🗞️ Live Laugh Leeds – Comedy in May

Another veritable mezze of comedy for Leeds this month.

Starting with meatballs, which is as far as this metaphor stretches, because Tenacious D’s Spicy Meatball Tour arrives at the Leeds Arena on the 11th of May. The band who brought us the greatest song in the world (Tribute) continue to sell out shows worldwide.

It’s a smaller scale, but there are two lovely shows coming to Carriageworks Theatre this month. Ashley Blaker, star of Radio 4’s 6.5 Children, brings his stand-up show Normal Shnormal, about the joys of raising children with special needs, on the 26th of May. And speaking of parents, if you’re looking for a half-term laugh – check out the Comedy Club 4 Kids on the 28th of May – it’s a 2pm start.

All hats off, again, to the City Varieties, which has yet another stellar lineup for May.

Nick Helm (2nd May), Miles Jupp (6th May), and Julian Clary (8th/9th May) are just the start.
The brilliant and endlessly viral Rosie Holt brings her satirical show That’s Politainment on the 12th of May – just don’t mistake her for a Tory MP.

Tom Davis, who most recently brought us so much joy with his role in Wonka, presents his new show Underdog on the 17th and the 19th of May.

The City Varieties month is topped off by John Kearns (25th May), Michelle Brasier (22nd May), Nurse Georgie Carroll (23rd May), and Rhod Gilbert on the 26th of May. Rhod’s coming back again in November if you miss him this time around.

Three other nice shows worth a mention for comedy fans…

The Comedy Store is back at Leeds O2 Academy on the 18th of May.

TikTok and Instagram star Liam Withnail has been a finalist of both Scottish and English Comedian of the Year – and is taking his show Chronic Boom on a first UK tour. It’s at the Hyde Park Book Club on the 8th of May.

And Harry Hill is in town for a Q&A and a showing of his film, The Last Caveman, at the Hyde Park Picture House on the 11th of May.

As ever, look out for regular comedy nights at Headrow House, The Original Oak, The Hi-Fi Club, The Old Woollen, and the Parkside Tavern.