Comedy: March On!

Easter’s around the corner, but there’s lots before to see …

T here are daffodils poking their heads up and Easter eggs in the shops – which means it’s bound to snow any minute now. Actually, it also means that the winter blues are making way for spring’s optimism, and that as comedy shows were thinner on ground throughout January and February as people recovered from Christmas (ages ago!) there’s a bit more going on to tickle your laughter-gullet from here on in.

This week alone sees Richard Herring at the Komedia with his acclaimed show ‘Lord Of The Dance Settee’, plus Mark Thomas over at the Corn Exchange with his remarkable

‘Cuckooed’ show about discovering one of his best friends was actually a spy sent to gather info on what he was up to. Spooky!
Next week it’s worth making a date in your diary with ‘Gittins To Know You’, over at Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar. An evening of mayhem hosted by anti-comedy legend Brian Gittins whose headline slots in the past have included Al Murray, Harry Hill and Adam Riches, plus an array of rather brilliant local support acts. Top of the bill this month is Nick Helm – with Mae Martin and Ed Aczel also on board. As a little-known night about to explode, this is a secret it’s worth being in the know about.
Not forgetting, coming up the tail end of the month, Count Arthur Strong returning to his natural live performance abode in the Theatre Royal Brighton. The Count’s BBC sitcom has been storming it, but he’s back in the live arena with this show; ‘Somebody Up There Licks Me’, on Sunday 29 March.
Plus John Bishop has tagged on an extra date to his ‘Supersonic’ tour with a return to Brighton for one night only, and Jimmy Carr’s in town knocking those taste-questioning one-liners out of the park.

So, all in all, March is waking up in terms of comedy. Hurrah for those fab daffodils!
Richard Herring – Lord Of The Dance Settee, Thursday 5 March 2015, 8pm, £15, Komedia, www.komedia.co.uk/brighton

Mark Thomas – Cuckooed, Thursday 5 March 2015, 7.30pm, £16/14, brightondome.org

Gittins to Know You, Thursday 12 March, Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar, 7.30pm, £8, www.drinkinbrighton.co.uk

Count Arthur Strong – Somebody Up There Licks Me, Sunday 29 March, 8pm, £21.40, Theatre Royal Brighton, www.drinkinbrighton.co.uk

John Bishop – Supersonic, Tuesday 31 March, 7pm, £30, Brighton Centre, www.brightoncentre.co.uk

Jimmy Carr – Funny Business, Tuesday 24 March, 8pm, Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, £26, brightondome.org