There’s no rest for the whacked. Whether you were in Edinburgh or not, August has never been so exhausting. For the comedians up there, it was the unrelenting intensity of daily shows, and for everyone else, the unrelenting presence of the Fringe just existing in the world is enough to tire anyone out.
I’ve gotta say, despite the Fringe’s many, many faults, I did see some of the greatest comedy of my life this year and had the wonderful opportunity to review a bit of it, which was a thrill (link here). It’s been generally accepted that the standard of debut shows this year was off the charts, and you’ll find many of them below and in the coming months. The Funny Women team all have their faves but I need desperately to shout out to Frankie Thompson and Julia Masli for demonstrating the power of clowning to new people.
Now it’s September, perhaps you’re more invigorated than ever to see some great new shows. More likely though is that you’re a sadist who doesn’t want to let these poor performers sleep for a bit. Anyway, there’s plenty to go around, including the culmination of this year’s Funny Women Awards, where you’ll undoubtedly see the next rising star.
Yum yum, off we go.
Funny Women Awards Final
Thursday 29th September, Bloomsbury Theatre, London
It doesn’t seem like a whole year since Lara Ricote won the Funny Women stage award, and yet, here we are again already. In that year, she’s already more than demonstrated why she won, including snapping up Best Newcomer in Edinburgh. But that’s not all: we’ve seen wonderful work from runners-up Bronwyn Sweeney and Abby Wambaugh and the other finalists. Wondering who’s on track to be the next big thing? Who our judges have brought all the way through from the first heats? Come and see them in action on stage, I guarantee you will add some new comedians to your favourites list. For tickets click here!
Posey Mehta: I Am Not A Gorilla
6th September, The Bill Murray, London
After spending the entirety of August dressed as a gorilla, Posey Mehta isn’t ready to hang up the suit. Her debut show has been delighting audiences in Edinburgh, with more than a few saying it’s the hardest they laughed the whole time they were there. I Am Not A Gorilla is a clown show about Gloria, who isn’t a gorilla but is leaving the zoo’s gorilla enclosure to re-enter the human world, maybe even date again? It’s a show about being fat and othered, dressed up as a silly clown affair. For tickets click here!
Saima’s Comedy Corner
Wednesday 7th September, 2Northdown, London
She’s describing herself as 2Northdown’s ‘resident comedy goblin’ but Saima Ferdows is more of a comedy hero in my eyes. She knows everything, everyone, and runs Creatives of Colour, which connects people of colour with their fellow creative industry peers. So if there’s anyone you should trust to put together a comedy corner worth attending, it’s Saima. Mixing stand-up, cabaret, and comedy shorts, the inaugural night includes performances from drag king Beau Jangles, Variety D, Shuang Teng and Nabil Abdulrashid as well as sketches on screen from Sketchy Ones, Rosco5 and more. For tickets click here!
Frida Kahlol
Friday 13th September, Bar Dona Stoke Newington, London
Nobody does line-ups like Frida Kahlol. Hosted by Ania Magliano, who shredded the whole of Edinburgh to pieces with her debut hour (read our review here), the line-up includes Stevie Martin, Annabel Marlow and Michelle de Swarte in what I’m now calling the Fantastic Four because of how fantastic these four are (and also one of their ability to spontaneously burst into flames, probably). There’s a debutante spot too, for a brand new and always brilliant voice. For tickets click here!
Siblings: Siblage
Wednesday 14th — Saturday 17th September, Soho Theatre, London
Performing character comedy doesn’t seem like enough to describe what Siblings do. It’s closer to being possessed by a series of increasingly unhinged poltergeists. At Siblage High — the elite school for gifted siblings, of which Maddy and Marina Bye are joint head girls — the end-of-term assembly goes off the rails with the year eight boys’ accounts of work experience, drama teacher Mr Parker’s desperate attempt to showcase his theatre skills, and two definitely English teachers giving a…unique…sex ed class. Come for the silly songs and frenzied costume changes, stay for the promise of year 7’s improvised Wind in the Willows. For tickets click here!
Tickled Pink
Saturday 17th September, 21Soho
Judith Critchley continues celebrating women in comedy with the return of her regular night, Tickled Pink. This month’s offering is in London, but there are more nights coming up around the country soon, so be sure to follow them if you’re in Leicester and Weston-Super-Mare. Sharlin Jahan (off of the brilliant Brown Sauce comedy night) will MC with performances from Mr Lorraine, Jo Romero, Cheekykita, Maz Alexander, Louise Atkinson, Samantha Day and Juliette Burton. For tickets click here!
Jordan Gray: Is It A Bird?
Monday 19th September — Saturday 1st October, Soho Theatre, London
There is no doubt that the MVP of this year’s Fringe is Jordan Gray. She won the hearts and minds of audiences, selling out entirely with her signature songs and sharp stand-up. For the past couple of years I’ve been seeing Jordan blow the roof off the last 15 minutes of every single gig she did, but I’d yet to watch an entire hour of her. And honestly, what a show. I’m buzzing to see it again. It was pretty clear from the start that she was in the running and, I am 100% behind all the other women nominated for the award, but let’s be honest, Jordan is remarkable. For tickets click here!
Sikisa: Life of the Party
Thursday 22nd — 24th September, Soho Theatre, London
If there’s a party you want to be invited to, it’s Sikisa’s party, because there ain’t no party like an S Club* Party (Sikisa Club). This is an absolutely storming debut hour from Sikisa (read our review here), who I’ve been watching tear up the comedy circuit for yonks — truly, a harder-working comic you never did find. She’s a force to be reckoned with on stage, and what makes her even cooler is that she is also a human rights lawyer AND does burlesque as her alter-ego Onyx Fatale. But comedy isn’t just about being cool, guys, this is a really funny and expert manoeuvred hour. It’s always a joy to watch Sikisa, but here she’s at her peak. For tickets click here!
Helen Bauer: Madam Good Tit
On tour from Wednesday 28th September (starting at the Stand, Edinburgh)
Helen Bauer’s newest hour is almost indescribable. We could talk easily about the content — embracing being basic, self-care and Yoga with Adrienne, body image, and those dreadful reality TV diet shows — but it’s impossible to put the feeling into words. If I were to try, I’d say it’s like being chased around by a cheetah but a really fun, cool cheetah who just wants to play and you also want to but for some reason neither of you can stop running. But even that doesn’t really do it justice. One of those ‘just see it and you’ll get it’ recommendations. For tickets click here!
Jen Ives: Peak Trans
Friday 30th September, Aberystwyth Comedy Festival
Any opportunity to see Jen Ives is a treat — the energy, the confidence, the cheek — but her debut at the Fringe put her on a whole new level (read our review here). Peak Trans addresses The Discourse in the UK right now with a shrug and a wink that shows how ridiculous it all is. Her expertise in finding the funny side of just about anything, and the interjections from former comedy writer and current wretched blogger Graham Linehan are a reminder that Jen’s very much always going to have the last laugh. Such a great hour, essential that you go. For tickets click here!
