Comedy Store (Stand-Up)
Comedy (Stand-Up)
A stand-up comedian is someone that performs in comedy clubs, usually reciting a fast paced succession of amusing stories, short jokes and one-liners, typically called a monologue. Some stand-up comedians use props, music, or magic tricks in their acts.
Stand-up comedy is perhaps the easiest field of entertainment for new talent to enter, because many smaller venues hold "open mic" events where the inexperienced can perform comedy before a live audience. However, perhaps more than any other performer, the stand-up comedian is at the mercy of the audience, which is an integral element of the act. A truly adept stand-up comedian must nimbly play off the mood and tastes of any particular audience, and adjust his or her routine accordingly. The test of a master stand-up comedian is the ability to not only face down a "heckler," but win over and entertain the rest of the crowd with a retort. Many of the all-time greats are featured below.
Right: Steven Wright
The Secret Policeman's Ball (1979)
6.9/10
Director: Roger Graef
Starring: Rowan Atkinson, John Cleese, Billy Connolly, Peter Cook, Clive James, Terry Jone...
A full-length, unexpurgated film of the annual Amnesty International comedy fundraiser that captures some of England's finest comedic minds performing... Read more
Ricky Gervais - Live: Animals (2003)
8.1/10
Director: Dominic Brigstocke
Starring: Ricky Gervais
Co-creator and star of hugely popular sit-com 'The Office', Ricky Gervais has turned his hand to stand-up comedy with hilarious results. Combining hi... Read more
Dylan Moran: Like, Totally - Live (2006)
8.5/10
Starring: Dylan Moran
The shambolically likeable Dylan Moran gives us just over an hour of his funny and often scathing observations on life. From the madness of living in... Read more
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982)
7.9/10
Director: Terry Hughes
Starring: Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jone...
More biting humour from the Monty Python boys taken from a 1982 concert that featured the usual spectrum of God, death and life in heaven. The film al... Read more
Dylan Moran: Monster - Live (2004)
8.5/10
Starring: Dylan Moran
'Black Books' star Dylan Moran combines his talents as an actor, writer and performer to great effect in his live one-man show. The perennially grumpy... Read more
Ricky Gervais - Live 2: Politics (2004)
7.9/10
Director: Dominic Brigstocke
Starring: Ricky Gervais
Following the unbridled success of his first foray into the world of stand-up, Ricky Gervais switched his focus from the Animal Kingdom to Politics an... Read more
Bottom Live 3: Hooligan's Island (1997)
7.8/10
Director: Ed Bye
Starring: Adrian Edmondson, Rik Mayall
Filmed during their sell-out 1997 tour, we find Richie (Rik Mayall) and Eddie (Adrian Edmondson) marooned on a desert island in the middle of the Paci... Read more
Billy Connolly Live: Double Feature (1991)
7.3/10
Director: Nobby Clark
Starring: Billy Connolly
2 great programmes on 1 dvd with the unexpurgated Billy Connolly in top form at these live events. First up is 'Live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London'... Read more
Robin Williams: Live on Broadway (2002)
8.5/10
Director: Marty Callner
Starring: Robin Williams
Recorded and broadcast live from New York City's Broadway Theater at the culmination of his historic 2002 sold-out tour, the "Robin Williams: Live on... Read more
Alan Davies: Urban Trauma (2000)
7.3/10
Starring: Alan Davies
Join 'Jonathan Creek' star Alan Davies in his engaging stand-up show as he renounces Satan, tries to keep his terrorising cats under control and share... Read more