One of the great benefits of London in summer is the stacked line-ups at comedy clubs as performers try out their new material at Work in Progress (WIP) shows. It’s often a chance to see top quality comedians playing intimate spaces to audience members numbering in their dozens, honing their routine ready to do a run at the Edinburgh Fringe and onto the bigger theatres in the West End and around the country. The not-yet-polished sets can also bring bigger laughs as they deal with the moments that don’t work as planned, not to be seen by wider audiences when the final show reaches the stage.
I’ve been taking every chance I can to check out early versions of shows before the Fringe officially gets under way on Friday. Here are some of the highlights you might want to have on your radar if you’re planning your Fringe itinerary.
