After the year we’ve had we could all do with a laugh, and Oxfordshire is making sure we get one! Check out our impressive list of award-winning comedians, stand ups and funny shows to keep us amused.
- The giggles begin with Adam Kay – This is Going to Hurt (Secret Diaries of A Junior Doctor), New Theatre Oxford, Wed 22 Sep. Award-winning comedian Adam Kay shares entries from his diaries as a junior doctor in this revealing evening of stand-up and music. https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/adam-kay-this-is-going-to-hurt-secret-diaries-of-a-junior-doctor/new-theatre-oxford/
- Rich Hall’s Hoedown Deluxe, 24 September at The Theatre Chipping Norton and Friday December 17, The Mill, Banbury – Rich Hall’s comedy/music locomotive keeps on rollin’. Ever-evolving, ever-changing, Rich’s combination of keen acerbic stand-up combined with spit and sawdust alt-country lyricism is a “win-win”. https://www.themillartscentre.co.uk/shows/rich-hall/
- Jericho Comedy Live – September 25 and October 15, Dec 4. Live at The North Wall – Oxford’s most underground comedy night returns! Hosted by a Jericho Comedy MC, every Jericho Comedy night line-up is different, with a wide range of performers, from award-nominated newcomers to surprise visits from big name headliners. You never know who will be performing but you can always guarantee a great night. 16+. thenorthwall.com/whats-on/jericho-comedy-live-2*
- Bridget Christie on September 26 at Oxford Playhouse presents her highly-anticipated brand new show Who Am I? Christie has so many awards its almost embarrassing, from being a star of her own Netflix special and BBC Radio 4 series, to the Edinburgh Comedy Award, Rose d’Or and South Bank Sky Arts Award winner so catch her while you can. http://www.oxfordplayhouse.com or 01865 305305
- John Bishop – Warm Up, New Theatre Oxford, Mon 27 Sep – this new adventure will be his eighth stand up show and it’s shaping up to be his best! John can’t wait to be back on the road again. A great chance to see one of the country’s most long-standing and popular comedians. https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/john-bishop-warm-up/new-theatre-oxford/
- Chris Ramsey, New Theatre, Oct 1 – his biggest ever stand-up tour yet. Don’t miss your chance to catch him live on stage while you can. https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/chris-ramsey/new-theatre-oxford/
- Not: Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Sunday 26 September, Chipping Norton Theatre https://www.chippingnortontheatre.com/whats-on/not-lady-chatterleys-lover and Friday 1 Oct, Didcot Cornerstone. This laughter-filled parody of the classic D.H. Lawrence novel will bring you high drama, high comedy and highly-raised eyebrows. https://www.cornerstone-arts.org/whats/not-lady-chatterleys-lover
- Phil Wang‘s Philly Wang Wang, 2 October, OXFORD PLAYHOUSE. Back on tour following his previous sell out shows. Having explored sex, romance, politics and his British-Malaysian heritage, he now brings his unique smart/silly view to look at morality and the modern sense of self. http://www.oxfordplayhouse.com or 01865 305305
- Going The Distance, a new digital comedy, 4-17 October, an Oxford Playhouse co-production. Just as the Covid-19 epidemic closes theatres around the country, a community theatre group fights to save its arts centre from permanent closure with a fundraising production of ‘Wizard’ (inspired by but, for rights purposes, not based on ‘The Wizard of Oz’). The impressive cast includes Sara Crowe, Nicole Evans, Shobna Gulati, Sarah Hadland, Merch Husey, Matthew Kelly, Emma McDonald, Penny Ryder, and Stephen Fry. http://www.oxfordplayhouse.com or 01865 305305
- Andrew Bird – The Mill, Banbury, Oct 7 – Riding a wave of success after supporting Michael McIntyre on the UK leg of his Big World Tour, including sell out shows at the O2 and Wembley, Andrew will be taking to the stage on his UK Tour Invincible. As well as supporting Michael McIntyre, the Bicester local he has also supported Rob Brydon, John Bishop, Brian Regan and Russell Howard. https://www.themillartscentre.co.uk/shows/andrew-bird-invincible/
- Shaparak Khorsandi; It Was The 90S! The Theatre Chipping Norton, October 8 – Ah, the 90s! The decade that Shaparak was in her twenties and ‘ladette’ culture ruled the school. This is a show about how we 90s kids are looking to young people to learn how to take care of ourselves. https://www.chippingnortontheatre.com/whats-on/shaparak-khorsandi-it-was-the-90s
- Comedy Club 4 Kids, 9 Oct, Pegasus Theatre – a comedy club but for kids. the best stand-ups and sketch acts from the international circuit to do their thing for an audience of children and their families but without the rude bits! https://pegasustheatre.org.uk/our-shows/
