Comedy

Heavenly highs: Barbershopera

Barbershopera: Apocalypse No!, Trafalgar Studios, London (Rated 4/ 5 )

Since their last outing, this harmonious four-piece comedy a capella outfit have gone up a scale and, to a certain extent, eased themselves away from the controlled irreverence I'd previously ascribed to them. This has been achieved by getting silly on a grand scale.

Inside Comedy

The Fitzrovia Radio Hour, Trafalgar Studios, London (Rated 2/ 5 )

Tuesday, 18 January 2011

The new show from this troupe of bright young things brings forth three more pastiches of 1940s radio plays, each cut in half and served up on rotation and each accompanied by the sight of sound effects being created using a range of objects including mallets, cabbages doorknobs, crisps and a pair of rubber gloves doubling as bats.

Punt & Dennis: They Should Get Out More, Palace Theatre, Watford (Rated 2/ 5 )

Monday, 17 January 2011

After a break of over three years, these two stalwarts of BBC radio comedy are back on the road, pointing to the title of their show as their motivation.

Kieran & the Joes in Success: a Success Story, Leicester Square Theatre, London (Rated 3/ 5 )

Thursday, 13 January 2011

Three young men wearing white shirts and ties acting out themed scenes while their relationship dynamic changes through petty jealousies and annoyances sounds par for the course for the sketch genre, but there's enough of a twinkle in the eyes of performers Kieran Hodgson, Joe Parham and Joe Markham, and in the lines crafted by the cast and co-writer Tom Meltzer, that make this show a little above the average fare.

Podcasts: Why the future sounds funny

Wednesday, 12 January 2011

As the BBC gets in on the act, Frank Skinner and Richard Herring give Ian Burrell the lowdown on downloads.

Tom Lenk: Nerdgasm, Soho Theatre, London (Rated 3/ 5 )

Wednesday, 12 January 2011

One of the defining features of Tom Lenk's angsty character Andrew in Buffy the Vampire Slayer was his subtly portrayed homosexuality. In Nerdgasm, Lenk's cartoonish one-man show, his gay status is very much out and proud as he camps it up without going down as a cliché.

Jackson's Way: The London Jacksathon, Gate Theatre, London (Rated 3/ 5 )

Monday, 10 January 2011

In spite of winning the 2004 Perrier Award, Will Adamsdale's show never got much of an airing in the capital, something that this Jacksathon, playing 26 London venues in 26 days, is designed to rectify.

Cultural Life: Rhod Gilbert, comedian

Friday, 7 January 2011

Comedy: I haven't seen much since I work evenings most of the time. At the Edinburgh Festival I saw a friend of mine, Greg Davies, whose show was wonderful, and also my eternal favourite, Paul Foot. He's a comedy genius, one of the funniest things I've seen. Sublime, original and brilliant.

Sign up for laughter lessons at the British Library

Friday, 7 January 2011

Comedy is a serious matter and, as if to underline how much the art form has developed, later this month it will be the subject of a conference, at London's British Library, featuring comedians alongside a host of academics.

Ronna & Beverly, Soho Theatre, London (Rated 3/ 5 )

Wednesday, 29 December 2010

Ronna and Beverly are Jessica Chaffin and Jamie Denbo, two American "thirtysomething" actors playing "fiftysomething" Jewish mothers who have co-authored abook of relationship advice called "You'll Do Better Next Time". But the duo aren't just self-help authors, they also fancy themselves as chat-show hosts and their guests have previously included Matthew Perry and Russell Brand. Matt Lucas is tonight's guest star and, though he has appeared before, his changeable expression seems to mirror the uneven ride that Ronna and Beverly take their audience on over the hour.