Standing Up For Ukraine - UK comedy helps out with a host of benefit shows
Published: Wednesday 16th March 2022
It's understandable to feel a bit hopeless right now, watching on as unfathomable horrors happen elsewhere in Europe. But you can lend a hand just by doing what comes naturally: watching comedy.
Over the next few weeks there are a host of live events supporting the people of Ukraine, from local clubs doing their bit, to huge shows featuring some of British comedy's biggest names, and at least two that anyone can stream from home.
We've had a go at putting them all together here, but there are no doubt lots of other supportive gigs happening elsewhere too, so do raise a hand if we've missed any worth including. And even if these live shows aren't doable - or you hate comedy and somehow landed here by accident - the causes linked below would of course welcome a contribution anyway.
March 19 - Various Just The Tonic venues (and livestreamed)
Comedy powerhouses Just the Tonic are donating proceeds from all of their clubnights this Saturday to a yet-to-be-determined Ukraine charity, with the Nottingham show also being livestreamed [for as little as £2.50 - but you may be cajoled upwards]. That Nottingham show features the two Toms, Toal and Wrigglesworth, Eryn Tett and Joe Wells; Just the Tonic Birmingham features Michael Fabbri, Robin Morgan, Peter Brush and Stefano Paolini; Reading features Lloyd Griffith, Matt Rees, Tom Little and Ross Smith; and Leicester features Wrigglesworth, Tez Ilyas, Dave Longley and more.
March 20 - Canalhouse, Nottingham
It's a Sunday matinee. Barry Dodds - best known for his podcast Parapod, which became a film too - is behind this 4pm canalside affair [https://www.wegottickets.com/event/540860]. It boasts the increasingly A-list Scott Bennett, Tom Wrigglesworth, Duncan Oakley, and Dodds himself: a perfect post-lunch pick-me-up. Plus there's a live auction, featuring Parapod movie props and a real ghost hunt. All proceeds to the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund
March 23 - The Bill Murray, London
London's Angel Comedy are running several Ukraine fundraisers. They've just done a big one headlined by Sara Pascoe, Sofie Hagen and John Kearns, and the latter comic appears at this next event, at The Bill Murray. Also on the bill are viral genius Alasdair Beckett-King, Andy Field, and Angel founder Barry Ferns.
March 23 - The Comedy Lounge, Hull
Further North that same evening, the line-up is still to be confirmed for Stand-Up for Ukraine at the Comedy Lounge, but proceeds are all going to the Red Cross appeal - they're also after prizes to raise further funds, if any local businesses would like to drop the Lounge a line.
March 24 - Leicester Square Theatre, London (and livestreamed)
Live and streamed, Stand Up for Ukraine is a starry, starry night, featuring James Acaster, Adam Buxton, Nick Helm, Bridget Christie, Darren Harriott, Milton Jones, Sara Pascoe, Rachel Parris, plus newer additions Rhys James, and Amy Gledhill as MC. The live show is now sold out but Go Faster Stripe are streaming it for just a tenner. Plus there's a very groovy raffle, featuring bumf from Buxton, Kathryn Ryan, and lots more. Proceeds to the Red Cross appeal
March 25 - Shepherd's Bush Empire, London
The sort of unique show that only really happens for big causes. A Night for Ukraine has an impressive comedy bill, with Angelos Epithemiou, John Robbins, Shaparak Khorsandi, James Acaster, Felicity Ward, Mark Steel, Michael Legge, Alexandra Haddow and Paddy Young. But there's a hefty Britpop line-up too: Dodgy, Salad, Sleeper, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, Martin Rossiter (Gene), Andy Bell (Ride/Oasis), James Walsh (Starsailor), Billy Lunn (The Subways), The Shakes, Edie Bens and compere Chris Hawkins (6music). Proceeds to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, and if it sells out Rossiter has promised to snog Legge during Dodgy's set. Good enough?
March 28 and 30 - Eventim Apollo, London
And now we get onto what must be a couple of the most star-studded comedy nights of recent years, the only question being: who headlines? Not that it matters. On the Monday it's Dara O Briain, Jack Dee, Jo Brand, Romesh Ranganathan, Russell Kane, Suzi Ruffell and Tom Allen, while on the Wednesday there's Alan Carr, Angela Barnes, Joel Dommett, Mark Steel, Michael McIntyre, Nathan Caton, Rob Beckett and Rosie Jones, with more names to be added. All profits to the Red Cross appeal
April 4 - Backyard Comedy Club, London
Pulled together by the commendable Richard Stott, this East London bash is a nice mix of the well-established and well-worth-discovering. Headed up by Reginald D Hunter, it also features music-and-comedy double threats Sooz Kempner and Rob Deering, plus Toussaint Douglass, Charlie George, William Stone, MC Mark Cram, and Stott himself. Proceeds go to Doctors of the World's emergency Ukraine appeal
designmynight.com or streaming via NextUp
April 10 - The Railway, London
To South London, and Sion James' Collywobblers club has combined with the charity Heart Streatham to conjure up the likeable line-up for Streatham Stands Up for Ukraine. Occasional movie star Dan Antopolski, circuit legend Kevin Day and musical comedy sensations Flat & The Curves are on board, plus Jo Ostrowska, Stella Graham, Ania Magliano and Sion as MC. Proceeds to the Ukraine Red Cross Appeal
April 11 - The Stand, Newcastle
Just as Newcastle United finally work out how to build a decent team, so a bunch of the North East's best comics have banded together, but on much lower wages. Zero wages, in fact, as they're a canny lot doing good stuff for charity. Appearing at The Stand will be UK circuit royalty Gavin Webster, plus Sammy Dobson, Lee Kyle, Matt Reed, Catherine Young and Raul Kohli. It costs a sweet tenner and all profits go to the Ukraine Red Cross appeal
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