Scottish Comedy Highlights: May 2025

First up, Skinny fave Amanda Dwyer performs her debut hour to a hometown crowd (The Stand, Glasgow, 3 May, 4pm). What You Thinking About? Is a deadpan exploration of various mental illnesses for the Glasgow girlypops.

New Zealand mime maestro Trygve Wakenshaw drops into Assembly Roxy with the supreme Silly Little Things (7 May, 7.30pm). We gave it 5 stars at the Fringe and are thrilled to see it return for an Edinburgh encore. Phil O’Shea’s Clown Extravaganza is the same week, with a cast of local clowns for our delectation (Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh, 9 May, 7.30pm). Join O’Shea plus Giulia Galastro, Donny Vostok, Rebecca Pewterbaw and Ross Foley for an evening that deep dives into the absurd. John-Luke Roberts graces Edinburgh and Glasgow that weekend (Monkey Barrel, Edinburgh, 10 May, 7.30pm; The Stand, Glasgow, 11 May, 4pm). He brings It Is Better, his rarely seen pandemic show, to the stage, alongside some of his very best bits. Here’s hoping his deluded Geoffrey Chaucer and Father-Monster personas make an appearance too.

If you’ve already got your tickets to The Plunge, the latest hour from Ed Night (Monkey Barrel, Edinburgh, 9 May, 8pm; The Stand, Glasgow, 10 May, 4pm) which we recommended last month, and you’re after something similar, we reckon Tom Lawrinson would fit the bill (The Stand, Edinburgh, 18 May, 8.30pm; The Stand, Glasgow, 19 May, 8.30pm). Best known for his completely unpredictable viral sketches, Lawrinson’s stand-up feels more in tune with Sam Campbell’s demented observational comedy but with a mad-eyed sinister edge. We interview him in this issue.

And if you’re already looking ahead to next month, try to catch Jack Skipper’s Skint (The Stand, Glasgow, 4 Jun, 8pm). The debut hour from the So You Think You’re Funny? alum was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Fringe and charts Skipper’s journey from carpet-fitter to comedian and the challenges along the way.