The top ten comedy shows this November

The best comedy shows in London this November

• 1

  

  Greg Davies - The Back of My Mum's Head

  Nov 17 & 27, Hammersmith Apollo

  The comedy giant (literally) and star of 'Cuckoo' and 'The Inbetweeners' is back with a new tour following his Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated 'Firing Cheeseballs at a Dog'. We've seen a work-in-progress version, and we can tell you that 'The Back of My Mum's Head' is set to be a blisteringly funny onslaught of stories, soundscapes and foliage-based songs. Snap up tickets, you won't regret it.
  
  Read more about The Back of My Mum's Head
  Read our Greg Davies interview

  Buy tickets
• 2

  

  Josie Long - Romance and Adventure

  Nov 6-10, Soho Theatre

  Since the 2010 general election we’ve seen triple Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Award-nominee Josie Long, via her shows, learning about politics and becoming more politically active. In ‘Romance and Adventure’, she’s as passionate as ever about her love of social justice, but the queen of whimsy is more mature here than in her previous offerings. Yes, the Tories are the ‘baddies’, but Long is now happy to admit that she occasionally contradicts her beliefs. This is a less preachy hour that her 2011 show, and arguably funnier. She just keeps getting better and better.
  
  Read more about Romance and Adventure
  Read our Josie Long interview

  Buy tickets
• 3

  

  Live at the Chapel - Reggie Watts Special

  Nov 18, Union Chapel

  One man. One loop machine. A non-human vocal range and the ability to channel a wide range of vocal characters. There's no one out there like Watts. Exploiting a jaw-dropping vocal range, Reggie covers everything from ancient history and racism to pop-culture, in a heady mix of improvised music, comedy and social insight. He has to be seen to be believed. Flippin' incredible.
  
  Read more about Live at the Chapel – Reggie Watts Special
  Read our Reggie Watts interview

  Buy tickets
• 4

  

  Alan Davies - Life is Pain

  Nov 4 / Nov 12, Richmond Theatre / Hackney Empire

  Having been off stage for over a decade, 'QI' and 'Jonathan Creek' star Alan Davies lives up to the high expectations in this nostalgia-tinged show. His chatty ‘everyman’ appeal is still intact as reminisces about childhood holidays and phones with dials, and the curly-haired comic is particularly witty when he moves into filthier material. A terrifically poignant show.
  
  Read more about Life is Pain
  Read our Alan Davies interview

  Buy tickets
• 5

  

  Sheeps - Dancing with Lisa

  Nov 22-Dec 1, Soho Theatre

  In a comedy world chockablock with super-slick sketch troupes, it’s refreshing to see a trio who offer something slightly more shambolic. Sheeps don’t rely on glossy multimedia or music-pumping blackouts; the laughs arise from the slightly awkward performances of Liam Williams, Daran Johnson and Alistair Roberts and their wonderful onstage chemistry. It’s always perfectly rehearsed, of course, and the writing is tight, too, as the threesome deconstruct sketch conventions and rattle through skits about the third Chuckle Brother or a creepy Harrods toy salesman. Sheeps are unpretentious and highly inventive, and definitely have a bright future.
  
  Read more about Dancing with Lisa
• 6

  

  Judith Lucy - Nothing Fancy

  Nov 19-Dec 1, Soho Theatre

  A huge star in her home country of Australia, Judith Lucy is a best-selling author, newspaper columnist and gimmick-free storytelling stand-up. She tells honest, relatable, gentle tales and gags with no fanfare or any particular theme. 'Nothing Fancy' features cracking jokes on everything from beards to meditation. A rare London visit.
  
  Read more about Nothing Fancy

  Buy tickets
• 7

  

  Knock2Bag

  Nov 14, Bar FM

  Yet another top notch bill at this Shepherd's Bush gig with some of the most inventive comedy stars currently on the scene. This month's line-up including the truly hysterical Nick Helm, oddball cafe owner Brian Gittins, brilliant deadpan comic Mark Stephenson (pictured) and Foster's Award nominees Claudia O'Doherty, James Acaster and Ben Target.
  
  Read more about Knock2Bag
• 8

  

  Tim Key - Masterslut

  Nov 15-24, Arts Theatre

  Nearly a year after his Soho Theatre run, Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Tim Key brings his adventurous, bizarrely beautiful bath-obsessed show back to London for a West End run. 'Masterslut' is an ambitious, shambolic and occasionally moving hour of pithy poems, short stories and gorgeously shot short films. This could be your last chance to catch it in London, so don't miss.
  
  Read more about Masterslut
  Read our Tim Key interview and an exclusive poem by Key

  Buy tickets
• 9

  

  London Storytelling Festival

  Nov 9-18, Leicester Square Theatre

  Following its highly successful launch in 2011 (which featured Harry Shearer!), the London Storytelling Festival is back for a second year. 10 whole days of narrative-based comedy, writing and performing workshops and good ol' fashioned huddle-by-the-fire type storytelling. Highlights this year include Wil Hodgson reviving his Perrier Best Newcomer-winning 2004 show 'The Passion of the Hodgson', super-inventive John-Luke Roberts's new one-man play about a haunted sock and Liam Mullone's tale of being stranded in the desert in 'In a Dead Man's Hat'.
  
  Read more about the London Storytelling Festival
• 10

  

  Chris Tucker

  Nov 24-25, Hammersmith Apollo

  That's right, Detective James Carter himself hits London town. The 'Rush Hour' and 'Fifth Element' star has been a stand-up mainstay across the pond for the best part of 20 years, performing on 'Def Comedy Jam' during the '90s. Having had a break to try his hand at movie stardom, Tucker returned to the stage in 2011 and is now on a world tour. Loud and brash, he's an in-ya-face stand-up.
  
  Read more about Chris Tucker

  Buy tickets