See top live comedy in Liverpool this autumn
Fancy chortling your way towards Christmas? Luckily for you then that there’s a busy autumn of comedy planned for venues across Liverpool city centre.
The season kicks off with the annual Liverpool Comedy Festival, with the 2018 event taking place from September 14-30 at locations including Hot Water Comedy Club, Laughterhouse, Comedy Central, 81 Renshaw Street, Buyers Club, Hope Street Theatre and the Jacaranda as well as some of the city’s bigger theatre spaces.
And new for this year is an International Weekend of Wellbeing across seven venues in the St George’s Quarter on September 15-16. They will play host to some of the country’s hottest comedy talent but also act as hubs for cutting-edge conversation surrounding mental health and wellbeing.
More information about the comedy festival is available on the website HERE
But in this Capital of Comedy, the laughter doesn’t end at the close of September, and there are plenty of laughs to be had, both at regular comedy nights and also courtesy of visiting funnymen and women.
Here are some of the names you can see live at venues from now until Christmas.
Echo Arena
Royston Vasey comes to the Echo Arena on September 16 when The League of Gentlemen come to town for one memorable night only and on their first UK tour for 12 years.
September also sees the return of Sarah Millican who will bring her Control Enthusiast tour to the Auditorium for two nights on September 29-30.
Joe Lycett makes a date for the Auditorium on November 11, and affable Scouse comic Paul Smith takes his hit show Hiya Mate in to the arena on November 16.
Finally, the Live At Hot Water Christmas Special takes place in the Auditorium from December 7-9.
More details HERE
Empire Theatre
Possibly Scotland’s biggest comedy export since the Big Yin, Kevin Bridges ventures south to entertain the Empire audience for two nights on December 4-5 with his 2018 tour titled Brand New.
It’s then across the water to Ireland on December 6 when Dylan Moran (above) plays the Lime Street venue with Dr Cosmos, his unique take on love, politics and the absurdities of everyday life.
And the comedy keeps coming with Ross Noble pitching up on December 7 with El Hablador. Expect trademark flights of fancy from the Geordie funnyman and actor.
More details HERE
Epstein Theatre
Waspish-tongued dapper chap Tom Allen kicks off a busy autumn of comedy at the Epstein when he arrives on September 6 with his solo show Absolutely.
He’s followed on September 16 by Our Rita’s Festival Gala to celebrate this year’s Liverpool Comedy Festival. It stars Matt Richardson, Stephen Bailey, Robert White, Mrs Barbara Nice and Lindsey Santoro.
Double Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Nish Kumar is another name appearing at this year’s festival when he arrives at the Epstein on September 23 with his show It’s In Your Nature to Destroy Yourselves.
Liverpudlian Adam Rowe, who won the best joke at the Fringe accolade this summer, arrives on September 27 with his show Undeniable, which will be recorded live at the venue.
Jimeoin joins the autumn of fun with Result! on October 17, Phill Jupitus presents Juplicity on October 30, and Liverpool favourite (and dad of twins) Sam Avery is at the theatre on November 8 with his show The Learner Parent.
Elis James and John Robins pay a visit on November 13 with The Holy Vible Book Tour, Rich Hall’s Hoedown gets the joint jumping on November 15, and Rob Newman’s Total Eclipse of Descartes comes to Liverpool on November 22.
More details HERE
Unity Theatre
The Unity is hosting a trio of shows during the Liverpool Comedy Festival, but you’ll have to be quick because tickets are either nearly gone or sold out.
Justin Moorhouse, whose gag about Donald Trump made the shortlist for funniest joke at the Edinburgh Fringe this year, brings his Northern Joker show to Hope Place on September 18.
September 20 sees Zoe Lyons present Entry Level Human, mulling on whether she knows what she’s doing in life.
And on September 22 it’s the turn of Gary Delaney with his Gagster’s Paradise.
More details HERE
Liverpool Everyman
According to David O’Doherty (above - photo by Jack Kirwin) You Have to Laugh – find out why when he makes an appearance at the Everyman, complete with songs and a rubbish keyboard, on October 24.
Meanwhile Sara Pascoe is also heading for Hope Street this autumn. She presents her solo show LadsLadsLads at the theatre on October 30.
More details HERE
Royal Court
Robin Ince kicks off his new UK tour Chaos of Delight in the downstairs Studio on September 27, bringing together art and science in a celebration of the human mind.
Eggsistentialism, Joanne Ryan’s acclaimed, multi-award winning show, is a funny, tender and moving exploration of reproduction in 21st-Century Ireland. See it in the Studio on October 19.
Ryan’s show is part of the Liverpool Irish Festival, as is Gúna Nua’s The Morning After the Night Before on October 20.
And Terry Titter returns to the Liverpool stage with his Christmas show Court by the Baubles, appearing at the Studio from December 13-15.
More details HERE
Philharmonic Hall
Laughterhouse Live’s Christmas show returns to the Philharmonic Hall, and promises a splendid seven-strong line-up of seasonal talent (yet to be announced).
More details HERE