We select some of the best festive comedy parties happpening this month.
Some of us need a bit of a helping hand getting into the Christmas spirit. Sure the parties and holidays are fun but the thought of buying loads of presents with money you don't have, during free time you can't seem to find, is a bit depressing. So just sack it all off. Don't bother getting anyone anything, just say "My coming home to see you all should be present enough" and relax.
Or, to temporarily take your mind off the idea of navigating Oxford Street on Christmas Eve with 100,000 other people, why not head to one of these awesome comedy shows?
Saturday 10th December
Freeze! @ Duke of York's Theatre
£10
Edinburgh Comedy Award winners Tom Basden and Tim Key present their annual Christmas Freeze! show, kicking off at midnight at the Duke of York's Theatre. Expect festive songs, poetry, comedy, theatricality, tussling and infamy. In a recent interview with Key he mentioned that Sir Steve Redgrave may be making an appearance, if they can get hold of him. And there may be free sprouts. Enough said!
Saturday 10th December
Knock2Bag Christmas Party @ Mermaid Theatre
£25
The Knock2Bag franchise can always be relied upon to provide a strong comedy line-up wherever they go, and their Christmas party is no exception. Special guests include the amusingly lo-fi musician John Shuttleworth, top comedy producer Robert Popper (Peep Show, The Inbetweeners), multi-talented comedian Kevin Eldon (Brass Eye, I'm Alan Partridge) the delightfully crackers Brian Gittins and the BAFTA-award winning Peter Serafinowicz
Monday 12th December
Michael McIntyre's Christmas Comedy Show @ Hammersmith Apollo
£40
Popular TV comic Michael McIntyre is hosting a special 'Christmas Charity Show' in aid of the Kids Company at the Hammersmith Apollo. The gig will feature an all-star comedy line-up including Sean Lock, Jo Brand, Rhod Gilbert, Kevin Bridges and Jack Dee, with more big names to be announced over the coming weeks.
Monday 12th December
The Joy of Sketch @ The Lyric
£16.50
Ok, so this isn't strictly a festive bash but it's in December and it's got a spectacular line-up so we thought we'd stick it in. Most of the best sketch acts on the circuit are all coming together for one night under the Lyric Theatre roof, including physical comedy duo The Pajama Men, BBC3's Anna & Katy, the award-winning troupe The Penny Dreadfuls, Edinburgh Comedy Award nominees Idiots Of Ants, Will & Greg (performing together for the first time in three years), BBC Radio 2's Two Episodes of Mash and Edinburgh 'Best Newcomer' nominees, Late Night Gimp Fight. Yowzer.
Wednesday 14th December
Sheeps: Festive Bash @ Invisible Dot
£5
Witty sketch trio Sheeps perform some of their best sketches and present some of their favourite acts, including Edinburgh 'Best Newcomer' nominees 2011 Totally Tom, inventive trio Kieran and the Joes, the brilliantly unique Ben Target and Fringe '11 breakout act Oyster Eyes. Wine, mince pies and 'Santa and his Presents' might also get a look in.
Tuesday 13th & Wednesday 14th December
Uncaged Monkeys: Night of 200 Billion Stars @ Hammersmith Apollo
£25
If you couldn't get tickets to Robin Ince's Godless shows this Christmas, you might want to check this out instead, as many of his guests from previous Godless shows are on the bill. Mixing live presentations with comedy and projections of the phenomenal, Brian Cox, Ben Goldacre, Simon Singh and Robin Ince will be discussing everything that lies within the universe from brain theory, to photosynthesis, neutrinos and what Bonobos may do. Tim Minchin has also just been announced as a special guest.
Wednesday 14th December
Boom Jennies and Friends present a Christmas Sketchtacular @ Pleasance Theatre
£7
Following the success of last year's festive bonanza, The Boom Jennies are back at the Pleasance with a jam-packed night of seasonal sketch and character comedy. Expect top sketch comedians, extraordinary woolly jumpers and more mince pies than you can shake a stick at.
Saturday 17th December
Saturday Night Fulchfest Christmas Special @ Bull and Gate
£15
If you haven't yet seen one of Rich Fulcher's delightfully shambolic variety shows yet, then you're in for a treat with this one. The Mighty Boosh star will be joined by Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee 2011 Sam Simmons, YouTube sensation Brett Domino and brilliant absurdist comic Doctor Brown. Expect surreal flights of fancy and plenty of mayhem.
Sunday 18th December
Monster Comedy Christmas Special @ Leicester Square Theatre (Lounge)
£8
The Monster team bring you an extra special charity yuletide show, all for £8. Headlined by hilarious experimental comic and Edinburgh Fringe hit Doctor Brown, the line-up also features Amused Moose Laugh Off winner Naz Osmanoglu, hot new sketch trio Sheeps, the brilliant fast-paced quartet the Beta Males and BBC New Comedy Award winner 2011, Angela Barnes.
Sunday 18th December
No Pressure to Be Festive @ Leicester Square Theatre (Main House)
£10
A special Christmas edition of the topical chat show, No Pressure to be Festive will see LBC Presenter and journalist James O'Brien joined by a stellar line-up of guests from the world of comedy, media and politics, including: Perrier Award winner Rich Hall, former Mayor of London and MP Ken Livingstone, Perrier 'Best Newcomer' nominee Miles Jupp, journalist and author Miranda Sawyer, and writer and Guardian columnist George Monbiot.
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