Can’t make it to Fringe? There’s still lots of great comedy you can see this month
BY CHARLOTTE GRIMWADE, IMAGE BY MONICA SILVESTRE VIA PEXELS
August is the month for live comedy, especially given the Edinburgh Fringe Festival that runs from 5 to 29 August. However, there’s great stand-up happening all across the country, whether it’s at the Fringe Festival itself, in the form of national tours, or at London-based festivals. Read on to find out about five LGBTQI stand-up shows to keep an eye out for this month.
Jen Brister: The Optimist
Jen Brister’s The Optimist tour will continue throughout August until the start of next year. The critically acclaimed comedian has performed on BBC’s Live at the Apollo and will be focusing on the London leg of her tour this month before moving on to the rest of the country. Exploring whether the pandemic has changed her for the better, or whether she’s still the same old pessimist she was before, the show promises laughs and a sprinkling of existential dread.
Sophia and Heleana Blackwell: Wife Material
Sophia and Heleana are a married stand-up comedy duo. Wife Material is the perfect combination of stand-up comedy and spoken word, exploring the couple’s life together and anecdotes about lesbianism and marriage. You can catch this show on 22 August at The Hen & Chickens Theatre in Islington, London.
.@sophiablackwell and I are doing an original stand up comedy and poetry show at @henandchickens theatre in Islington for @camdenfringe. Come on down for the 22nd August! TICKETS HERE >> https://t.co/AUM8h1pV7j pic.twitter.com/8mr5rBbQdN
— Heleana Blackwell (@H_A_Blackwell) July 27, 2022
Joe Lycett: More, More, More! How Do You Lycett? How Do You Lycett?
The comedy legend is back with his latest tour. You can catch Joe from 12 August to 21 October, although quite a few of the comedian’s big dates are now sold out. For this month, you can still buy tickets to watch him at Music Hall in Aberdeen on 12 and 13 August. The national treasure’s newest show is sure to be absolutely hilarious and will hopefully include a segment on his iconic email fiascos.
Clandestina Queer Comedy Triple Bill
From 6 to 16 August, the Clandestina Queer Comedy Triple Bill will be performing at the Edinburgh Fringe in The Annexe. A queer women, trans and non-binary led show, every night comedians Charlie George and Victoria Olsina are joined by a “Wildcard” act. Victoria won LGTBQ+ Comedian of the year 2022, whilst Charlie won LGBTQ New Comedian of the Year 2019 and has written for comedians such as Charlie Brooker and Joe Lycett. The show will have a comedy focus, featuring stand-up, burlesque, drag, music and all-round fun.
Daniel Foxx and Kate Martin: Existential Queer
Over the duration of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, this comedy duo will be performing in the Laughing Horse at Dragonfly Cocktail Bar. Kate and Daniel are two award-winning comedians who plan on covering topics ranging from oat milk to growing up queer. The show also promises to feature special guests selected from the standout LGBTQI acts at the Fringe this year, so should be a great set of performances.
Hello, fans of queer comedy? We have an Edinburgh Fringe show for you… 🐩https://t.co/v4N7GpbrPp pic.twitter.com/6rESlDkAJb
— Daniel Foxx (@dnlfoxx) July 20, 2022
