December means Christmas and Christmas means a host of bizarre and delightful one off, high concept comedy shows, ranging from comedians singing carols for a good cause, to Adam Riches pretending to be Sean Bean for inscrutable reasons of his own. We’ve gathered some of our favouite whimsical season one-offs as this month’s picks.
There are far, far too many one-off, multi-performer comedy nights in London for us to compile a single coherent page with our favouites on, which is entirely to London’s credit. So do check individual bills of comedy clubs online for that sort of thing. But if you’re looking for an individual comedian with a full headline show then this page is here to compile the Time Out editorial team’s top choices, often with our reviews from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
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What is it? Concept comedy lunatic Adam Riches has deployed a Sharpe-era Sean Bean impression throughout his career, and now he brings it back for what is here described as a ‘(k)night of chaotic buffoonery, to give you bastards a Christmas present you’ll never forget’. We wouldn't want to speculate on what it literally consists of, although we’re led to believe games may be involved.
Where is it? Soho Theatre.
What is it? A group of comedians – including Amy Annette, Jack Rooke, Lolly Adefope, Nish Kumar, James Acaster, Charlie Craggs, Himesh Patel – sing carols, in aid of FiveforFive, a mutual aid charity that supports trans people directly. The idea, obviously, is that this is amusing rather than simply a series of solemn versions of ‘Silent Night’ et al.
Where is it? Soho Theatre Walthamstow.
What is it? Anarchic US-based comedy night Stamptown returns to London for a couple of big pre-Christmas shows, with a stellar line-up of guests that includes Rosie Jones, Aisling Bea, Elf Lyons, Vittoria Angelone, Jordan Gray, Huge Davies, Zaki Musa, Cory Peter Lane, Sikisa, Martin Urbano, Joey Dardano, Steffen Hanes, Marshall Arkley, Flo & Joan, Olga Koch, Jonny Woolley and more. As ever the show is hosted by ‘bad boy of clown’ Zach Zucker.
Where is it? Soho Theatre Walthamstow.
What is it? Adding to London’s annual calvalcade of adaptations of A Christmas Carol, here’s deluded thespian Count Arthur Strong – aka character comedian Steve Delaney – with the final dates on an extensive UK tour that has seen him present his ill-advised one-man version of the Dickens classic across the length and breadth of the nation.
Where is it? Bloomsbury Theatre.
What is it? Brilliantly high concept sketch absurdists have made an extremely improbable Christmas album – A Very Sheeps Christmas – and this Christmas they’ll be reuniting to perform it for one night only. Seasonaly appropriate or not, it’ll be a laugh, and will feature copious special guests: Lolly Adefope, Emma Sidi, Phil Ellis, Ania Magliano, Ben Ashenden, John Tothill, Amy Annette, Johnny White Really-Really and Jenny Bede.
Where is it? Soho Theatre Walthamstow.
What is it? The West End's premier piss artists are taking up residence in Leicester Square Theatre this Christmas, with a musical romp through Dickens' timeless story A Christmas Carol. The casts of Sh!t-faced Shakespeare and Sh!t-faced Showtime will team up to perform a musical tale of Scrooge's festive redemption, with their signature twist: one cast member is genuinely drunk. In true improv tradition, each show is different, and the performers will go along with whatever bonkers plot twists their drunken costar dreams up.
Where is it? Leicester Square Theatre.
What is it? Slapstick comedy sensation Starr attempts to perform every single Penguin Classic novel – from Frankenstein to The Grapes of Wrath – over the course of one joyously bonkers 70-minute show. Do not expect to learn that much about English literature.
Where is it? Arts Theatre.
What is it? Nigerian standup Bamgboye took the best newcomer award at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe with Swings and Roundabouts her debut show which charted her move to the UK in her twenties, and showcased her often disorientating mastery of accents. Critics praised her confidence, poise and original, outsider-ish eye on British culture.
Where is it? Soho Theatre.
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