Comedy
Beyond The Comic Strip: what does ‘alternative comedy’ mean in 2022?
A scene that started as a counter to straight standup at the end of the 1970s is still hard to peg – but it’s much more than just weird stuff that doesn’t work on telly
Rachael Healy
29, Jun, 2022 @11:11 AM
Patrick Kielty: Borderline review – cautionary Northern Irish tales
At a crisis point for his country, Kielty’s ‘module on borders’ is warm and engaging, though his even-handedness dims some of the laughter
Brian Logan
28, Jun, 2022 @2:06 PM
Arrest that joke! A history of gags so offensive that punters called the cops
Standup Joe Lycett has revealed that he was reported to police for one of his routines. From Sacha Baron Cohen to Jo Brand, our writer looks at what happens when laughter and the law collide
Brian Logan
28, Jun, 2022 @5:00 AM
The Balance review – film about Muslim entertainers treads a fine line
The rise of an Islamic arts industry is celebrated by its screen, music and comedy stars, but the view rarely strays beyond a western perspective
Phil Hoad
27, Jun, 2022 @8:00 AM
Travis Jay review – a loose, likable set about fathers and sons
The comedian’s troubled relationship with his ‘alpha dad’ is under scrutiny in this enjoyable show of (mostly) new material
Brian Logan
23, Jun, 2022 @2:47 PM
Jen Brister: ‘After 10 minutes, two-thirds of the audience had left!’
The standup on the upsides of touring, her worst gig and finding reasons to be optimistic
Interview by Liam Pape
22, Jun, 2022 @10:17 AM
Joe Lycett standup joke investigated by police after complaint
Comedian says he was asked to explain context of gag to investigating officers, and will keep it in his show
Tom Ambrose and agency
21, Jun, 2022 @11:23 PM
Chris McCausland: Speaky Blinder review – genial gags for midlife grumps everywhere
Engaging, blokey, old-school standup about domesticity, parenthood and the frustrations of modern life is mixed with material specific to the scouse joker’s life as a blind man
Brian Logan
20, Jun, 2022 @9:42 AM
Brodi Snook: Handful review – caustic comedy of depressing dates
Malign males on the dating scene are the focus of this heartfelt set, with keep-fit fans, activists and men who claim to be feminists also under the microscope
Brian Logan
17, Jun, 2022 @2:10 PM
Mary Beth Barone review – sex comedy that keeps on giving
A delightfully silly but sneakily serious take on hook-up culture and its collateral damage, with bonus standup sets
Brian Logan
16, Jun, 2022 @3:30 PM
Brett Blake: the 10 funniest things I have ever seen (on the internet)
The comedian shares his favourite online laughs, including an Instagram account dedicated to terrible real estate agents and a rooster attacking a weatherman
Brett Blake
15, Jun, 2022 @5:30 PM
‘You don’t need to be funny!’: the art of performing standup in sign language
How do you translate a pun into an entirely different language on the fly? What do you do when there is simply no sign for a joke?
Tim Byrne
13, Jun, 2022 @5:30 PM
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