Dave Chappelle, London
Dave Chappelle is probably most famous for being the comedian who had everything and gave it all away. As the star of his own Chappelle’s Show on Comedy Central, he was making big money and poised for international stardom (if you’ve never seen it, check it out – the sketch where Chappelle plays a blind white supremacist unaware of his own blackness is a bona fide classic). But he walked out on the third series of the show mid-production and has barely worked in TV since. Instead, he has focused entirely on live stand-up and this week sees him making his first full-length appearance on a UK stage. He’s a hugely uncompromising truth-teller, and while his material frequently focuses on racial differences – a topic overused by US comics to the point of cliche – Chappelle’s take is fresh and daring rather than hackneyed and crowd-pleasing. Plus his laidback, stoner-ish style disguises plenty of brilliant comic barbs. This might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for UK audiences to see a talent that could at one point have conquered the world.
Hammersmith Apollo, W6, Wed to 14 Jul
Bristol Comedy Garden
If you’re familiar with the work of BBC3 mainstay Russell Howard, you’ll know that, in his opinion, his home city of Bristol is the funniest place on Earth: a place where the streets are teeming with eccentrics, all with a distinctively West Country view of the world. This week, it plays host to a well-selected bunch of comics, performing in a big top erected in the city’s picturesque Queen Square. Howard himself won’t be in attendance, but local flavour will be provided by fellow Bristolian (and past Mock The Week co-star) Mark Watson (11 Jul), whose recent material has taken on an introspective, self-analytical quality without losing any of its comic edge. Look out too for a set from British Comedy Award-winner Aisling Bea (Wed), whose energetically amiable routines mine nuggets of gold from her drab upbringing in rural Ireland. On top of that, there’s cerebral satire from highly-rated newbie Nish Kumar (Wed), self-deprecating storyteller John Robins (11 Jul) and mischievous campery from the always excellent Joe Lycett (Thu).
Queen Square, Wed to 12 Jul
Steen Raskopoulos, London
When Adam Riches won the Edinburgh comedy award in 2011, it was with a style of humour few had seen before: taking the tropes of traditional sketch comedy but grafting on a level of hugely physical (and frequently highly embarrassing) audience participation. Australian oddball Steen Raskopoulos is playing a similar game. He embodies a range of well-constructed and imaginative characters – a highlight is a priest who reviews films in plainsong – and while the writing is undoubtedly crisp and funny, he comes into his own when he forces the crowd to get involved. Don’t worry about avoiding the front row: with Raskopoulos you’ll be targeted anywhere. You could be cajoled into a rap battle, or even to apply sunblock to the performer’s half-naked body.
Soho Theatre, W1, Sat, Tue to Fri
