THE EIGHT BEST COMEDY SHOWS TO WATCH IN SUMMER 2024

Brighton Comedy Garden 

This cheery outdoor festival boasts an extensive range of craft beers – and an equally extensive, well-crafted line-up. Harry Hill, Dara Ó Briain, Fern Brady and Tim Key are among the big names.

Preston Park, Brighton (brightoncomedygarden.co.uk), July 3–7

ARGComFest

With 48 shows packed into one weekend, this is nirvana for stand-up junkies. Sara Pascoe, Nish Kumar, Larry Dean, Olga Koch and more will be trying out new material ahead of the Edinburgh Fringe.

Shoreditch Town Hall, London EC1 (argcomfest.com), July 5–7

Ventnor Fringe

With its balmy microclimate, the Isle of Wight’s south tip is an idyllic setting for this bijou festival. Shaparak Khorsandi, Sara Barron and Rob Auton are on the bill.

Various venues, Ventnor (vfringe.co.uk), July 19–28

John Luke Roberts: John-Luke-A-Palooza!

A cult hero of the alternative scene, Roberts is constantly trying new things. His latest wild folly: reviving his last 10 shows, in rep, back-to-back.

Monkey Barrel Comedy, Edinburgh (edfringe.com), July 31 – Aug 25 (not Aug 5, 12-13, 19)

Lara Ricote: Little Tiny Wet Show (Baptism)

Funny Women Award-winner Ricote is blessed with funny bones. The Mexican stand-up’s new hour is a kooky, offbeat look at love and relationships.

Monkey Barrel Comedy, Edinburgh (edfringe.com), July 31 – Aug 25 (not Aug 12, 19)

Luke Rollason, Luke Rollason, Let Down Your Hair

Fresh from a superb turn as a shapeshifting cat in Disney’s Extraordinary, Rollason is back onstage with another hour of whimsical props-based comedy. 

Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh (edfringe.com), July 21 – Aug 25 (not Aug 13)

Emma Sidi is Sue Gray

Brilliant character comedian Sidi (Ghosts, W1A, Pls Like) steps into the shoes of Partygate inquisitor Sue Grey, now Labour’s eminence grise.

Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh (edfringe.com), July 31 – Aug 25

Natalie Palamides: WEER

The wild and unpredictable Palamides (who made a splash with Netflix’s Nate) plays both halves of a star-crossed couple in this spoof of 1990s romcoms.

Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh (edfringe.com), Aug 5–25 (not 12, 19)

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