#9 Every English language comedy show in and around Amsterdam this week (May 20 - May 26)
30+ shows this week across Amsterdam and Utrecht. Two New York Comedy Cellar headliners, a sold-out debut hour, and a free special from one of Amsterdam's own.
Welcome to issue #9 of The Live List - your weekly round-up of every English-language comedy show happening in and near Amsterdam.
This week: 30+ shows across Amsterdam and Utrecht, two New York Comedy Cellar headliners at Comedy Café on Wednesday, a sold-out debut hour at Vice Comedy on Saturday, and what might be the most stacked Utrecht week this newsletter has ever had.
There’s also a free hour of comedy you can watch from your sofa. More on that later.
Now read on!
And if you find this newsletter useful, I'd really appreciate you sharing it with one other person who might like it too.
Daniel Yazbek: I’ll Call You Back @ ClinkNOORD | Thur 21 May | 20:00 | €10
Daniel Yazbek moved to a new continent, kept a long-distance relationship with his therapist, discovered a complicated family history, and tried not to lose himself in the process. He’s been on the Amsterdam scene for three years, already opening for names like Michelle Wolf and Sam Morril. I’ll Call You Back is sharp, personal, and the kind of show that makes you realise someone has been paying much closer attention to their own life than most people manage.
Wednesday 20 May
Ray Ellin and Tom Cotter @ Comedy Café Amsterdam, 20:00, Two New York Comedy Cellar regulars, fresh off a European run, at Comedy Café for one night. Tom Cotter made history as the first comedian to reach the final of America’s Got Talent and came back for AGT: The Champions to a standing ovation. Ray Ellin produced Comedy Central’s This Week at the Comedy Cellar, hosted the revived Gong Show Live, and has been touring Europe since 2023. They performed together in Paris throughout the 2024 Olympics as part of the Funny Americans tour. A proper New York double-header.
The Comedy Underground Night Time Show @ Theater de Richel (basement), Wednesday 21:00 Weekly English open mic in the basement of Theater de Richel, near Dam Square. Stand-up, clown, improv, sketch, music — anything goes. The only night in Amsterdam where Comedians have to perform their set with a challenge, whether it is to write their jokes based on audience suggestions or stand on one leg the entire time.
The Good, The Bad, and The Algorithm @ Boom Chicago, 20:00 Boom Chicago's Wednesday show: fast-paced improv scenes, musical comedy, and an AI the cast actually improvises with. Fresh material, changing every week.
Comedy Night in English @ The Ping Pong Club, Utrecht, 20:30 The best seven comedians they could find, determined to make you fall off your chair with laughter.
Thursday 21 May
GenerationAI: When an American and an Indian Become Dutch @ Café de Plakhoek, 19:30, David Gamble Jr. and Sahana Prakash share stories of Dutch immigration: bicycles, tech, marriage, and cultural misunderstandings. Work in progress at Dishoom Comedy Club.
Comedy On Tap @ The Florin, Utrecht, 20:00
The last Comedy on Tap before the summer break will feature the usual blend of improv games from Improv on Tap, new standups Martin and Tim trying out their sets and finishing off with seasoned pros Diederik Zuurmond and Emily Higgson.
May: SERVE: Vegas Baby @ Lellebel Queer Bar, 21:00, Elvis impersonators, sequins, rhinestone cowgirls, and gay wedding chapel marriages. Loud, campy, alternative, and fabulous. Exactly the kind of night it should be.
Sweet Home Amsterdama @ Boom Chicago, 20:00 Boom Chicago's new mainstage show about Amsterdam's housing chaos: half-sketch, half-improvised, audience suggestions driving the story. Very much of this city.
Oh My Word Comedy @ Bij Barba (Jan van Galenstraat 198), 20:00 The weekly English stand-up showcase in Amsterdam West, hosted by Carly Blair. Local and NL-based acts in a relaxed, warm room.
Maestro! Improv Comedy Championship @ Mike’s Badhuistheater, 20:00, In this high-stakes improv competition, the audience scores every scene, slowly eliminating players until a single champion remains. The game pieces move across the scoreboard, the lowest-scoring players are knocked out round by round, and tension builds with every scene. At the end of the night, the last performer standing is crowned Maestro – and awarded the coveted Canadian five-dollar bill.
Vice Comedy: Free Improv — Gary Indiana @ Vice Versa, 18:30 Free English-language improv. A good shout if you want something low-stakes on a Thursday evening. Free.
