Arthur Smith's back hosting the 2024 Fast Fringe

The best of the week's live comedy

The best of the week's live comedy, picked from the thousands of events Chortle currently has listed. Use our search panel to check our full listings by date and region.

Sunday July 7

SHEFFIELD: Hurry down to the New Barrack Tavern and you'll get a full day of Edinburgh previews, starting at 2pm, for the bargain price of a tenner. Dan Tiernan, Darius Davies, Eric Rushton and Scott Bennett are among those running through their Fringe-bound shows.

Monday July 8

LONDON: It's Chortle's Fast Fringe at the Leicester Square Theatre, with an astonishing 30 comedy and variety acts offering bite-sized samples of their Edinburgh shows in a gloriously entertaining - and manically fast-paced night. Fringe legend Arthur Smith hosts a line-up that includes, deep breath: Dolly Diamond, Ollie Horn, Eddy Hare Chelsea Birkby, Jaz Mattu, Elvis McGonagall, Lewis Fuller, Josephine Lacey, Christian Dart, Andrew Doherty, Dee Allum, Derek Mitchell, Nina Gilligan, Madame Chandelier, Plastic Jeezus, Grace Mulvey, Vlad Ilich, Grubby Little Mitts, Erika Ehler, Ava Beaux, Gearoid Farrelly, Nerine Skinner, Sooz Kempner, Ali Woods, Joe Kent-Walters, Alfie Moore, Will Owen, Paulina Lenoir, Milo Edwards and Aidan Sadler. Phew! Tickets.

LONDON: The London Clown Festival, which runs for the next three weeks at Soho Theatre and Jacksons Lane in Haringey, kicks off with an opening cabaret at Soho. Festival schedule.

Wednesday July 10

LONDON: American comic Michelle Wolf, who famously roasted Donald Trump at the 2018 White House Correspondents' Dinner (the President wasn't there), sweeps into town for two nights at Leicester Square Theatre. Her other credits include her own Netflix comedy talk show The Break and last year's stand-up series It's Great to Be Here for the same streamer.

Friday July 12

LONDON: The Balham Comedy Festival kicks off at the Bedford pub, longstanding home of the Banana Cabaret. It's a mix of solo shows and line-ups, such as today's outstanding bill comprising Carey Marx, John Moloney, Robin Morgan, Sarah Callaghan and Tony Law. Listings

Saturday July 13

GLASGOW: Laugh in the Park, Glasgow Southside's annual comedy festival, returns for its fourth year at the Queens Park Arena, also known as The Bandstand. Those performing include Susie McCabe, Grry Little and Gary Faulds.

BLACKPOOL: There's been a smattering of events under the Blackpool Comedy Festival banner this week (website) but most are this weekend, with the undoubted highlight being the closing gala at the Opera House tonight with Jason Manford and Friends Paul Sinha, Dara O'Briain, and Kiri Pritchard-McLean.

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Published: 7 Jul 2024