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Metro Preview of new Lyric Hammersmith season

You could never accuse Richard
Herring of resting on his laurels.
Next month, having barely finished
his 25th Edinburgh run with
acclaimed new show Hitler
Moustache, the inveterate blogger
and tweeter embarks on a weekly
series of shows full of his own
regularly updated topical sketch
and stand-up material at the
Leicester Square Theatre.
Before that, though, he presents
this run of monthly shows that will
drip-feed the denizens of west
London some top-notch comedy
names, including the best of this
year’s Edinburgh Festival. First
up this weekend is Al Murray,
arguably still the best character act
on the circuit and always a sure-
fire bet for some well-crafted belly
laughs. Joining him is Alistair
McGowan (pictured), who
these days is spending as
much time working on
more personal
observational stand-up
as he is on impressions.
Further dates offer some
tasty treats: the brilliantly
eccentric Tim Key
was the toast of
this year’s
festival, winning
the Edinburgh
Comedy Award
for his
silly spoof
performance
poetry, and
Best Newcomer nominee Jack
Whitehall, who railed against
the system in a decidedly
middle-class manner in his
assured debut. Plus there’ll
be Ricky Gervais’s partner in
crime Stephen Merchant, who
routinely offers up unmissable
stand-up. It’s not an edgy
selection but it is
classy: with Herring
as your comedy
personal shopper,
you’re in safe hands.
Sharon Lougher
Sun, Lyric
Hammersmith, 8pm,
£10 to £15. Tel: 0871 221
1722. www.lyric.co.uk
Tube: Hammersmith