Knickers, They Seem Nice
Comedy shows to see this week :)
Hello!
Do you recognise me? LMAOnaise has had a long long long overdue makeover! I’ve loved how we looked but we can’t possibly be in our fifth year with the same logos as when we began. That is preposterous. It’s 2025. The incomparable Michael Julings has worked his magic yet again, and was super patient with me when I went back asking him to “make it more mayonnaise”. I think you’ll agree, it looks very mayonnaise!
The website has had a big makeover as well, which I have been plugging away at to get it ready for July when all of the Edinburgh stuff will start appearing. So GO AND HAVE A LOOK AT IT and tell your friends how pretty it is. Soon it’ll be full of the features written by comedians that are starting to fill my inbox!
This time tomorrow I will be IN GREECE. Upon the beach! That means no newsletter next week I’m afraid, but plenty to keep you going in this one, so any complaints will go straight in the shredder. No paywall on today’s newsletter because I want you all to have as many recommendations as possible. Some extra special treats for the premiums when I get back home with an ever-so-slight tan (because that’s all I can muster in a week).
Comedy shows to see!
Knickers Cabaret: Midsummer Night's Cream
June 26th, 7:30pm
The Old Dispensary, Camberwell; Tickets here
The solstice! It’s the most mid that summer has been since last midsummer – not “mid” in the Gen Z sense. Join a bunch of clowns and jesters to celebrate the warm nights and air of puckishness. This comedy cabaret with Verity Sharpe also features Rob Copland, Nath Charles (as Dubs the Janitor), Jamie Mykaela, Mahesh Khilnani, Nikola McMurtrie and John-Luke Roberts.
Eggbox
Jul 1st, 7:30pm
Pleasance Islington; Tickets here
Eggbox is back! I love Eggbox. It’s full of amazing comedy eggs just waiting to be cracked open. Expect live script-readings featuring witches, nostrils and crypto and short film screenings from the likes of Jazz Emu, Hayley Morris, Lola-Rose Maxwell, Saima Ferdows, Luke McQueen and more, as well as hosts of the night Joz Norris and Miranda Holms. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, probably multiple times, that we need more live script readings! More watching of short films as a team sport! It really is a completely different kettle of fish and the fish are hilarious.
They Seem Nice
Jun 24-27th, 9:15pm
Soho Theatre; Tickets here
I have to admit I don’t see a lot of improv, but this is the cream of the crop, the crème de la crème à la Edgar (the people who make up phrases seem to really like cream). The line-up changes each night, but is always made up of a combination of Emma Sidi, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Nic Sampson, Steen Raskopoulos, Lara Ricote, Graham Dickson, Lola-Rose Maxwell and Joseph Moore. Screw Glastonbury (I SAID IT!), this is where I’d be if I weren’t in Greece.
Ayo Adenekan: Black Mediocrity
Jul 5th; 6pm
Monkey Barrel, Edinburgh; Tickets here
An upcoming Fringe debut I’ve been hearing lots about! I haven’t yet had the pleasure of seeing Ayo Adenekan live, but I have listened to him on Sam Lake’s podcast and he’s an absolute delight. He’s supported Sarah Keyworth, Olga Koch and Amy Matthews so can you say taste? Really looking forward to this one – get in now before you miss your chance!
Edinburgh Previews at Seven Dials Playhouse
All the way through to the end of July
Seven Dials Playhouse, Covent Garden; Tickets here
There’s a really special line-up of comedy and theatre at this Covent Garden venue over the next month. If you’re not going to Edinburgh, I recommend that you power through a whole bunch of the shows available here! You can get great stand-up from John Tothill, Eric Rushton and Hasan Al-Habib, or something more physical and character-led and potentially odd (just as we like it) from Ozzy Algar, Cabbage the Clown and Francisco de Nata. Comedy theatre fans, check out Degenerate by Maria Teresa Creasey for some horror (the Substance meets the Mighty Boosh!), or BAIRNS by Annie Davison for a heartfelt piece navigating the murky waters of surrogacy. I had the chance to speak to both of these last two about their shows during a recent workshop and I’m so glad I did! They’re gonna be fantastic.
Upgrade your subscription for £5 a month (or less if you get an annual subscription!). You’ll get more live show, telly and podcast recommendations, comedy shorts, and the extra ‘Meet the Comedian’ Friday newsletters! Also secrets and things I’d never say in public…
Or, if you’re not sure about the commitment, you can make a one-off donation!
If you’re going to Glastonbury…
I’m not – obviously – I’m in Greece!!! But If I were going to Glastonbury, I’d be heading to the Bread and Roses at 4pm on Friday for Su Mi’s show, which also features headliner Sikisa, Jack Shep, Fella, Jen Nolan and more. There’s also a bunch of comedy in the Cabaret tent – Sikisa doing her own set, plus Jazz Emu, Mawaan Rizwan, Desiree Burch and Spencer Jones across the packed weekend. Probs go see Kneecap and CMAT while you’re there (avoid: The 1975).
PBH Weekender
June 27-29th
Colab Tower; Tickets here
A free weekend of comedy! And scores of shows to choose from. On Friday, you could see Shalaka Kurup, Liz Guterbock, Heidi Regan, Mark Silcox, and Chris Fleming, and on Saturday, Rob Auton, Shelf, Sam Nicoresti and Mary O’Connell are on the bill. Rob Copland, Rajiv Karia, and Alice-India are some of Sundays’ comedians. Basically, there’s a lot and that’s just a handful! It’s all in the spirit of the Free Fringe where you can see hundreds of Edinburgh Fringe shows for – you guessed it – free. All the shows are first come first serve so make sure you give it enough time. And always remember to chuck some money in the bucket or electronic equivalent at the end! It’s only polite and will raise money for Edinburgh’s Free Fringe, which is a great thing.
Kiran Saggu & Erika Ehler: Thought Daughters
June 28th, 7:30pm
The Pen Theatre; Tickets here
Two phenomenal stand-ups? Together at last? Kiran Saggu and Erika Ehler are joining forces to dig deep into their minds for some very cerebral comedy. Both of these two gave brilliant performances at last year’s Fringe – Kiran with her fantastic debut and Erika returning with a sophomore show with as much bite as her first. Go for the thought, stay for the daughters.
FOC IT UP: Pride Edition
Jun 28th, 9:15pm
Soho Theatre; Tickets here
Who needs Glastonbury when you’ve got the FOC IT UP! Comedy Club? This line-up is better than ANYTHING you’ll see on the big triangle stage. Kemah Bob is the consummate host as ever, joined by Priya Hall, Leila Navabi, Emily Bampton, Crayola and AJ Yi for special Pride edition.
Toussaint Douglass: Accessible Pigeon Material
Jun 25th, 7:40pm
Pleasance Islington, Tickets here
Big fan of this – this is one of the Fringe debut’s I’m really looking forward to. I first came across Toussaint Douglass as part of Piñata’s lockdown Euro ĩsion (a comedians’ song contest), when he sang a song about the actual size of a Hula Hoop that has been intermittently in my head for more than four years now. His show, Accessible Pigeon Material, is about love, loss and pigeons. All I really know about it is pigeons, actually. And sometimes that’s enough!
I’m going to bed almost immediately. I have to leave for the airport at 2:30am. zzzzzzzz
Love you,
Zoë x