Best of July: Comedy

Russell Kane Fakespeare
2nd July
Russell Kane aims to prove he's not just a pretty face at this year's Edinburgh festival with a blank verse comedy epic set in Southend-on-Sea. Catch it first in London's smallest theatre.
Best For: Shakespearean language meeting smutty material

Stewart Lee & Bridget Christie
5th July
London's leading husband and wife warm up their seperate but overlapping shows at the Hen and Chickens.
Best for: Straight stand up with incredible brains

Chris Cox
7th July
Sinister mind-reading mirth with a young man who will challenge your perceptions and make you snort with laughter at the same time.
Best For: Those who missed Derren Brown

Ealing Comedy Festival
12th to 18th July
Pack yourselves into the big top for a series of comedy evenings featuring the likes of Paul Sinha, Micky Flanagan, Phil Jupitus and the magnificent Ed Byrne.
Best For: Atmospheric comedy in front of a circus-sized crowd

Confederacy of Dunces
16th July
Monthly comedy in the shambolic but beautiful Betsey Trotwood, this time out with the incredible Ed Aczel.
Best For: Cold lager on the stomach, incredibly warm venue

North to North Fest
17th to 26th July
artsdepot run their own comedy festival, giving top acts a chance to warm up for Edinburgh and Londoners a chance to see their stuff without trekking north.
Best For: Brand new material

Trouble In Clown Town
23rd July
This is our favourite pub comedy night at the moment in terms of venue and line ups and July's shows offer two top comics performing extended sets.
Best For: Intimate sets by awesome acts

Sabotage
24th July
Superb, atmospheric new comedy in an imposing basement venue. The thrones around the walls are comfy but you might get picked on.
Best For: Mainstream comedy in a memorable spot

Luke Wright: Who Writes This Crap?
28th July
Inventive, interactive word-based comedy from Luke Wright and his mate Joel. It's a play on words, geddit?
Best For: Wordplay

Fat Tongue
28th July
A compilation of the best sketches from the best sketch troupe around, dissecting everything from modern living to backpacking in Middle Earth.
Best For: Surreal, dark laughter