Joe Lycett standup joke investigated by police after complaint

Comedian says he was asked to explain context of gag to investigating officers, and will keep it in his showThe comedian Joe Lycett has said he was investigated by the police after an audience member made a complaint about a joke in one of his shows.In…

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Chris McCausland: Speaky Blinder review – genial gags for midlife grumps everywhere

Leicester Square theatre, LondonEngaging, blokey, old-school standup about domesticity, parenthood and the frustrations of modern life is mixed with material specific to the scouse joker’s life as a blind manChris McCausland riffs at the start of Speak…

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Brodi Snook: Handful review – caustic comedy of depressing dates

Soho theatre, LondonMalign males on the dating scene are the focus of this heartfelt set, with keep-fit fans, activists and men who claim to be feminists also under the microscopeHot on the heels of another show about “fuckboys” in the same theatre, Au…

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Mary Beth Barone review – sex comedy that keeps on giving

Soho theatre, LondonA delightfully silly but sneakily serious take on hook-up culture and its collateral damage, with bonus standup setsComedy show or treatment programme? Mary Beth Barone’s Drag His Ass is a bit of both. The problem it’s treating is “…

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Mo’Nique and Netflix reportedly settle lawsuit alleging discrimination

The Oscar-winning comedian and actor accused the streamer of racial and sexual discrimination over a proposed comedy specialMo’Nique and Netflix reportedly have settled her lawsuit that accused the streaming service of racial and sexual discrimination …

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Brett Blake: the 10 funniest things I have ever seen (on the internet)

The comedian shares his favourite online laughs, including an Instagram account dedicated to terrible real estate agents and a rooster attacking a weathermanRead more funniest internet things hereGet our weekend culture and lifestyle email and listen t…

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‘You don’t need to be funny!’: the art of performing standup in sign language

How do you translate a pun into an entirely different language on the fly? What do you do when there is simply no sign for a joke?Many of us have come to associate sign language with serious moments, from emergency announcements to natural disaster upd…

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John Waters: False Negative review – the sultan of sleaze at the Barbican

Barbican, LondonThe veteran film-maker is on fine form in this motor-mouthed show, which mixes slick anecdotes with gleeful transgressionCommon as it now is for well-loved figures to bring their life stories, gossip and opinions to the touring stage, o…

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Boris the Third: new play tells story of clown who became king

Adam Meggido’s comedy considers the PM’s blustering school performance as Richard III, drawing potent parallels to his current political positionIt is the tale of a leader’s ruthless ambition, cynical skullduggery and brash mendacity as his country is …

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Edinburgh fringe 2022: 20 theatre, comedy and dance shows you shouldn’t miss

In the first of our festival previews, we round up some of the best offerings we’ve already reviewed – including Tim Key, Liz Kingsman, La Clique and HungryThis searing, sweaty disco is a heady exploration of identity through dance. Ayden Brouwers and …

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