London Comedy: September

London Comedy: September

29 August, 2008
by: Emma

Hooray! Comedy is back to normal in London this September after the last burning embers of the Fringe died out on Bank Holiday Monday.   I went up for the final weekend (note to self for next year: do not go on this weekend ever again – everything is twice the price and finding accommodation is akin to trying to get accepted at a new school after you’ve been expelled seven times).  Although it was drawing to a close, all the comedians I saw really put every ounce of effort in possible, right until the last performance.  I felt quite sorry for the festival staff who clearly have the shittiest jobs and don't get any credit; as I walked into John Hegley's show on Monday I overheard one girl saying: "Thank God this is the last one, now we just have to hang around for the fucking clean-up." 

Every gig I saw I thoroughly enjoyed from the rude rants of Jim Jeffries to the hysteria of Rhod Gilbert.  Jeffries will bring his show (easily worthy of five stars) down to the 400-seat Leicester Square Theatre next month, a hot new entertainment venue that's just opened in the West End.  As well as the main room, there will be a smaller 90-seat basement for more intimate gigs so there will be loads of up and coming artists and cult names appearing too – it won't just put a spotlight on stars we already know about.  It kicks off this month with gargantuan comedy festival 'The Big Joke' that goes on until the beginning of November with up to six shows a day.  Big names like Russell Howard, Joan Rivers, Jimeoin and Reginald D Hunter will be in the main house this month, including US cult legend Doug Stanhope, who pulled off some fiendish material whilst drunk  at Pimm's Summerfest last week.  Downstairs will see stand-up from Sarah Millican, voted 'Best Newcomer' at this year's if.comedy awards, some innovative poems and songs from Tim Key and Tom Basden and the musical pearls of wisdom from Ginger & Black, not to mention performances from a  whole bunch of other highly-rated comics. 

So what shows are on in London this month that went down a storm in Edinburgh?  The if.comedy Award, presented at the end of the Edinburgh festival, is the highest accolade any comedian can hope for in the UK, and respected worldwide too.  Winner of the main award, David O'Doherty, isn't scheduled to appear here anytime soon but fellow nominee Russell Kane will be appearing at the Clapham Grand and famous Comedy Store mid-month.  'Best Newcomer' award went to Sarah Millican who as mentioned will do a show at Leicester Square Theatre and the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.  Runners-up Mike Wozniak and Pippa Evans will both appear at The Fix's Fat Smiles night at the 100 Club this Saturday and have gigs scattered elsewhere so check out their artist profile pages for those. Other highly-rated shows include Mark Watson's All The Thoughts I've Had Since I was Born about the difficulties of taking life easy after a heart scare and Tim Minchin's musical and stand-up spectacular Ready For This?,  both showing in the Bloomsbury Theatre.  Scottish observational favourite Danny Bhoy has a five day stint at the Soho Theatre with By The Way and the controversial Scott Capurro will be doing bits from his show Scott Capurro Goes Deeper at the Good Ship.

Quite a lot on then...and to think this is only a fraction of the comedy nights in London this month!  If you'd rather search by location or date, visit our homepage for a wider selection.

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Emma