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Cheap Laughs
Friday 15th June 2012 | Osh
I’m not one to make assumptions about the young people of London, but I going to take a leap of faith and say that you’re all pretty skint. Me included. And that you also like to laugh. So, with this in mind, I thought I’d scour the web for all the free comedy gigs available around London and tell you about the best ones. Because, well, I’m nice like that.
The Camden Head in Camden (obvs), offers quality comedy for free every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. It’s all new material and because of this it’s always a bit of a risk, but often you’ll come across something great before it becomes big. Previous acts include, Stephen Merchant, Alan Carr and Rich Hall who you’d have to pay a fortune to see live now.
Camden Head website.
Monday nights at the Hackney Empire are dedicated to new comics who want to see if they’ve got what it takes. Basically it’s like a stand up karaoke night, and anyone who wants to perform only has to e-mail the venue beforehand. There are ten spots available and they may or may not be brilliant. Again, it’s risky but it’s free so you really can’t complain!
Hackney Empire website.
The Cavendish Arms in Stockwell has free comedy nights on Mondays and Tuesdays and hosts professional comedians as well as the odd newbie. It’s friendly and laidback, and it helps that the pub itself is really nice. Somewhere you could take your mum… or a first date. Or both.
Cavendish Arms website.
Shaker & Co. in Hampstead is a New Orleans inspired pub which has a free open-mic night every Tuesday. Expect stand up, musical comedy, sketch, magic and dance. It’s like an untapped version of Britain’s Got Talent, but better. And without Simon Cowell. Even if this sort of thing isn’t normally for you, you are guaranteed to have a free laugh, which is pretty good really.
Shaker & Co website.
And, if you don’t want to take the chance on new comedians then websites such as SRO Audiences and TV Recordings, offer free audience tickets for shows such as 8 Out of 10 Cats, Russell Howard’s Good News and Stand Up for the Week. The tickets are given out randomly but there’s a good chance that you’ll get lucky if you apply to a few shows. It’s a free night out for you and your mates (they allow you to reserve up to six tickets), you get to be in the same room as Jimmy Carr (maybe), and you’ll have a good laugh (quite likely).
Go here or here for more info.
Laura Tucker
