Scottish Comedy Highlights: December 2023

A very good place to start is Edinburgh on 2 Dec. We’ve got Aurie Styla previewing his new show, The Aurator, at Monkey Barrel Comedy (8pm, £7), while just down the road, Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre Podcast hits the Queen’s Hall (7.30pm, £22.50). Guests confirmed are Ian Rankin (classic) and Skinny-favourite, Shetland’s own Marjolein Robertson!

Sunday 10 December, you’re really spoiling us. West coast folk, the brilliant Rosco McClelland graces The Stand Glasgow (2.30pm, £8-£10) with Slug Nudger, a live recording of the comic’s best sets and more, with support from the mighty Christopher Macarthur-Boyd. Spontaneous Potter follows Rosco with improv antics (very loosely) based on the boy wizard (8.30pm, £12). Eastside at Monkey Barrel (5pm, £7), mod-haired surrealist Tom Ward tests out some new material about him never owning a smartphone!

Also that week, Belfast up-and-comer William Thompson tours his debut Fringe hour The Hand You’re Dealt to The Stand’s Scottish venues (Stand Glasgow 11 Dec; Stand Edinburgh 12 Dec, 8.30pm, £14).

Marjolein Robertson. Credit: Trudy Stade.

For something a little different, aimed at those wanting to get involved in comedy or clowning, the brilliant Elf Lyons is delivering a two-day Clowning Workshop 16-17 December at Monkey Barrel (£50 for one day, £90 for both). It’ll focus on physicality, movement and embracing your silliness.

This month’s Dream Gig host, Susan Riddell, invites you to her new show, Self on the Shelf (Stand Glasgow, 17 Dec; Stand Edinburgh 20 Dec, 8.30pm, £8-£10). Audiences are encouraged to cathartically revel in her dating mishaps so you don’t make the same mistakes this festive season.

And FINALLY, get your airhorns poised for the bombastic return of CHUNKS, Glasgow’s flagship alternative comedy show (McNeill’s, 18 Dec, 8pm, free). It’s guaranteed to be loud, dumb and incomparably silly. It’s the best early xmas present we could have asked for.