- Once an investment banker, Sindhu Vee‘s brand-new show, Alphabet on 10 October at Oxford Playhouse is another hot ticket . The former investment banker is now one of the most sought-after comics, appearing on BBC Two’s Live at the Apollo, and panel shows Mock The Week, QI and Have I Got News For You. http://www.oxfordplayhouse.com or 01865 305305
- Could there be a more contemporary comedian than Jonathan Pie? In Fake News (Corona Remix) on 15 October at Oxford Playhouse, he returns to discuss how Coronavirus has changed the world… and his career prospects. http://www.oxfordplayhouse.com or 01865 305305
- Jonny & The Baptists: Dance Like It Never Happened, The Mill, October 15 – Finding meaning, humour and beauty in the hardest part of life, in their most honest and personal show yet, these local lads learn to accept and engage with their grief, telling the story of denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance through their trademark blend of silly, joyful songs, deadpan stand-up and riotous storytelling. https://www.themillartscentre.co.uk/shows/jonny-the-baptists-dance-like-it-never-happened/
- Simon Amstell, Spirit Hole, Oxford Playhouse on 16 October – a blissful, sensational, exploration of love, sex, shame and mushrooms. www.oxfordplayhouse.com or 01865 305305
- Andy Hamilton, 17 October, Oxford Playhouse. it’s been a year of cancelled shows, zoom quizzes and nose-swabs, so he’s thrilled to be out at last. An Evening Out With Andy Hamilton promises comic reflection, reminiscence and revelation over his 60+ years. http://www.oxfordplayhouse.com or 01865 305305
- Scummy Mummies – The Mill, Banbury October 21. Join Ellie and Helen as they celebrate the scummier side of parenting, from drinking wine at teatime to hiding from the PTA. Bring your friends and make it a Mum’s (or Dad’s!) night out! https://www.themillartscentre.co.uk/shows/scummy-mummies/
- Fin Taylor’s stand-up show ‘So My Wife…’, The Mill, Banbury on 22nd October: Fin’s wedding was a few months before the pandemic. Seeing as he’s now been married for 300 years, he’s getting out the house and hitting the road. https://www.themillartscentre.co.uk/shows/fin-taylor-so-my-wife
- The fabulous cabaret act that is Fascinating Aïda, formed in 1983, is still going strong nearly 40 years on. The trio bring a songbook of hilarious and topical numbers to the Oxford Playhouse stage on 23 and 24 October, while looking as glamorous as ever. http://www.oxfordplayhouse.com or 01865 305305
- Omid Djalili: The Good Times Tour. Mon 25 – Wed 27 Oct 2021, 8pm. Live at The North Wall. After experimenting with a Zoom gig where he got muted by 639 people, multi award-winning comedian and actor Omid Djalili is now where he belongs, on a stage and bringing back the ‘Good Times’. 16+ thenorthwall.com/whats-on/omid-djalili-the-good-times-tour
- Russell Brand – Oct 31, New Theatre, Oxford – His thoughts on the strangeness of the last 18 months. What have we learned and not learned? And how do you ‘get back to normal’ if you’ve never been normal? https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/russell-brand-33/new-theatre-oxford/
- Rachel Parris‘ All Change Please on 31 October at Oxford Playhouse is selling out fast! In it she performs stand-up and songs about love, relationships, family, weddings, kids, going viral, going mental and the baffling state of play in society right now. http://www.oxfordplayhouse.com or 01865 305305
- Kerry Godliman: Bosh, November 10, The Mill, Banbury. Kerry’s back on tour after what she thought would be a little ‘she’ time. No chance. Her bosh-like nature will never let her rest. Well, that and a needy cat, a constantly disappointing camper van, ever-raging feelings of mum guilt and bewilderment at the phasing out of thimbles. All will be explained. https://www.themillartscentre.co.uk/shows/kerry-godliman-bosh/
- Rob Beckett. November 19. New Theatre – brings you his new tour Wallop – It’s been a busy few years for the Mouth of the South and he’s coming totell you all about it. https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/rob-beckett-wallop/new-theatre-oxford/
- Shazia Mirza -Thurs 27 November, OFS. When Shazia was left to starve to death on a deserted Island by Bear Grylls, with nine other ‘celebrities’ she didn’t know, the Island became a microcosm for the world and everything going on outside. Shazia explores loyalty and what makes the best leader, masking our dislike for other people and why there is no such thing as an alpha male. https://oldfirestation.org.uk/whats-on/shazia-mirza-coconut/
- Suzi Ruffell: Dance Like Everyone’s Watching, December 10, The Mill, Banbury – Suzi Ruffell has made a name for herself by turning tragedy and anxiety into big laughs. This year she is actually happy. This show answers the question: are all stand-ups at their best when they are miserable? https://www.themillartscentre.co.uk/shows/suzi-ruffell-dance-like-everyones-watching/
