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The bad boy of comedy returns to Brighton for this relatively intimate gig at Komedia. Having recently landed himself his own HBO special – joining the lauded ranks of Ricky Gervais, Robin Williams and Chris Rock – with what he claims was pure bravado, Jefferies has proven he can play with the big boys and come out on top. Now back from the States for a visit to his adopted homeland of Britain, this Antipodean outrage is back for a bit of a national tour.

This initially started out as a ‘Best of’ show for Edinburgh, as time restrictions from his La La Land commitments meant he didn’t have time to put together a new show for Edinburgh this year. He did a new show anyway, as the new bits he’d been working on morphed together into an entirely original set – much to the enjoyment of his week-long Edinburgh show’s audience.

Last year’s show was written in reaction to the now infamous clip on YouTube of Jim being punched in the face while on stage at the Manchester Comedy Store – we told you he was pushing boundaries. And past material has covered such taboos as his own cancer and difficult childhood. So quite what Jim will choose to cover next is anybody’s guess.

Outspoken? Yes. Thoughtless? No. You may not agree with his ideas but it’s ideas that he’s pushing, not outrageous behaviour for its own sake. Leave your sensitive nature at home and catch Jefferies on this tour before he starts packing out the Brighton Centre.

Jim Jefferies, Komedia, Thursday 12 November, 8pm, £12.50,
0845 293 8480, www.komedia.co.uk/brighton. Jim will also be performing at Underbelly Belly Laughs on Friday 13 November at Chichester Festival Theatre, 7.30pm, £15.

Off the back of last year’s must-have Christmas DVD and his hugely successful Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow – plus the fact he’s just pure joy and laughter in one compact bundle – Michael McIntyre is embarking on his first arena tour. And he’s not unaware of the implications of playing to so many people in one single space.

“I know it’s a really big responsibility,” he admits. “You have to reach people who are sitting in their seat while the Sat Nav is telling them they’re still fifteen minutes away from the venue! They’re leaving their house and paying for a ticket and a babysitter and parking. It could be a big burden for a performer.”

He’s not daunted by the task, though. If anything, the prospect is simply getting him a tad over-excited.

“The vibe in these huge spaces helps me raise my game,” he says. “You get fuelled by hearing that the audience are having a good time. Adrenalin is vital to a performer, and at an arena show I’m going to have more of it than I’ve ever had.”

Brighton being at the end of his epic tour, he’ll have had plenty of time to scale-up his performance. “I’m just trying to make people laugh,” he explains. “And when it’s working, there is nothing nicer!”

Michael McIntyre: Live & Laughing, Brighton Centre, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 15 November, £30. His new DVD, Hello Wembley! is out 16 November.

The original Italian quick-fire, quick-change artist Ennio Marchetto was on fast, furious and very funny form.
Ennio’s unique act was a delicious whirlwind of superb paper costumes and split-second transformations as he morphed into parodies of (pop) cultural icons from Marilyn Monroe to Lady Gaga, all set to an energetic and eclectic soundtrack.
Some of the parodies were unbelievably clever, and the sheer energy and grace of the performance staggering. Each one only lasted a few minutes – just the idea of making a paper costume for a 30-second throwaway gag is adorable. The audience definitely agreed, and left wanting more – as it should be.
The Corn Exchange 17 November
5/5
Candy McNamara

In a rare show outside of his native Ireland, Tiernan flied about the stage in a whirlwind of energy. His opening gambit was to explain that the next hour-or-so would be a place where ideas could be explored without restraint. Then his headset microphone broke… Briskly grabbing a mic stand and handheld mic, he jokingly placed the blame on those currently attacking him in the press. Further technical problems plagued the show and each time he received a laugh by blaming the conspiracy, but none of them detracted from the drive and passion of a performance essentially sweet-natured and curious about the world, even if it was mainly about sex.
Corn Exchange, 23 October
4/5
Holly O’Leary