Harry Enfield and No Chums! review – the head of our comedy state takes a trip down memory lane

Barbican Centre, LondonFrom Stavros to Wayne Slob, Loadsamoney to DJ Dave Nice, the 64-year-old distilled whole characters and social typesTo younger audiences, Harry Enfield may be best known for his Prince-turned-King Charles in Channel 4 satirical s…

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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) review – this brevity is the soul of wit

Bristol Old VicThe Reduced Shakespeare Company returns with a frantic mix of pratfalls, audience participation and lightning-flash characterisationsA classical actor who appeared in a recent production of Othello told me that the cast was alarmed by th…

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From Hamlet at the Globe to Keir Starmer on SNL UK: the anarchic rise of George Fouracres

After years of skits and Shakespeare, the Black Country performer has found his biggest audience yet on Saturday Night Live UK. Phil Wang and others hail his ‘pure comedic instinct’A cast of unknowns, they keep saying about Saturday Night Live UK, whos…

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Mark Simmons: ‘A lot of brilliant comedy shows tackle world issues – that’s not what this is!’

The comedian on learning from Stewart Lee, forging gags from chats with friends and his niche joke about Magic FMWho did you look up to when you were starting out as a comedian?I wanted to learn everything at once, so I found as many DVDs and videos of…

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‘It won’t be pretty!’ French and Saunders to play the Ugly Sisters in Palladium panto

Comedy duo will take the stage together in the West End for the first time in 17 years in Cinderella alongside Julian ClaryDawn French and Jennifer Saunders are to return to the stage together for the first time in 17 years to play the Ugly Sisters in …

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Michelle De Swarte: The Afters review – blazing gags from a comic who says what she sees

Brighton Corn Exchange The fantastically confident standup is a blast from the start with her takes on menopause, parenting and her upbringingModel, actor, journalist, comedian: no doubting Michelle De Swarte is a jack of all trades, but is she a maste…

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I’ve been asking Australians to anonymously rate their neighbours. Here’s what I’ve learnt so far | Rowan Thambar

A turd-hurling incident set comedian Rowan Thambar on a path to find out what makes good neighbours – by inviting people to document the good, bad and ugly of their own experiencesLast year I saw my neighbour throw dog poo at a man. It happened while m…

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I’ve been asking Australians to anonymously rate their neighbours. Here’s what I’ve learnt so far | Rowan Thambar

A turd-hurling incident set comedian Rowan Thambar on a path to find out what makes good neighbours – by inviting people to document the good, bad and ugly of their own experiencesLast year I saw my neighbour throw dog poo at a man. It happened while m…

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‘I’m a big bear. I lumber’: showbiz superstar Richard Kind on delivering performances you can see from space

The first time Kind starred in Nazi-spoof The Producers, he lost 30lb. Is he – and the West End – ready for his return? And why is he so worried about his old flatmate George Clooney?Richard Kind has played everything from a child’s imaginary friend in…

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Claire Hooper: ‘People have different forms of therapy. Songs for the Deaf by Queens of the Stone Age is mine’

The comedian, TV presenter and Bake Off alum gushes about the joy of silence, an awkward encounter with Shane Warne, and getting recognised during a colonoscopyGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailThe premise of your new standup show, Fun Show xx…

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