Milton Keynes theatreThe indefatigable comic eschews the cliches of most middle-aged standups and skewers modern life with fairness and charmA central section of Ben Elton’s new show addresses euthanasia, with the 65-year-old strongly asserting the rig…
Continue ReadingThe British comedian’s show Ends went from a tiny basement at Edinburgh festival to landing its top award – and now it is on Netflix. It’s easy to see whyIf you were to judge Ahir Shah’s Netflix comedy special Ends by its trailer – a middle-of-the-road…
Continue ReadingHackney Empire, LondonThe pre-eminent comic political polemicist of our time rants as much as ever, but with added introspectionWhat’s the point of making comedy that reminds everyone how awful things are? For the first time in Nish Kumar’s work, a not…
Continue ReadingThis comedian pays homage to peak internet (circa 2000-2014), with classics including Cole Hersch, Charlie the Unicorn and a parody song about incelsGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailIf you’ve been online recently you’ve probably been disappoi…
Continue ReadingAfter losing her father and brother, the Aunty Donna comedian was told she had a 97% chance of cancer herself. With a new album, musical and memoir to promote, she’s not slowing downGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailAt the end of her first yea…
Continue ReadingThe Fleabag star delivers a bravura solo version of Chekhov’s classic, plus new perspectives on Shakespeare and a starry Rodgers and Hammerstein hoedownAndrew Scott plays every role in Simon Stephens’ Olivier award-winning version of Uncle Vanya, ingen…
Continue ReadingWhy Am I So Single sets dating angst to music; more Hollywood stars hit the West End; and a Brummie dance trilogy reaches its finale Continue reading…
Continue ReadingA £15m, four-storey space in Liverpool is to be dedicated to the man once known as Professor Yaffle Chuckabutty. Let’s hope it will delve as deeply as he did into comedy’s infinite variationsWhat is the legacy of a great comedian? In the past it lay pr…
Continue ReadingMonkey Barrel Comedy, EdinburghThe Scottish standup retains his bouncy charm in a show that parallels his recent autism diagnosis with the story of his grandmother’s descent into Alzheimer’sWith victory in last week’s So You Think You’re Funny? prize f…
Continue ReadingPleasance Courtyard, EdinburghThe fringe veteran unpacks his idiosyncratic childhood in a vividly realised show about class, family and neurodiversityColin Hoult has been performing at the fringe for 20 years, but never with what most comics give us at…
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