The Top 50 Comedy Shows of 2023 - Mark Muldoon's Comedy Diary
At the end of last year comedian Jacob Hatton suggested on Twitter that we're currently living through a slightly unheralded golden era of British stand-up comedy.
The temptation is to go further. Is stand-up in the UK the best it's ever been? Can it similarly be argued that the British stand-up scene is the best in the world? Could it be possible that right here right now is the best stand-up comedy has ever been...?
Perhaps you disagree. You'd have a harder time, however, arguing that what's available now isn't extremely high quality. It's not just about pure calibre either: exploring stand-up in 2023 meant that there's now something for everyone. From globally successful storytellers to the wildest clowning shows health and safety legislation will permit. From comedians perfectly suited to the rough and tumble of lairy comedy clubs on a Friday night, to ones I'd strongly recommend to your 14 year-old niece.
Does that mean UK stand-up is in perfect health? Hardly. We've spoken plenty about how access to comedy for people from less fortunate backgrounds is not just hard, but getting harder. The opportunities for fantastic comedians to step up and gain mainstream attention on TV have also reduced considerably in recent years, which might help explain the aforementioned point about the scene's quality being unheralded. What it all means, though, is that you've got a huge amount of thrillingly talented people that perhaps aren't getting the career opportunities they should be.
The below list goes some way to evidencing that. 50 genuinely superb shows, from an artform operating at the height of its powers - topped by a career-best performance that tackled a challenging subject matter, but in a way that put the focus firmly on ensuring the jokes are as frequent and fantastic as possible.
Some of them debuted in 2022, but I didn't catch them until this year. Where possible to still see the actual show in question, you'll find a link.
50. Ali Brice
Ali Brice: I tried to be funny, but you weren't looking, Soho Theatre
49. Laura Ramoso
Laura Ramoso: FRANCES, Soho Theatre
48. Dara O Briain
Dara O Briain: So... Where Were We?, Croydon Fairfield Halls
Report
Watch an edited version on iPlayer
47. Josie Long
Josie Long: Re-Enchantment, Hackney Earth
46. Tom Lawrinson
Tom Lawrinson: Hubba Hubba, Underbelly Bristo Square
45. Foxdog Studios
Foxdog Studios: Robo Bingo, Underbelly Cowgate
44. Daniel Kitson
Daniel Kitson: First Thing, Summerhall
43. Rhys James
Rhys James: Spilt Milk, Hackney Empire
42. Stuart Goldsmith
Stuart Goldsmith: Spoilers, Monkey Barrel
41. Celya AB
Celya AB: Swimming, Soho Theatre
40. Janine Harouni
Janine Harouni: Man'oushe, Pleasance Courtyard
39. Daniel Kitson
Daniel Kitson: TBBYGTAWIP (PA), The Bill Murray
38. Alfie Brown
Alfie Brown: Sensitive Man 2.0, Soho Theatre
Report
Watch an earlier version on Amazon Prime
37. Police Cops
Police Cops: The Musical, Southwark Playhouse
36. Adam Riches
Adam Riches: The Beakington Town Hall Murders, Soho Theatre
35. Brown Girls Do It Too
Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not To Come, Soho Theatre
34. Emmanuel Sonubi
Emmanuel Sonubi: Curriculum Vitae, Underbelly Bristo Square
33. Operation Mincemeat
Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre
32. James Acaster
James Acaster: Hecklers Welcome, Wales Millennium Centre
31. Bill O'Neill
Bill O'Neill: The Amazing Banana Brothers, Soho Theatre
30. Paul Foot
Paul Foot: Dissolve, artsdepot, Finchley
29. Bridget Christie
Bridget Christie: Who Am I?, Cambridge Junction
28. Lorna Rose Treen
Lorna Rose Treen: Skin Pigeon, Soho Theatre
27. Martin Urbano
Martin Urbano: Apology Comeback Tour, Pleasance Courtyard
26. Sara Barron
Sara Barron: Hard Feelings, Soho Theatre
25. Nish Kumar
Nish Kumar: Work In Progress, ARGComFest
24. The Wrestling
The Wrestling at Just for Laughs London
Report
They've mentioned it'll be back at the 2024 festival
23. Ian Smith
Ian Smith: Crushing, Monkey Barrel @ The Tron
22. Kieran Hodgson
Kieran Hodgson: Big In Scotland, Soho Theatre
21. Stamptown
Stamptown, Pleasance Courtyard
Report
London, LA and NYC in 2024
20. Alice Cockayne
Alice Cockayne: I Showered Before I Came, Underbelly George Square
19. Amy Matthews
Amy Matthews: I Feel Like I'm Made Of Spiders, Monkey Barrel @ The Tron
18. Ania Magliano
Ania Magliano: I Can't Believe You've Done This, Soho Theatre
17. Dan Rath
Dan Rath: All Quiet Carriage Along The Inner Western Line, Underbelly Bristo Square
16. Shelf
Shelf: Teenage Men, The Voodoo Rooms
15. Kate Berlant
Kate Berlant: KATE, Soho Theatre
Report
Los Angeles run, if you happen to be in the area
14. Springleaf
Springleaf: James Acaster and Nish Kumar, Just for Laughs London
13. Heidi Regan
Heidi Regan Gives Birth Live on Stage Every Night or Your Money Back, Soho Theatre
12. Paddy Young
Paddy Young: Hungry, Horny, Scared, Soho Theatre
11. Rosie Jones
Rosie Jones: Triple Threat, Soho Theatre
Report
Fairly extensive 2024 tour
10. Tom Ballard
Tom Ballard: It Is I, Soho Theatre
9. Helen Bauer
Helen Bauer: Grand Supreme Darling Princess, Soho Theatre
Report
Manchester, Maidenhead, Norwich and London dates upcoming
8. Olga Koch
Olga Koch: Prawn Cocktail, Soho Theatre
7. Ben Target
Ben Target: LORENZO, Soho Theatre
6. Elf Lyons
Elf Lyons: Raven, Leicester Square Theatre
5. Ahir Shah
Ahir Shah: Ends, Monkey Barrel
4. Paul Sinha
Paul Sinha: Once Sinha Lifetime, Comedy Store, London
3. Julia Masli
Julia Masli: ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, Monkey Barrel
Report
London, Cambridge, Bristol and Melbourne in 2024
2. Mat Ewins
Mat Ewins: Mr Tiktok, Monkey Barrel
1. Ed Byrne
Ed Byrne: Tragedy Plus Time, Assembly Rooms
Read previous editions of this column
Mark Muldoon is also available on Instagram and Twitter, should you wish to argue that Rhys James should have been placed above Stuart Goldsmith etc.