London Comedy: Edinburgh Previews

London Comedy: Edinburgh Previews

by: Emma

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

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Emma