Comedy Reviews
Picnic at the Castle review - entertaining mixed billSaturday, 19 September 2020
Of all the outdoor spaces being utilised to keep live performance going in this maddest of years, Warwick Castle is surely among the most striking. Its Picnic at the Castle series has the building as an imposing backdrop to events, the stage reached by a wooden bridge across the River Avon. Read more... |
Mixed bill, 21Soho review - opening of new club is cause for celebrationMonday, 31 August 2020
Comedy is all about timing, and the owners of the UK's newest comedy club should know. Just days after they obtained the final licences they needed to open, the national lockdown was announced in March. Read more... |
The Warren Outdoor Season, Brighton review - creatives take to the beachTuesday, 18 August 2020
The Warren is normally to be found in Brighton city centre, where it stages shows during the Brighton Fringe. Read more... |
The New Normal, Royal Victoria Patriotic Building review - strong mixed billFriday, 07 August 2020
We live in strange times, so it's appropriate that a socially distanced pop-up arts festival – of theatre, comedy, improv, music and magic – calls itself The New Normal. Read more... |
John Cleese, livestream from Cadogan Hall review - abandon all hope, says the former PythonMonday, 03 August 2020
At the age of 80, John Cleese probably doesn't care what people think of him. But then, when you were one-sixth of Monty Python and co-creator of one of TV's funniest sitcoms, you can afford not to play to the gallery as the royalties from Flying Circus and Fawlty Towers still roll in (even if, as he never tires of telling his audiences, a fair chunk goes in alimony). Read more... |
Comedy in the Courtyard, BAC review - al fresco gagsTuesday, 28 July 2020
After drive-ins, now come Covid-secure outdoor shows as the comedy industry tries to find its way back to normality. Battersea Arts Centre is utilising its hitherto unused courtyard for a season of outdoor comedy, during which Al Murray and Russell Howard will perform. Read more... |
Mark Watson's Carpool Comedy Club, Hever Castle review - mixed bill with gags and gourmet foodWednesday, 22 July 2020
Drive-in comedy shows are now well into their groove (although sadly a couple of promoters have had to cut their losses because of poor sales at some venues), and distinct differences in approach to what's on offer have emerged. Clearly going for the upper end of the market is Dine and Drive Theatre, an old hand at curating outdoor events, whose USP is classy locations and food catered by top chef Tom Kerridge. Read more... |
Car Park Comedy, Henley review - Comedy Store's mixed billMonday, 13 July 2020
Hot on the heels of The Car Park Club and @TheDriveIn comes Car Park Party, a series of shows presented in partnership with The Comedy Store. Car Park Party presents an evening of four comics doing short sets, presented by an MC. Read more... |
@TheDriveIn, Blackheath review - comedy and car-aokeFriday, 10 July 2020
Drive-ins are now firmly establishing themselves as the only method by which culture fans can see live arts in person for the future. Hot on the heels of The Drive-In Club comes @TheDriveIn, sponsored by Suzuki and produced by Jericho Comedy. Read more... |
Dom Joly / Daniel Sloss, Brent Cross reviews - UK's first drive-in comedy showsSaturday, 04 July 2020
It was a weary and frustrated Dom Joly (★★) who left the stage after performing the first drive-in comedy show in the UK. Sadly it had been, as he said earlier, “the first car crash at a drive-in”. Read more... |
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