Remember remember... er, to see comedy in November? Here are some explosive shows we've picked for you — including a police musical, drag panto and stand-up in a brewery.
The Vicar's Knickers Pub Quiz (2, 9, 16, 23, 30 November)
Some pub quizzes are all po-faced eggheads scribbling down the dates of the Crimean war (1853-1856) others are the Vicar's Knickers Pub Quiz; hosted by Ranganation's The Vicar's Daughter, the questions are interspersed with silly games, scavenger hunts, prizes, singalongs and free drinks. Everyone's a winner, innit.
Vicar's Knickers Pub Quiz, The Royal Standard Blackheath, Tuesdays in November and beyond, £2 per player
West End Comedy Club (2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 November)
Central London spawns new comedy nights like it spawned Prets pre-2020. West End Comedy Club is one such night; launched in August, it's hosted the ilk of Dane Baptiste, Sophie Duker, Glenn Moore, Lulu Popplewell and Jen Brister (most November line-ups are still TBC). It's on every Tuesday and Wednesday, meaning there are nine nights in November. Meaning you've got eff-all excuses to miss it.
West End Comedy Club, Upstairs at Covent Garden Social Club, throughout November and beyond, £12
Kerry Godliman at Signature Brew (4 November)
If your comedy nights are frequently tainted by duff* beer, Signature Brew is for you. The excellent Walthamstow Beer Mile taproom hosts comedy nights (among a slew other events), and this November, Kerry Godliman of Mock the Week and After Life fame brings mirth to the hopheads. She's supported by Alasdair Beckett-King, who makes legendary Twitter videos. Should be a good 'un.
Kerry Godliman and co, Signature Brew, Blackhorse Road, 4 November, £19.50
*Rather than Duff Beer
Catford Mews Comedy Club (4 November)
Six comedians for £6.50? Now you're talking. Relatively wet-behind-the-ears venue Catford Mews has an enticing smorgasbord of stand-ups for its November show, including West End musical obsessed Victoria Howden; Cheekykita (described as "Like Alice in Wonderland on Adderall"); and the frenetic Richard Todd — who you can see amusing crowds in the video above.
Catford Mews Comedy Club, Catford, 4 November, £6.50
Live at the Chapel with Phil Wang (6 November)
"I’m White and Chinese. I’m both majorities, bitch. I’m Pepsi and Coke." From a third of sketch group Daphne, to Netflix superstar, Phil Wang has proved time and time over he's the bee's knees (even when he's not sporting his Kill Bill jumpsuit). At this month's Live at the Chapel show, he heads up a prestigious line-up of comics including John Robins, Rhys James and Rosie Jones. The atmosphere at these events can be electric (with a frisson of sacrilegiousness).
Live at the Chapel with Phil Wang, Union Chapel, Islington, 6 November, £20
Rapunzel - The Adult Panto (13 November)
Start your engines! Drag Race stars including Ellie Diamond, Tamisha Iman, Trinity K Bonet and Alexis Mateo dust off their frocks for this one-off show at Fairfields Hall. There'll be cheesy anthems, glitter galore — and we're told things get a little filthy (not too filthy hopefully, as despite the title it's a 13+ show). It's never too early for panto season. Oh yes it... shut up.
Rapunzel - The Adult Panto, Fairfield Halls, Croydon, 13 November, from £32.75
Michael Spicer: The Room Next Tour (13 November)
Michael Spicer has rinsed everyone from Boris Johnson to Matt Hancock to Priti Patel (spotting a theme here?) with his superb 'Room Next Door' videos. Now he's doing them live on tour — and his London stop is in North Finchley. At the time of writing, seats were going fast, so hurry. Otherwise, track him down elsewhere in the UK.
Michael Spicer: The Room Next Tour, artsdepot, North Finchley, 13 November, from £18
Tim Key: Work in Progress (16, 18 November)
Tim Key is frankly one of the great living comedians (and THE great comedian poet — soz John Cooper Clarke). You could — to pluck a random image out of nowhere — look at a picture of him with a partially-eaten fig roll, and you'd laugh. For two nights this month, watch Key figure out his latest show at the Bill Murray pub, with work in progress material. Expect mind-blowingly banal poetry, and the likelihood of being sprayed with a can of Foster's.
Tim Key: Work in Progress, Bill Murray, Angel, 16 and 18 November, £7
Police Cops the Musical (23 November-23 December)
"A cinematic comedy joyride full of grit, guns and uncompromising facial hair" is on the cards, with the return of the much-loved Police Cops. And this time they've only gone ruddy musical, with a live band performing an 'original 1980s' soundtrack on stage. Bodacious, as someone in the 80s may or may not say.
Police Cops the Musical, New Diorama Theatre, 23 November-23 December, £19
