Is there something like the New York comedy cellar in the UK?

18 comments

1. The glee club.

2. Russell Howard has a fan. Nice to meet you finally

3. There used to be Jongleurs but that chain closed years ago I think.

4. If there is can you let me know so I can make sure I never see that

5. The only thing that comes to mind is The Comedy Store. It’s launched a lot of careers (the Whose Line is it Anyway cast mostly came from there), but it’s also moved a couple of times, so it’s not so much a specific location.

6. The Stand in Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow. All have had comedy stars perform before big tours.

7. Soho Theatre does a lot of comedians big and small, they’re often testing sets before proper tours.

8. Hot Water Comedy Club in liverpool is very good, dont think they get too many “big” names but Dave chapelle and Jeff Ross were there a couple of weeks ago before their arena show

9. Just the Tonic is Nottingham

10. Comedy Store in London,if it still exists.

11. We saw Sarah Milican do exactly what you describe at one of the Manchester comedy venues a few years ago, I think it was the frog and bucket.

    She rocked up with a pen and paper and tested out some new material. It was very funny, particularly as she gave a bit of a narrative as she did it… this one is a bit much for the BBC etc.

12. The Stand comedy club (Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle) often has short notice sets for this purpose, particularly in the run up to the Edinburgh Fringe period, where big name comics will drop in and test drive a half hour of stuff.

13. Sometimes comedians test stuff out in the glee clubs

14. In the few months before the Edinburgh festival there’s usually a lot of big-name comedians working up shows in London comedy clubs.

    All year round the club circuit across the country is pretty decent, you’ll often get fairly big names headlining, or up-and-coming comedians who often get big a few years later.

    There isn’t any particular one to go to, I’ve noticed comics tend to have their favourite venues to do warm-up shows, but quite a few seem to use the Bill Murray in Islington, for example.

15. Top secret comedy club in London. It’s free entry some nights. Get all kinds of comedians turn up some big some small

16. Leicester Square Theatre often has work in progress shows.

17. From what I understand most comedians tend to tour smaller venues before their main tours to test out material.

    We had a gig at the tiny little theatre in my town for a relatively well know comedian to do just this Recently.

18. – The Stand.
    – The Comedy Store.

    Those are the best but there’s a few other comedy clubs scattered around.