When she broke through the glass ceiling and became chancellor, Reeves found her office had its own latrine. Rosie Holt reveals why she turned the story into a play called Churchill’s UrinalBritain is a conservative country, we are repeatedly told. So …
Continue ReadingDudley Town HallWith bits about Prince, Tiswas, his Jamaican family and his long career, the standup treads familiar ground and the home-town crowd love itIn this new standup show – his first tour since 2010 – Lenny Henry says he generally turns down r…
Continue ReadingShe has suddenly become one of the world’s most successful comedians, with a hit Netflix special, an Emmy-nominated role in Hacks and another opposite Steve Carell. But many of her jokes raise hackles. Is she a genius – or an edgelord?‘Once in a while,…
Continue ReadingThe Victoria Wood theatre, Bowness-on-WindermereMarking 10 years since the late comic’s death, this affectionate show blends her songs with a time-slip tale of friendship, regret and middle ageThis Lake District venue was called the Old Laundry theatre…
Continue ReadingGlee Club, GlasgowThe masc lesbian comic from New York delivers a superb set with big laughs and twisty logicOld-school standup celebrating the traditional masculine virtues? It’s fallen a little out of fashion. But it’s a different story when a masc l…
Continue ReadingThe Room Next Door star on overnight success, ‘sneaky follows’ from politicians and how internet commenting has dragged society downHow did you get into comedy?I was submitting sketches to Spitting Image when I was 17 and making my own sketches pre-int…
Continue ReadingGlobe theatre, LondonA spunky Helena and an inspired Puck elicit cheers and laughter in Emily Lim’s generous, creative and clever showI can’t remember the last time I got the giggles in the theatre but director Emily Lim’s joyful take on A Midsummer Ni…
Continue ReadingMy colleague and friend Susan Chlopicki, who has died aged 59 of lung cancer, was a comedian, activist and charity worker. As a standup she performed across the UK and her written work was featured on the BBC.Sue started standup in Manchester in the 19…
Continue ReadingThe South African-born New Zealand comedian reflects on how her traumatic childhood shaped her humour and refusing to roast her 13-year-old daughter’s friendsGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailUrzila Carlson will always remember her first joke….
Continue ReadingAn interest in spiritualism drew the escapologist and the Sherlock Holmes author together but, as actor-playwright Haig’s drama Magic shows, also threw them into conflictIt’s the question most often posed to artists: where do you get your ideas from? D…
Continue Reading