Avenue Q review – provocative puppets return for a feast of filth and fun

Shaftesbury theatre, LondonTwenty years since its West End debut, the sweetly subversive musical returns with a few tweaks and a lot of heartThe trigger warning “puppet nudity” does not begin to cover it. You will also see puppets having sex, singing a…

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Phil Ellis: Bath Mat review – Taskmaster goof celebrates his midlife failures

The Stand Comedy Club, GlasgowThe northerner finds the funny in banalities with this raucous compendium of all-in-it-together bantsPhil Ellis has been watching Netflix specials, and has noticed that all the alpha standups now have a hype-man to big the…

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Naked puppets! Having sex! Lusty, foul-mouthed musical Avenue Q is back

The taboo-busting, Tony-award-winning show has returned. But how will its 00s attitudes land today? Will they still sing Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist and If You Were Gay?There are certain problems you might expect when rehearsing a West End musical. …

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Naked puppets! Having sex! Lusty, foul-mouthed musical Avenue Q is back

The taboo-busting, Tony-award-winning show has returned. But how will its 00s attitudes land today? Will they still sing Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist and If You Were Gay?There are certain problems you might expect when rehearsing a West End musical. …

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Ruby Wax: Absolutely Famous review – a candid return to her most revealing celebrity interviews

Richmond theatre, LondonArchive footage and fresh commentary shed light on the craft and chaos of interrogating big names such as OJ Simpson and Donald TrumpWhat are these shows, in which veteran entertainers regale us with clips from their glorious ca…

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Riki Lindhome: Dead Inside review – a gobsmacking comedy about fertility

Soho theatre, LondonThe unassuming US comedian and musician turns her journey to motherhood into a witty, bittersweet and beautifully judged show‘I know this show can be uncomfortable,” says Riki Lindhome, sat at her keyboard after a song about pregnan…

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Joz Norris review – weird, unhinged, inadequate, and other pointers to artistic character

Soho theatre, London In his show You Wait. Time Passes, the comedian energetically distils his approach to pursuing futile creative choices with philosophy and silly jokes thrown inHow do you know that you’re an artist? Have you made the right choices …

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Anisa Nandaula: No Small Talk review – chatty fun with rising star of Australian comedy

Melbourne international comedy festivalThe Ugandan-Australian standup has amassed a significant following online with her almost aggressively bubbly audience interactionsGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailIf you came to Anisa Nandaula’s new sho…

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Fortune Feimster: ‘The stage was a crate, the sound system was a karaoke machine. No one enjoyed the show’

The standup on playing a beaver in Zootropolis 2, being inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger and why her mother is a great source of comedyWhat is the best advice you’ve ever been given?I used to be quite the worrywart. Especially in this business, there …

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Bronwyn Kuss: Bronwyn & Sons review – parchingly dry comedy about success in your late 30s

Melbourne international comedy festivalA show about coming to terms with the fact that you might not have children, delivered with a deadpan humour that feels specifically AustralianGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailA drunk witch once told Bro…

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