The comic, who was testing out new material, said ‘You’ve ruined it’ before leavingThe comedian Russell Howard cut short a standup set in Bristol on Wednesday night after discovering an audience member was filming the performance on her cameraphone.How…
Continue ReadingThe Edinburgh fringe may have been cancelled but there are plenty of online gigs to enjoy featuring Dane Baptiste, Ivo Graham, Sarah Millican and moreThe line between charity gigs and normal gigs has blurred under lockdown: most online comedy now is fu…
Continue ReadingFrom Brighton to Belfast, socially distanced performances are popping up in unexpected spaces, including the beach, a shopping centre and a church‘Dive in!” commanded the cover of Brighton fringe’s 2020 programme, listing more than 5,500 performances a…
Continue ReadingHe’s a master of slapstick, a surrealist clown, the don of comic film roles from Roxanne to The Jerk. As he turns 75, comics including Reginald D Hunter and Rose Matafeo pay tribute to the hilarious majesty of Steve Martin Continue reading…
Continue ReadingEdinburgh University’s ImprovBot uses data from eight years of past productions to invent tantalising no-showsYou can see how it happens. The company has yet to start devising the show, but the deadline for the Edinburgh fringe programme is tomorrow. O…
Continue ReadingLily Savage, The League of Gentlemen, Fleabag and a host of telly sensations started out on tiny stages at the extravaganza. In its absence, who will be next?Paul O’Grady’s first night at the Edinburgh fringe did not go according to plan. He made his f…
Continue ReadingYouTubeFootage of Dara Ó Briain, Sarah Millican, John Bishop and Jason Byrne features in this attempt to recapture the mythic status of a renowned fringe nightGreatest Ever Late ’n’ Live, they’re calling this anthology of clips from the legendary Edinb…
Continue ReadingThe writer, broadcaster, standup, actor and former Conservative MP on the things that make him laugh the mostKen Dodd at the London Palladium 30 years ago. He was a laughter-generating machine. He didn’t draw breath for two hours, piling gag upon gag, …
Continue ReadingCovid-19 has cancelled the annual jamboree, leaving performers – and our comedy critic – bereft. What does the festival mean to them and how will it change?Meeting Flight of the Conchords and seeing the teenage Bo Burnham. Improvising a musical with Ti…
Continue ReadingVikki Stone and Natasha Barnes’s new show celebrates comic songs for actresses – here are their favourites from musicalsFrom Sweeney Todd by Stephen SondheimMrs Lovett is the sort of role that every actress (including me) hopes they’ll play one day. Th…
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