The forecast is sunny (albeit, intervals), there are not one but two whole bank holidays coming up this month, AND, as ever, you’re friendly neighbourhood comedy nerds are here to recommend a jam packed month of comedy shows for you to giggle at. All things considered, we are positively buzzing for the arrival of May (…we’re only simple folk). After some arctic temperatures and serious rainfall, you deserve some cracking comedy to enjoy with a spot of sunshine, and hell maybe even a glass of pink.
1. TOURS, WIPS AND DEBUTS
© Ruby Wax, Nina Conti
RUBY WAX: I’M NOT AS WELL AS I THOUGHT I WAS
Weds-Thurs 1-4, 21-30 May @ 7:30 PM, Multiple Venues, Multiple Locations
The icon that is Ruby Wax continues her tour I’m Not As Well As I Thought I Was (adding dates due to demand), based off her best selling book about getting side-tracked on her journey to find meaning and happiness, where she discovers she’s not as well as she thought… You can catch her here there and everywhere this month, with a whopping 12 dates across the UK in May.
You can grab your ticket here
NINA CONTI: WHOSE FACE IS IT ANYWAY? WIP
Mon-Sat 13-18 May @ 9:30 PM, Soho Theatre, London
The well established and acclaimed ventriloquist, actor and comedian Nina Conti (you may associate her with a monkey and or a giant mouth mask), performs her new WIP show Whose Face Is It Anyway at Soho Theatre this month. This new unscripted show sparks characteristic chaos as Conti plays with the audience using her iconic masks, resulting in a show equal parts silly, thought-provoking and entertaining.
You can grab your ticket here
© Gillian Cosgriff, Greta Titelman
GILLIAN COSGRIFF: ACTUALLY, GOOD
Tues-Sat 7-18 May @ 7:30 PM, Soho Theatre, London
Gillian Cosgriff brings her critically acclaimed 2023 show Actually, Good to London this month, after picking up Most Outstanding Show at Melbourne Comedy Festival 2023 and Mervyn Sutter’s Pick of the Fringe 2023. Actually, Good is an observational and heart warming show that explores the small joys in life that make the bigger things manageable.
Grab a ticket here
GRETA TITELMAN: EXQUISITE LIES
Mon-Sat 20-25 May @ 8:45 PM, Soho Theatre, London
Actor and comedian Greta Titelman, most known for her roles in Search Party, Shrill and Awkwafina is Nora from Queens, brings her 2023 debut Fringe show to Soho Theatre this month. Titelman dives into the intimate, filthy and sometimes cringe-worthy moments in her life so far, from experiencing drugs at school to her mother dying. With some songs thrown in for good measure.
You can grab a ticket here
© Fatiha El-Ghorri, Patti Harrison
FATIHA EL-GHORRI: COCKNEY STACKING DOLL (WIP)
Thurs 21 May @ 6:30 PM, The Bill Murray, London
Winner of Best Debut Show at Leicester Comedy Festival 2023, telly appearances on The Jonathon Ross Show and The Russel Howard Hour, and guest podcaster on Off Menu and The Guilty Feminist, Fatiha El-Ghorri has stormed the UK comedy scene in recent years, and now brings her new WIP show to The Bill Murray this month. El-Ghorri is an observational stand up comic, who covers a range of topics including dating, Islamophobia, and the realities of life as a British Muslim woman.
You can grab tickets here
PATTI HARRISON: MY HUGE TITS ARE HUGE BECAUSE THEY ARE INFECTED NOT FAKE
Fri 24-14 May-June @ 9:15 PM, Soho Theatre, London
Writer, comedian and actor Patti Harrison’s telly and film credits include: Shrill, I Think You Should Leave with Tom Robinson, Big Mouth and Raya and the Last Dragon. So it’s safe to say she’s a big deal. As you may be able to tell from the title, Harrison’s brand of comedy is less traditional stand up and more surrealist, absurd mischief with some filth, songs and rants thrown in.
Grab a ticket here.
© Marie Faustin
MARIE FAUSTIN: SORRY I’M LATE
Mon-Sat 29-4 May @ 7:30 PM, The Bill Murray, London
(Promise we’re not sponsored by Soho Theatre, there are just too many shows to catch there this month) Catch NYC based comic Marie Faustin, who has appeared in Broad City, Comedy Central Stand Up and hosts a dating show Why Are You Single?, for 5 nights at Soho Theatre this month. Faustin is a traditional stand up comic who covers topics such as break ups, bugs and everything in between in her stand up.
You can grab a ticket to her show here
© Alexandra Haddow, Sarah Roberts
ALEXANDRA HADDOW: THIRD PARTY (WIP)
Weds 1 May @ 6:30 PM, The Bill Murray, London
Fresh off the back of her last UK tour of her debut Fringe show Not My Finest Hour, which saw sold out runs, Alexandra Haddow is back with a brand new WIP show at The Bill Murray this month. Haddow’s show covers all the fundamental topics: politics, sex, ageing and maybe, hope.
You can grab a ticket to her show here
SARAH ROBERTS: SILKWORM (WIP)
Weds 8 May @ 6:30 PM, The Bill Murray, London
Funny Women Shorts Awards Shortlist 2022 (try saying that 6 times fast), Komedia New Act Finalist 2023 and, in her own words, the world’s youngest, smallest and most normal comedian, Sarah Roberts brings her WIP show Silkworm to the Bill Murray this month.
You can grab a ticket to her show here
2. FUNNY WOMEN EVENTS
We’ve got even more Funny Women events just for you to enjoy this month, including our newest Funny Women Live in Basel! No matter where you’re based in Europe, we have something for you.
Funny Women Live in Brussels here! Friday 10 May @ 7:00 PM
Funny Women Live in Amsterdam here! Saturday 11 May @ 8:00 PM
Stand Up To Stand Out London here! Saturday 18 May @ 11:00 AM
Funny Women Live in Dublin here! Monday 20 May @ 8:00 PM
Funny Women Live in Paris here! Tuesday 21 May @ 8:30 PM
Funny Women Live in Basel here! Wednesday 22 May @ 8:00 PM
Stand Up To Stand Out Amsterdam here! Saturday 25 May @ 5:00 PM
3. VARIETY NIGHTS
© Holly & Brooke’s Thursday Night Fakeaway
Holly & Brooke’s Thursday Night Fakeaway
Thurs 30 May @ 7:30 PM, Phoenix Arts Club, London
Branding themselves the new Ant & Dec of the live comedy scene, this new comedy variety night has it all: comics, games and prizes. Similar to the Ant & Dec version, but with comedians, so inifinitely better, obviously. Line up includes: Jin Hao Li, Dom McGovern, Hannah Byczkowski and Steve Porters
You can grab a ticket here.
No images owned. All images copyright Ruby Wax, Nina Conti, Gillian Cosgriff, Greta Titelman, Fatiah El-Ghorri, Patti Harrison, Marie Faustin, Alexandra Haddow, Sarah Roberts, Holly & Brooke’s Thursday Night Fakeaway
