Gimme Rob Copland, Material Girls and some thoughts on women in comedy

Comedy shows to see this week!

clockwise from top-left: Miranda Holms, Joz Norris, Kuan-wen Huang, Jack Shep, Chantel Nash, Kate Hammer, Sascha LO, Aisha Amanduri, Rob Copland, Celya AB

Hello!

Hope you had a fun week. I am back from Lisbon (sad!), but got up at 6am to go swimming at the Hampstead ponds (good!) so London’s not so bad really. September is such a wonderful time of year. I can wear a jumper but not a coat. The light is gorgeous. The sun is still up in the evenings. I have the back to school feeling, which means I have bought a New Pen!

Also, I’ve decided to trial implementing a weekly column-type thing on comedy goings-on for the paid subscribers, as it seemed like a lot of people were interested in having these sorts of conversations after last week’s Edinburgh reviewing rant. I think it will be good for all of us, mainly because it will stop me from just posting my opinions on Instagram stories and force me to consider my words :) I’m still putting it behind a paywall though, because I do want it to be a place where I don’t feel too nervous talking about trickier things and it makes me feel a bit safer doing it there. This week, I’m off on one about women in comedy.

Rob Copland: Gimme (One With Everything)

Sept 30-Oct 5, 9pm
Soho Theatre. Tickets here

This was one of my favourite shows at the Fringe this year. I very nearly didn’t get in because it was so in demand but I was extremely lucky to be able to see it. One of those proper special Fringe experiences. Slapstick and physical, Rob has an energy unlike anyone else and a gift for taking the audience along with him. It’s a thrill ride with a message about ambition, success and satisfaction, tied up with the most glorious and genuinely daring finale a comedy show can have. Rob won the ​​Edinburgh Comedy Awards Victoria Wood Prize and gave a really excellent acceptance speech about experimenting and working things out and what he feels the Fringe is for. Also how wild it is for reviewers to come see shows after one or two days…which is frankly ridiculous if you think about it! 

Material Girls

Sept 23rd, 8pm
The Bill Murray, Islington. Tickets here

Your wonderful hosts Sascha LO and Aisha Amanduri have created a night with truly some of the best line-ups you get to see – every time I’m like, damn that’s good. So for me personally, it’s great news that Material Girls night has moved from Clapham to Angel… this month’s bill includes Erika Ehler, Celya AB, Jenny Tian and Lauren Stone! That’s actually wild, though.

All Mouth: A Queer Comedy Show

Sept 19th, 8pm
The Rum Shack, Glasgow. Tickets here

Kate Hammer, who made this excellent short for BBC Scotland you should watch, hosts this brilliant line-up of LGBTQ+ acts in Glasgow. The hilarious Kuan-wen Huang headlines, with Giulia Galastro, Ayo Adenekan, Ifrah Qureshi and Kathleen Hughes all performing. 

Amy Gledhill: Make Me Look Fit on the Poster tour

On tour from Sept 18th. Tickets

I’m embarrassed to admit, I didn’t get to see Amy Gledhill’s Edinburgh Comedy Award-winning show this year (it was a busy time, ok!?), though every single other time I’ve seen Amy I’ve died laughing and everyone’s told me it’s amazing. Which is great, because now she's going on tour and I’ll be able to see it. She starts in Sheffield, and will be touching down all over the UK – truly everywhere – until the end of November.

Wanting To Be Cool, Having To Be Funny

Sept 19th, 8pm
George Tavern, Shadwell. Tickets

It’s the best new comedy night in town, everyone agrees, and it’s back this month with yet another smashing line-up. Jack Shep hosts as ushe, with Bella Hull, Eddy Hare, Ayoade Bamgboye and Anna Brown on this edition. I meaaaan. As if that isn’t enough, there’s karaoke afterwards for anyone who is actually cool.

Comedy In Ruins

Sept 20th, 7:30pm
Mother’s Ruin Gin Palace, Walthamstow

Fresh from headlining Bi Pride, host Emily Bampton brings back this gorgeous night. In association with queer comedy collective Undercover Comedy, this regular POC and queer-led mixed bill always brings the vibes and has yet another line-up of incredible stand-ups in Hannah Platt, Erika Ehler, Chantel Nash, Lily Webb and Catriona Dowden. And, bonus, games!!