Live Laugh Leeds: Comedy in September 2025

Summer holidays? Done.
Edinburgh Fringe? Completed it m8.
Time for Christmas? Well, why not?

Okay, so the supermarkets will spend the next few weeks attempting to convince us that Halloween is a significant holiday, like we’re Americans or something. But in reality, those Spiced Lebkuchen are going to be in the Middle of Lidl sooner than you can say inflatable stand-up paddleboard.

So why not console yourself with a comedy feast over the course of September, and pretend Winter isn’t coming, as a humorous throng descends from Scotland to grace those of us south-of-the-wall once more. 

The City Varieties is heaving with post-Fringe brilliance. Things kick off with Adam Kay: A Particularly Nasty Case (3rd September). He’s the BAFTA-winning ex-doctor whose medical anecdotes are hilarious and horrifying. 

Other highlights include Eddie Kadi (6th), Helen Bauer (9th), Myra DuBois (11th & 12th), Babatunde Aleshe (13th), the brilliant George Lewis (17th), Suzi Ruffell (18th) and Rosie Jones (25th).

Staying with the City Varieties, the incomparable Suzy Eddie Izzard plays a one-person Hamlet on the 23rd and 24th. Okay, so it’s one of the Bard’s tragedies, but Izzard is obviously a comedy legend. And someone once said that Comedy = Tragedy + Time. And Shakespeare is well old.

At the Grand Theatre, there’s a one-night special with Elis & John (& Producer Dave) on the 21st – the beloved radio-and-podcast duo bringing their mix of emotional overanalysis and daft tangents to a live audience.

And the Hyde Park Book Club has a visit from the ever-hilarious Josh Jones (10th), and the Glee Club welcomes Adam Rowe & Some Mates (4th) and the brilliant improvisational Canadian Tom Stade (18th).As ever, look out for regular comedy nights at Revolución de Cuba, Verve, Headrow House, The Original Oak, The Hi-Fi Club, The Old Woollen, and the Parkside Tavern.