That Comedy Thing @ OOSTerBAR (Amsterdam Oost), 20:00 That Comedy Thing's weekly Thursday showcase in Amsterdam Oost. Pay what you can: free community tickets available for those on a tight budget, donations go directly to the performers. A reliable room for discovering names before they get big.
Friday 22 May
Comedyhuis: All English Comedynight @ Kargadoor, Utrecht (Oudegracht 36), 20:45 Stand-up comedy entirely in English at one of Utrecht’s best independent venues. New lineup each week.
easylaughs: Dungeons + Djammers & Thematic Short Shows @ CREA Muziekzaal, 20:00 Dragons, ogres, fairies, and whatever chaos the audience provides. Genre-themed improv from the easylaughs cast, plus short shows from genre course students and a guest group. Classic Friday night at CREA.
Improv Spectacular @ Boom Chicago, 20:00 World-class improvisers take audience suggestions and build something from nothing. The show that launched a thousand alumni.
The Comedy Embassy @ Boom Chicago (Upstairs Theater), 22:15 Four comedians, two hours, full bar. Amsterdam's highest-rated stand-up showcase, every Friday.
Saturday 23 May
Cocktails & Comedy in English @ Comedy Cafe Amsterdam, 18:00, The weekly early evening English showcase at Comedy Café. Best comedians from across the Netherlands and beyond.
Sweet Home Amsterdama @ Boom Chicago, 20:00 Boom Chicago’s new mainstage show - as pe rthe Thursday listing - just on Saturday night instead!
Vice Comedy: Special Edition: Nadine Froughi, Daydreamer @ Ceintuurbaan 206, 18:00 Social media phenom Nadine Froughi performs her debut comedy hour, taking you on a multimedia musical-comedy romp through the no-man’s land between real life and her daydreams. Show is sold out, but there's a waitlist you can join if you’e feeling lucky.
The Comedy Embassy @ Boom Chicago, 22:15 Saturday night edition. Four comedians, full bar, no passport required.
Comedyhuis: All English Comedynight @ Kargadoor, Utrecht (Oudegracht 36), 20:45 Another night of all-English stand-up. Same format, different lineup. €19.95.
Sunday 24 May
Sun 24 May: Vipul Goyal @ Boom Chicago, Indian comedian and star of TVF’s Humorously Yours, live at Boom with a show full of relatable punchlines.
Comedyhuis: Katerina Vrana: It's My Pleasure @ Kargadoor, Utrecht (Oudegracht 36), 19:00 Katerina Vrana is one of Greece's best-known stand-up comedians, performing in English. Solo show, one night only in Utrecht. €34.95.
Sunday Night Live @ Boom Chicago, 19:00 Weekly long-form improv institution. The best cast in years, a live musician, and a story built entirely in the room.
The Comedy Lab Presents: The Mock N’Roll Hall of Fame @ Boom Chicago, 20:30 Community Night at the Academy. Ensemble member and instructor Simon Lukacs, alongside talented guests, performs as the biggest names in music, singing improvised songs at a fake rock and pop awards show. Inspired entirely by audience suggestions.
Monday 25 May
Monday Night Laughs @ Brouwerij De Prael (Oudezijds Armsteeg 26), 20:00 The biweekly English stand-up night at the neighbourhood brew pub. Doors from 19:30, show at 8pm. Rotating cast of scene regulars and heavy-hitters, with 10% off food and drinks when you show your ticket.
English Comedy Talent Award @ Kargadoor, Utrecht, Oudegracht 36, 20:30. Heat 4 bringing the hottest new talent from across the Netherlands & Belgium.
Tuesday 26 May
Tuna: Newbie of the Week @ Cafe de Knoop, 20:00 That Comedy Thing's weekly new comedian showcase. First timers and fresh faces doing their thing, every Tuesday.
That Comedy Thing: Open Mic @ Cafe de Buurvrouw, Wednesday 20:00 English open mic in a cosy bar setting.
Hump Day Comedy Open Mic Night @ Cafe De Knoop, Wednesday 20:00. Weekly curated English open mic in the Jordaan. Sign up in advance. A step above the average open mic. Free.
Colin's Open Mic @ Café & Poppodium Stathe, Utrecht, Wednesday 20 May Weekly Wednesday English open mic in Utrecht. Free.
