcom, opening at the Apollo theatre in May, will combine three episodes including The GermansTorquay’s hapless hotelier Basil Fawlty is to make his West End debut, almost 50 years after his first appearance on television….

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Thomas Jaspers: the 10 funniest things I have ever seen (on the internet)

The Australian comedian shares what makes him laugh, including an AI vision of Melbourne’s inner north, Mel Buttle’s TikTok and a seagull named StevenI usually try to keep my internet history secret. Not for the embarrassing reasons you might imagine, …

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