How viral ‘crowd work’ clips are remaking standup for the social media age

More and more comedians are uploading their improvised encounters with audience members. But do these interactions detract from the craft of standup?The front row of a comedy club is a scary place to be. Those courageous enough to brave that spot – or …

Continue Reading

Tweedy’s Massive Circus review – a lovable lark from start to finish

Culden Faw Estate, Henley-on-ThamesThe Scottish clown and his pals have taken over in a family caper combining comedy, slapstick, dropped plates and acrobatic skillsTweedy’s MASSIVE Circus (“but it’s tiny!”, shouts the crowd) unfolds in a bijou village…

Continue Reading

Tweedy’s Massive Circus review – a lovable lark from start to finish

Culden Faw Estate, Henley-on-ThamesThe Scottish clown and his pals have taken over in a family caper combining comedy, slapstick, dropped plates and acrobatic skillsTweedy’s MASSIVE Circus (“but it’s tiny!”, shouts the crowd) unfolds in a bijou village…

Continue Reading

Tweedy’s Massive Circus review – a lovable lark from start to finish

Culden Faw Estate, Henley-on-ThamesThe Scottish clown and his pals have taken over in a family caper combining comedy, slapstick, dropped plates and acrobatic skillsTweedy’s MASSIVE Circus (“but it’s tiny!”, shouts the crowd) unfolds in a bijou village…

Continue Reading

Edinburgh festival 2024: find the funny with these 20 comedy shows

A one-woman 90s romcom, boundary-testing standups and a new Taskmaster contestant make our comedy critic’s list of the fringe’s most promising ticketsOlga Koch stepped into the big league at Fringe 2023 with a show, Prawn Cocktail, pairing sassy tales …

Continue Reading

Ed Gamble: Hot Diggity Dog review – fresh angles on manchild awkwardness

Hackney Empire, London Well-spun jokes and great audience rapport elevate the comedian’s show above standard fall-guy fare, though slick management inhibits its sparkHow good can standup be without being very distinctive? This good, I thought, watching…

Continue Reading

Ed Gamble: Hot Diggity Dog review – fresh angles on manchild awkwardness

Hackney Empire, London Well-spun jokes and great audience rapport elevate the comedian’s show above standard fall-guy fare, though slick management inhibits its sparkHow good can standup be without being very distinctive? This good, I thought, watching…

Continue Reading

Michelle Collins: The Big Natural Tour review – huge presence doesn’t hide thin material

Soho theatre, London She’s a convivial host, but 70 minutes of shops chat, family home videos and the odd song about our comic’s love life may leave you eyeing the exitMany is the standup show where – well-crafted hours, be damned! – I’ve happily been…

Continue Reading

Laura Smyth: Living My Best Life review – a comic with swagger and the popular touch

Hackney Empire, LondonThe east Londoner’s show majors in blunt putdowns of anything the ebullient standup finds to be up-itself or overrated“I’m doing alright for myself, gang!” That’s quite the understatement. Laura Smyth at Hackney Empire is more tha…

Continue Reading

Jerry Seinfeld live review – crotchety comic is still at the top of his game

RAC Arena, PerthWhile it does start to feel like ‘older comedian bemoans changing times’, the veteran comic’s 70-minute set is frictionless and funny“What else is annoying in the world today, besides everything?” asks Jerry Seinfeld, about 10 minutes i…

Continue Reading