Dishoom! @ Café de Plakhoek, Thursday, 19:00 Weekly English open mic in De Pijp. Raw, unfiltered, expat trauma as material. Free entry.
Hunter’s Bar Open Mic @ Hunter’s Bar, Utrechtsestraat, Amsterdam, Sunday 19:30 English open mic at Hunter’s Bar. Running every Sunday. Free entry.
Mezrab Comedy Open Mic @ Mezrab, Monday, 20:00New material only. Every joke you'll hear is under construction, performed for the first time in front of an audience.
The Comedy Womb (Comedy Room Open Mic) @ Huis van Iemand Anders (De Pijp), Tuesday 20:00, Weekly English open mic from The Comedy Room Amsterdam. New comedians taking their first steps, experienced comics testing new material. Doors 19:30. Show-up-to-go-up spots available on the night.
Comedyhuis: Open Mic @ Kargadoor, Utrecht (Oudegracht 36), 20:30 Weekly open mic. The newest jokes in Utrecht, quality variable, entertainment guaranteed. €12.95.
Boom Chicago Academy Stand-Up Comedy with Katie O’Reilly: next intake Sundays from June 21 (June 21, 28, July 5, 12), 4 spots left.
/ New workshop: Get Out of Your Head, a longform improv session with former SNL cast member Luke Null, July 9 from 6:30PM.
/ Meisner for Improvisers 2-day intensive with Octavia Gilmore on May 30-31, last chance to sign up.
/ Say Something: a Freestyle Rap Workshop with David “BS” Bradshaw, June 21.
/ Improv Taster Classes available most weeks at €30. boomchicago.nl/academy
easylaughs: Weekly improv and stand-up courses at all levels, taught by an experienced international cast. Enrolled students get free access to Friday night shows.
That Comedy Thing Stand-up courses and MC workshop. Affordable, practical, taught by working comics.
Amsterdam Comedy Studio Improv, musical improv, comedy writing and drop-in workshops.
This section updates monthly. Know of a course? Hit reply and tell me.
Fri 29 May, Split Bill feat Kristina Jak & Prashant Khanchandani @ Boom Chicago Attic, 19:30. Two brilliant local talents, one shared bill.
Fri 29 May: Big Game Comedy: Live Table Read of The Sopranos @ Boom Chicago, 21:30 — Improvised performances as the biggest characters in the mob.
11 June: Halil Caliskan: Homesick @ Le Flaneur (Patron Stage), Amsterdam — Edinburgh Fringe show returns to Amsterdam for one night.
12 June: Sindhu Vee: Swanky @ Boom Chicago — Her first tour in five years. SOLD OUT, but a waiting list is available.
Wed 10 June, That Silly Place @Subcult, Amsterdam Noord, 20:00, This month featuring scene stars Adi Parmar, Carlos Montoya, Diego Loiacono, Emily Higgson, Kristina Jak, Rein Mulder, Val Tan & Vasilis Kotsaris.
12-14 June, Macbeth: A Bloody Good Comedy @ Mike’s Badhuistheater, 20:00, Shakespeare’s darkest tragedy gets a wildly irreverent makeover in Macbeth: A Bloody Good Comedy — a fast-paced riot of slapstick, satire, and sheer theatrical chaos.
18-20 June, Two by Jim Cartwright @ Mike’s Badhuistheater, 20:00, a sharp, darkly comic and unexpectedly heartwarming portrait of a Northern pub and the larger-than-life characters who pass through its doors.
Lara Ricote: Little Tiny Wet Show (baptism) — free on YouTube now
Some of you know Lara from being one of the beating hearts of the Amsterdam scene. She started doing her first WIP of this show here in July 2023, before taking it to London, Melbourne, Edinburgh, and worldwide.
The show was released last week on YouTube. It is free. It is an hour long. Lara is one of the best working in English-language comedy in Europe right now, and this is amongst her best work.
If you watch it and love it, please share it and, if you can, donate. The whole thing came out of her own pocket. Lara also has a new show that will be at the Edinburgh Fringe this August called Inkling. It already stormed the Melbourne Comedy Festival, so will no doubt smash the Fringe too.
You can donate here: buymeacoffee.com/lararicote, and see all Lara’s upcoming shows at: linktr.ee/lararicote
The Live List comes out every Wednesday. If you enjoyed this, please forward it to one person who’d find it useful.
Know about a show I’ve missed? Just hit reply, or email livelistnl@gmail.com