Hampstead theatre, LondonRichard Bean’s new play touches on ageing and alienation, care and family love, but focuses on making us laughYou might guess what kind of night you’re in for by To Have and to Hold’s fabulous opening: the first painstaking ent…
Continue ReadingThe everyman standup delivers substantial comic payloads by itemising the oddity of human behaviour. A successful formula his new tour continues to exploitAll the countries of the world have their own bread, runs one of Michael McIntyre’s routines in h…
Continue ReadingThe Funny Women award-winner on her witty family, why she loves being mocked and the best heckle she’s hadHow did you get into comedy?My husband bought me a day’s writing course with Logan Murray as a wedding gift (I had confessed to him that it was my…
Continue ReadingTheatre Royal, BrightonThe comic brings an assured touch to tales of everyday humiliation, and even her terrible musicianship is endearing for a whileTig Notaro has never had an interval onstage until now – “intermissions”, in her word, not being a thi…
Continue ReadingKentish Town Forum, LondonThis is a big stage for a streaming star who’s still a rookie standup, and at times his show feels over-engineered and effortful – but he still has enough honesty and charm to go far‘People know the content, and the characters…
Continue ReadingThe late comedian’s son, Bob Cryer, offers an intimate and astute portrait of his father’s skill and wit, and the vulnerability beneathI never met Barry Cryer, but I do have a memory of him, which seems characteristic of those generated by this great l…
Continue ReadingA mixed bill of standups, presented by the Nanette star and due to be recorded for the streamer, is a valuable response to its Dave Chappelle controversyWhen Dave Chappelle released his Netflix special The Closer, widely condemned for its transphobia, …
Continue ReadingThe standup, writer and actor, who co-hosted The Great Australian Bake Off and appeared as a guest on Thank God You’re Here, died after a short illness in SydneyCal Wilson, the New Zealand standup comedian who became a mainstay on Australian television…
Continue ReadingAs it fills the Royal Albert Hall on tour, the comedians’ ‘dream restaurant’ show questions what ingredients a live performance really needs‘I can’t believe this many people like your podcast!” That’s Elis James talking, as he and his pals James Acaste…
Continue ReadingThe comedian was booked in for a biopsy after noticing a neck abnormality. Standups are used to leaving audiences jolly but he could not share his diagnosis without causing worryI felt an actual breeze flutter, blowing my hair. The consultant had told …
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