It's that time of year again. We take a look at some of London's best work-in-progress shows before the biggest month in the comedy calendar kicks off.
As the silly season in Edinburgh approaches, so does the preview season in London. Some keen bean comics will be perfectly relaxed; they wrote their 2010 show on the train journey home last year after all. Others will be hunched over desks with beads of sweat dripping off their foreheads as they furiously script new material with feather quills.
Over the next few months, you'll be able to see dozens of work-in-progress shows from comics testing out their latest works on London audiences before they perform the polished versions at the Fringe – and they'll be half the price as well. Here is a list of some of the best-looking clubs and theatres where you can catch the action.
Fat Tuesday
This intimate club usually packs comedy punters into The Compass every other Tuesday. It's business as usual for their preview season with two big name acts performing every week until August.
Acts: Andrew Lawrence, Stephen Carlin, Reg D Hunter
Comedy Bar
Another year, another choice cut of prime preview beef to choose from here. The likes of comedy greats Stewart Lee and Kevin Eldon share double bills in Islington's intimate Chapel Bar venue. For £6 if you buy online, these are some of the hottest work-in-progress tickets in town.
Acts: Russell Kane, Stewart Lee, Richard Herring
King's Head
Catch the likes of rising star Simon Brodkin as comical chav Lee Nelson and Miles Jupp performing his new tragi-comic cricket tale in Crouch End over the next few months. Esteemed comedy venue The King's Head will run double bills until 3rd August.
Acts: Miles Jupp, James Sherwood. Lee 'Nelsy' Nelson
The Invisible Dot
Last year's hilarious Edinburgh Award winner Tim Key is 'noodling' around the Invisible Dot's quirky Camden offices with some new material and special guests in the run up to the Fringe, for only £5 a ticket.
Acts: Tim Key
Landor Theatre
Stockwell's fringe theatre have a splendid sketch line-up in store with two of the best groups in the UK joining forces for some brilliantly-acted skits, surreal hi-jinks and silliness, over several dates from May-July.
Acts: Pappy's, Penny Dreadfuls
Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays Comedy is running several quailty preview gigs at favourite indie haunt the Amersham Arms before August. For £6 you can see two hours of top notch stand-up, magic and sketches from the circuit's best.
Acts: Pete Firman, Josie Long, Robin Ince,
Etcetera
Located above the Oxford Arms pub, the Etcetera Theatre is officially the smallest theatre in London and a great place to discover comedy acts before they get huge. They've got loads of new material shows scheduled over the next few months from up-and-coming acts to the big names.
Acts: Colin Hoult, WitTank, Idiots of Ants
Falling Down With Laughter
From 8th June-20th July, the FDWL boys have some splendid double bills booked, with TV stars, tipped newcomers, sketch specials and cult favourites warming up for Edinburgh in the Belushi's basement.
Acts: Greg Davies, Andy Zaltzman, Stephen Carlin
Hen and Chickens
Another renowned fringe theatre, Hen and Chickens is a good testing ground for new plays, sketch shows and stand-up routines. There are stacks of work-in-progress shows to get stuck into here over the next two months so you can be a expert on the Fringe before it's even begun.
Acts: Jack Whitehall, The Unexpected Items, Sarah Millican,
1 Mighty Craic
There are some big names lined up for the Mighty Craic preview season from experimental favourite Simon Munnery to Live at the Apollo star Shappi Khorsandi. One of the cheapest preview options around, you can see two acts every Thursday at The Washington for £5.
Acts: Shappi Khorsandi, Simon Munnery, Alex Zane, Carey Marx
Good Ship
This year, the Good Ship Kilburn is hosting a series of Edinburgh comedy previews every Monday from June 7th until July 28th. For the bargain price of £4 you can see new shows from two first-class stand-ups.
Acts: Abandoman, Josie Long, Dan Antopolski, Andrew Lawrence
Crack Comedy
A good one for South Londoners, Kingston's Crack Club have plenty of double bills lined up from now until 25th July with new material from the likes of Comedy Store favourite Terry Alderton and smart cookie John Gordillo.
Acts: Terry Alderton, John Gordillo, Carey Marx
Click here to view all Edinburgh previews
Photo credit: Jon Appleyard
Return to the London Comedy homepage
Add an event
Frieze Art Fair to launch new section for young galleries in 2012
Frieze have today announced details for the 2012 edition, their tenth art fair in London. Taking place...