Preview: Five Pound Previews @ Etcetera Theatre

What? Previewing previews? Don't ever say we here at Londonist are afraid of torturing the English language to bring you the finest in comedy. The Edinburgh Festival may be the only thing we would, grudgingly, admit to making us a teeny bit jealous of another city but - in your face, Edinburgh! - we're getting a sneak preview of what those pesky Scots have to wait another three months to see.

We like previews. There's a frisson of excitement seeing something new - will it work? will it die? - and the fun of watching new material while it's raw. You're also helping comedians finesse their acts. Go along and be experimented on, we guarantee it's more fun than medical research.

Starting Tuesday, you can catch 10 shows that will be heading on up to the festival in August. Acts include the fabulous Robin Ince's work in progress, musing on 'Who was right? Orwell or Huxley?', Londonist favourite Andrew O'Neill's new show Occult Comedian, Elis James (you might have heard him with Rhod Gilbert on BBC Wales - you know, online or something - or on Comedy Zone) discussing what it's like to be the Most Cautious Little Boy in Wales, or see Stephen Carlin step out from being Stewart Lee's support.

Tickets cost a mere fiver (plus £1 theatre membership) and everything's on at the Etcetera Theatre above the Oxford Arms in Camden. There's only 42 seats though, so you might want to book ahead.

Five Pound Previews at the Etcetera Theatre, 265 Camden High Street, 020 7482 4857. Tickets cost £5 + £1 membership, shows start at 7.30pm / 6.30pm Sundays. See the Etcetera Theatre website for full listings.