Our selection of London’s alternative, clever and offbeat comedy gigs this week.
Pleasance Works In Progress
The Islington theatre has a bunch of comedians trying out new material for the next week and a bit. See Richard Herring, Marcel Lucont, WitTank, Vikki Stone and more for not much cash. 1-11 February, £5 or three shows for £12, 8pm
Twisted Loaf
Character and sketch twosome Twisted Loaf picked up the Funny Women award last year and definitely aren't afraid to 'go there'. Tell your friends you saw them first by heading to the Leicester Square Theatre on 2 or 9 February, £10 / £8, 7pm
Conference
Our eyes widened with glee when we saw the participants for Conference: Leisa Rea, Cicely Giddings, Frog Stone, Margaret Cabourn-Smith and Jen Brister. That, friends, is a fucking line-up. Billed as a "right on, right off lez-bi-trans-pennine-straight-curious conference for women, wimmin, men and minnin", this is going to be funny, uncomfortable and uncomfortably funny. Go to the Soho Theatre on 3 February, £12.50 / £10, 7.15pm. See some of the performers in the Scandicrime spoof film below.
Luisa Omielan
After her hit show What Would Beyonce Do, Luisa Omielan's working up new material at the Vault Festival. The title of Am I Right Ladies?! gives you an idea of what's coming. 6 February, £11.50, 9.30pm
The Free Shows
John-Luke Roberts tells the story of a 400 year old man who's turned himself into a one man pandemic, in a free show at Invisible Dot. Less outrageous comedy, more gentle bittersweet stories to ease you into the weekend. 7 February, free but prebook, 7pm
Laughing Boy Comedy Club
This is more of a heads up, but we know from experience that anything with Adam Hills sells out fast, especially with The Last Leg back on TV. So snap up tickets for Laughing Boy Comedy Club in London Bridge when he headlines on 26 March (£10 / £8, 7.30pm). Other top acts to catch in SE1 and Hackney before then include Paul Chowdhry, Nathan Caton, Romesh Ranganathan and Tony Law.
Tip us off to friendly, intelligent, alternative comedy around town on [email protected], read our guide to watching live comedy in London and our top 10 themed comedy nights.
