Comedy
Review
The Best In Stand Up at The Comedy Store: what to expect
A night of world class comedic talent at one of London’s most prestigious venues
This is the show that made The Comedy Store famous – and for good reason. New act nights can be a great time, but if you want guaranteed rib-aching laughs, The Best In Stand Up always delivers, bringing together top comedic talent every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.
This particular Thursday night, MC Thomas Green was doing the honours as the evening’s host – the set-up for a successful night, as Green’s boisterous Australian charm makes him hard to disagree with. When he tells us we’ll love the next act, we already do. Lightning fast with his crowd work, slipping into pre-written material as naturally as if he’s telling a story over a pint, Green’s are the definition of safe hands.
The Best In Stand Up always guarantees a strong line-up, bringing together veterans of the live circuit for a show that feels as if we’re getting four headliners for the price of one. This Thursday, Nathan Caton opened the show, tackling the generational divide, followed by Helen Bauer, who was thrilled to have a safe space in which to talk shit about her old school friends. Funmbi Omotayo grinned his way through a series of cheerful swipes at British police, and Comedy Store favourite Mike Gunn closed out with one man’s opinion on vajazzles.
In-between the main acts, we were also treated to short sets from Comedy Store newcomers. Hasan Al-Habib joined us for ten minutes – an audition for a longer spot in the future – and was a rousing success, cheekily vowing to convert the unsuspecting Pete from Sunderland to the Islamic faith by the end of his set. Fresh face Ily Hamdia, after winning The Comedy Store’s brutal King Gong open mic, graced the stage for a five minute set, holding his own among an impressive lineup of seasoned pros.
The Comedy Store has long been one of the city’s leading comedy venues, and it certainly feels like a space conducive to the friendliest, funniest sets. The wide stage allows full audience visibility, leaving no one safe from the sharp eyes and tongues onstage, and hecklers, unable to hide behind the stage lights, are dealt with cheerily and cuttingly. A passionate staff and a reverence for the venue’s history that can be felt throughout the space surely sends every audience member home with the comedy bug, whether it’s their first time at a comedy club or their fiftieth. Sometimes you just need to be sure of a good laugh – in times like that, there’s no better place to go than here.
Find tickets for The Best In Stand Up at The Comedy Store here
