Penn and Teller
Las Vegas’s loss is Britain’s gain, as the veteran magic double-act return for UK tour. Publicity has focused on Penn Jillette’s relationship with the US president, with whom he worked on Celebrity Apprentice in 2012. “We wish we could make Trump disappear,” ran the headlines. That’s not, unfortunately, the prospectus for their new show, which should feature the usual impressive combination of jazzy set pieces hyped by Penn and tender conjuring vignettes by Teller.
• At Hammersmith Apollo, London, 20-25 June. Box office: 0844-249 4300.
Rob Delaney
When he first gigged in the UK, the American comic Rob Delaney was mainly famous for being funny on Twitter. Two years ago, cresting Channel 4’s hit show Catastrophe, he delivered a depraved (his word) standup show entitled Meat. This summer, that carnival of carnality is back.
• At Leicester Square theatre, London, 5-15 July. Box office: 020-7734 2222.
Latitude
Now firmly established as a big event in the comedy calendar, the Suffolk summer festival beloved by the artier crowd returns with a killer standup programme, including Mock the Week host and science-geek headliner Dara Ó Briain, waspish Canadian import Katherine Ryan, haiku comic and hipsters’ favourite Tim Key, and Simon Amstell, whose recent Carnage mockumentary set tongues wagging.
• At Henham Park, Southwold, 13-16 July.
Bourgeois and Maurice
The musical comedy duo (AKA Liv Morris and George Heyworth) are reflecting on 10 years at the forefront of camp-and-fabulous satirical cabaret. This summer, they’re staging Style Over Substance: A 10-Year Restrospective, promising to “look back over a decade of social change” via their best-loved songs.
• At Soho theatre, London, 15-26 August. Box office: 020-7478 0100.
Daniel Kitson
A new Daniel Kitson show is always an event; a new standup act (he’s more of a solo theatre man now) even more so. His latest, Something Other Than Everything, is his first big London run for four years and presumably includes his excellent “effective altruism” material piloted at last year’s Edinburgh fringe. It promises to “alter the function of language and invent a new form of standup”. Can’t wait.
• At Roundhouse, London, 12-29 July. Box office: 0300-6789 222. Then at Royal Exchange, Manchester, 31 August-19 September. Box office: 0161-833 9833.
Sam Simmons
When a critic said that Sam Simmons could read the phone book and be funny, the comic responded in true absurdist fashion, making that challenge the basis of his new show, A-K. Reviews from his native Australia suggest another cracking set from the 2015 Edinburgh champ, also featuring berserk anti-comedy and material about his new baby. It is in London for a fortnight before a run in Edinburgh.
• At Soho theatre, London, 25 July-5 August. Box office: 020-7478 0100. Then at Assembly George Square Studios, Edinburgh, 11-27 August. Box office: 0131-226 0000.
Sara Pascoe
The erudite and inquisitive Pascoe – current guest star on Frankie Boyle’s latest TV vehicle New World Order – can be seen around the UK (Cardiff, Gateshead, Cambridge) as she whips her Edinburgh show into shape. After missing last year’s festival to write the acclaimed book Animal, expectations are high for 2017’s offering, LadsLadsLads, which reportedly focuses on Pascoe’s return to dating after a breakup.
• At Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh, 2-27 August. Box office: 0131-226 0000.
Stand Up in the Wyldes
Every corner of the UK has its own comedy festival, right? Well, not Cornwall – until now. Stand Up in the Wyldes launches in style with big hitters Bill Bailey, Katherine Ryan and Russell Kane, and ace up-and-comers such as Lolly Adefope. “As well as attracting huge stars,” say its curators, “we will showcase the massive wealth of comedy talent within the south-west.”
• At the Wyldes, near Bude, Cornwall, 25-27 August.
Dane Baptiste
Baptiste became one of comedy’s more interesting social commentators by stealth, with a debut that – in his downbeat way – posted forthright and funny opinions about race, money and culture. Since then, he’s announced his ambition to be Britain’s Chris Rock, and has launched his own sitcom, Sunny D, on BBC3. The new show G.O.D. (Gold. Oil. Drugs.) is “about our worldwide pursuit of wealth, power and pleasure”.
• At Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh, 2-27 August. Box office: 0131-226 0000.
Hannah Gadsby
It’s not often you get to watch a comedian’s final show. But that’ is how the Australian comic Hannah Gadsby is billing Nanette, which won this year’s prestigious Barry award at the Melbourne comedy festival. The show explains why, detailing Gadsby’s lifelong experiences of homophobia, gender violence and power, how she cultivated humour as a response, and why that’s no longer enough. Reviewers raved.
• At Assembly George Square Studios, Edinburgh, 2-27 August. Box office: 0131-226 0000.
