Creatures Comedy, Freddie Hayes and Modern Art
Comedy shows to see this week!
Hello!
Happy week everyone. The eagle-eyed fans will notice this is a day late and it is NOT a bank holiday. What could have happened? What caused such a cataclysm? The cause is Edinburgh Flippin’ Fringe clogging up every aspect of my life and it’s not even August yet! But as you’ll be able to see if you’re following on Instagram or if you’re a upgraded subscriber, it’s all very exciting stuff.
This combined with the fact that I’VE QUIT MY JOB (congratulate me right now, in reply to this email) and am doing the mother of all handovers, and I’m off to Greece on Sunday for my pre-Fringe decompression week — during which I anticipate I will spend at least one of the afternoons making my review schedule because I haven’t managed it yet. I also will not be sending a newsletter next week so that’s a holiday for you as well. Lucky all of us.
I hate when people become all “being busy is my personality” but sorry, that’s literally me until September when I will be able to breeeeeathe. Anyway, a bit more on Edinburgh below the pay line. For now, here’s the comedy you ordered:
Comedy shows to see!
Creatures Comedy Festival
When: July 19-28th
Where: Creatures of the Night Comedy Club, Manchester
Manchester’s Creatures of the Night is flinging out a brand new festival, which is super exciting as it’s yet another opportunity to see more than 30 performers right before they take their shows, where? That’s right it’s Edinburgh, just like everything else is at the moment! There are loads of really good local and not-so-local acts with shows to see. A few things I’d go to if I were there: Molly McGuinness, Dee Allum, Jordan Brookes, John Tothill, Mark Silcox, Kemah Bob, Huge Davies and Micky Overman — and loads more!
Freddie Hayes: The Magic Lady
When: Jul 24th, 26th, 29th, 30th
Where: Museum of Comedy, London; Finch Cafe, London; Micklegate Social, York; Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds
Do you believe in magic? I do, ever since I saw a snippet of the Magic Lady a few months ago. Character comedian Freddie Hayes is doing her final previews before heading up to Scotland for the Fringe. If you’ve seen Freddie before, you might remember her as a potato, but the potato has mysteriously disappeared (sorcery?) leaving behind a lady looking for her moment in the spotlight.
Modern Art
When: Jul 17th, 7:30pm
Where: Vaulty Towers
Art buffs! Gallery-heads! Drop your sketchbooks on the floor of the Tate (leave them there) and come on down. Playface’s alternative comedy night is celebrating its first birthday with a grand old knees-up, including cabaret, comedy and clowning from Camilla Borges, Stephen Catling, Jen Zheng, Madame Chandelier, Kitchen Man, Sian Docksey, Laurie Lux, Josh InVain, and host Viki Jackson. Cake strongly encouraged.
Richard Melanin the Third: Pomp and Cirque-umstance No 3.1
When: Jul 16th, 7:30pm
Where: Jackson’s Lane Theatre
Richard Melanin the Third has a special suitcase. Inside that suitcase is pure imagination. Ella the Great’s debut show as the (drag) king of circus finds delight in everyday objects, making the simplest things magical. I saw a version of this a few months ago and it was brilliant: a bewitchingly surprising hour of clowning.
This is part of the London Clown Festival, which also features other shows at Jackson’s Lane I think you should see by Luke Rollason and Troll.
Sophie Duker + Kemah Bob (previews)
When: July 13th, 6:15pm
Where: VFD (Dalston)
Double whammy of two extremely exciting pre-Edinburgh shows: Sophie Duker’s new show But Daddy I Love Her and Kemah Bob’s debut Miss Fortunate. I saw Sophie do a lil bit at Risky Boys comedy night a couple of weeks ago and I’m positive the whole hour is going to be just as exciting. Kemah has been a long time fave and I’m SO happy she’s debuting. But the two of them together at the same time? You have never been so lucky.
The Many Wrongs of Lord Christian Brighty (free recording!)
When: Jul 18th, 7pm
Where: Hoxton Hall
If you’re feeling the Bridgerton fever or even just a little tickle in the throat, get yourself to Hoxton for the free recording of Christian Brighty’s wonderful character comedy show. I saw Christian’s show during its original Edinburgh run in 2022, and it was the most delightful hour of very silly fun. It’s an homage to and a send-up of regency romances, with the most sensational props. You can apply here for FREE tickets to the recording, which I recommend you do (did I mention it was free?). If you do a good enough job of laughing, you might be able to hear yourself on the BBC. (Use the code SWOON in the comments to jump the queue.)
FOC It Up Weekender
When: Jul 12-13th
Where: Soho Theatre
Something to look forward to… A whole weekend of FOC It Up is absolutely what the doctor ordered. Kemah Bob is joined by a frankly ridiculous level of comedy talent across one entire weekend in July, with stand-up and drag on the menu.
Fri 12 Jul, 9:15pm
Leila Navabi,
Pravanya Pillay,
Miss Mo’Real,
Sigi Moonlight,
Thanyia Moore
Sat 13 Jul, 9:15pm
Amrou Al-Kadhi,
Kyrah Gray,
Kate Cheka,
Blank Peng,
Don One
Remember there’s the option to pay it forward and buy someone a ticket who might not otherwise be able to go — so do that please!
Oxford Comedy Festival
When: Until Jul 28th
Where: across Oxford (check for venues)
ANOTHER comedy festival, and this one is in my hometown. See full-hour shows ahead of them going to Edinburgh and also not to Edinburgh - it’s not everything actually! For the whole of July you can see comedy to your heart's content in some of the actually cool places where I sometimes hang out when I go back to visit. Kate Cheka, Celya AB, Chloe Petts, Katie Green, Caitriona Dowden, Eddy Hare, Chelsea Birkby, Ola Labib, Derek Mitchell, Jen Ives and a lot more over the whole month.
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