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
Ben Elton, the undisputed king of stand-up comedy, presents his definitive live collection. Four live hilarious stand-up shows available for the first... Read more
Thought to be lost forever, this is a rare filmed version of the famous comedy revue that launched the careers of Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Alan Benne... Read more
If you've ever seen a Bill Bailey stand-up show you'll know he's not only hilarious but also incredibly musically talented, coaxing perfectly executed... Read more
Bill Bailey's 2001 routine finds our long-haired hero at the height of his comedic powers in Swansea, with a rapt audience of Welsh folk and some blok... Read more
The long-awaited DVD release of Bill Bailey's 1995 stageshow that prompted the BBC to give him his own show 'Is It Bill Bailey?'. His well-known whim... Read more
Featuring Bill's trademark musical interludes, observations and stories of the road, 'Dandelion Mind' will be based loosely on the theme of doubt (or... Read more
Bill Bailey, star of "Never Mind the Buzzcocks" and "Black Books" is one of the funniest bearded, babbling, bug-eyed druids the world has ever seen. H... Read more
Rapturously received throughout Australia, New Zealand and the UK, Bill recorded this terrific new show at his local, the Hammersmith Apollo. Furious... Read more
Filmed at Wembley Arena at the end of a sell-out tour of the UK, it's everything you expect from Bill and more. Using huge screens, films and animatio... Read more
This programme was filmed over a season of Bill Hicks comedy at the Centaur Theatre during the annual 'Just For Laughs' Comedy Festival in Montreal, C... Read more