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
Ed Byrne: Crowd Pleaser (2011)
7.2/10
Starring: Ed Byrne
After the massive success of his last show, 'Different Class', the master of observational comedy and 'Mock the Week' regular is back with his new sho... Read more
Ed Byrne: Different Class (2009)
7.5/10
Starring: Ed Byrne
Half toff, half pikey, all comic! Ed Byrne is undoubtedly one of the funniest comics working today and his Different Class tour has been his most succ... Read more
Ed Byrne: Pedantic and Whimsical (2006)
8.3/10
Director: Helen Downing
Starring: Ed Byrne
Capturing all of the Irish comedian's best live bits, and showing how he worked his way up from local comedy circuits to becoming the biggest-selling... Read more
Eddie Izzard: Circle (2000)
7.9/10
Starring: Eddie Izzard
Live comedy with the master of sublime weirdness, recorded in New York, June 26, 2000. Eddie discusses such topics as the Crusades, mad European cows,... Read more
Eddie Izzard: Definite Article (1996)
8.5/10
Director: Ed Bye
Starring: Eddie Izzard
This superb video was recorded in the Shaftesbury Theatre, London, when Eddie was in the middle of a sell-out 10 week run. "A genius of many talents a... Read more
Eddie Izzard: Dress To Kill (1998)
8.7/10
Director: Larry Jordan
Starring: Eddie Izzard
Eddie Izzard's unique ability in looping topics such as pop culture and human behaviour into bizarre chains of association has catapulted him into one... Read more
Eddie Izzard: Force Majeure Live (2013)
7.4/10
Director: Sarah Townsend
Starring: Eddie Izzard
Eddie Izzard returns to stage in 2013 with the biggest stand-up comedy world tour ever & his best Live performance yet, FORCE MAJEURE LIVE. Filmed du... Read more
Eddie Izzard: Glorious (1997)
8.5/10
Director: Peter Richardson
Starring: Eddie Izzard
This rollercoaster of joyful, abstract humour for the open-minded was recorded live at the Hammersmith Apollo in October 1997. "Grand, explosive, smar... Read more
Eddie Izzard: Sexie (2010)
7.5/10
Starring: Eddie Izzard
Through Australia, UK, Canada, USA, Ireland, and the Town Hall, Christchurch, this tour was performed to more people than there are in Iceland (280,00... Read more
Eddie Izzard: Stripped (2011)
7.8/10
Starring: Eddie Izzard
The acclaimed comedian of the surreal performs another unique stream-of-consciousness monologue in this latest live outing. Eddie ponders, among other... Read more