Two years on, the Kettering comic’s show Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999 remains personal, painful and electrifying. What will he do next?In the drear of a socially isolated Christmas, it was something to celebrate: a live stream of James Acaster’s caree…
Continue ReadingThere wasn’t a lot to laugh about as venues closed and gigs were cancelled. But standups still delivered silly, edgy and heartfelt gags. Our critic picks his favourite new materialMore best culture of 2020 Continue reading…
Continue ReadingNoël Coward theatre, LondonDescribed as ‘the cure for theatre’ by producer Sonia Friedman, Alex Owen and Ben Ashenden’s debut play is full of heart, pleasing pratfalls and endless flips of perspectiveAnnouncing it earlier this autumn, producer Sonia Fr…
Continue ReadingTell us about your standout show of the year – we’ll feature a selection of your favourites later this monthIt has been a tough year for theatre. But we are celebrating the shows that got us through 2020.Did you catch a play in between lockdowns? Did a…
Continue ReadingFrom Harry Hill to Helen Sharman, Ince’s Christmas mashup of comedy, science and music – Nine Lessons and Carols for Socially Distanced People – reached dizzy heightsIt’s Sunday morning, and Robin Ince is feeling dizzy after twentysomething hours of hi…
Continue Reading11 January 1953 – 2 November 2020The novelist recalls his friend, the actor and joyful comedian who suffered badly from stage fright and was too shy to publish his own storiesLynn Shelton remembered by Mark DuplassRead the Observer’s obituaries of 2020…
Continue ReadingCarmen Ali and Siân Docksey are among the comedians who riff on their experiences as strippers. The pandemic has revealed both industries to be precarious – but they’re looking out for each otherWhat do standup comedy and stripping have in common? “I s…
Continue ReadingAvailable online The Pin’s Alex Owen, Katy Wix and Lolly Adefope are among the cast in a superb series about a delusional wannabe auteurWhere there is sitcom, there is (usually) self-delusion: in the gap between self-image and reality, you’ll find Basi…
Continue ReadingAvailable onlineThe I’m a Celebrity survivor and Masked Singer host makes irresistible use of his tabloid sex scandal in this fun setStandup doesn’t work on TV, they used to say. But now TV is more or less the only place you can see it, in ever-prolife…
Continue ReadingThe cult show that splices Evil Dead II with Elvis Presley hits is now on video cassette as standups hark back to retro formatsThe movie was a sequel to one of the original video nasties, so what better format for a stage show that pays it tribute? Com…
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