Old Rope
From Rich Hall to Stephen Merchant, Old Rope is known as one of London's best new material nights, with some of the most famous names on the comedy circuit regularly heading down to debut their latest jokes to an enthusiastic and supportive crowd.
Rated as one of the best London Comedy Clubs by spoonfed.co.uk, Old Rope gets its name from the noose that hangs above the stage which the comedians hold onto while performing new material. They are allowed to mix in some old reliable bits but can only let go of the rope when telling the new stuff.
A popular and innovative night, it is worth a trip to Oxford Circus to check out.
"If you are at all into comedy, this is a must-see show" - Kate Copstick for The Scotsman
"Late night is the perfect time to seek out hot-off-the-press jokes, too. Old Rope, run by Phil Nichol and Tiffany Stevenson, is a nightly dose of anarchy and just-written stand-up, which often welcomes big-name comedians who are passing through the Fringe and others who are keen to try out an untested 10 minutes. Last weekend Flight of the Conchords' Arj Barker dropped by with some brand-new material. As Stevenson says, 'Thirty per cent of what you see tonight won't work, some of it might be rubbish, but it's about experimenting. This is the real spirit of the Fringe, right here.'" - The Independent August 2010
"Old Rope (we rate it one of our Best London Comedy Clubs) gets its name from the noose that hangs above the stage which the comedians hold onto while performing new material. They are allowed to mix in some old reliable bits but can only let go of the rope when telling the new stuff. This is a really popular, innovative and cheap night. Plus it's always refreshing to see comedians forced to abandon their safety net. Tonight's line-up includes Irish comedy favourite Ed Byrne and the erudite Robin Ince" - Spoonfed
"Old Rope is hit and miss and rough around the edges but that’s its charm. It’s a glimpse into the comedy workshop where concepts are still evolving and the jokes are only half formed. It’s fun being a guinea pig." - The National Student
"It's easy to see why Old Rope has built a following in the capital. The show, loosely held together by comperes Tiffany Stevenson and Phil Nichol, has the kind of nervous energy you could only create by sending the stand-ups into uncharted territory. Armed with notebooks, typed pages or scraps of paper, four comics made guinea pigs out of the complicit audience as they span off wildly varying material, making notes along the way of the jokes that flew and the dozens that nosedived to the ground." - Brighton Argus
"Tiffany Stephenson and Phil Nichol, the hosts, were both funny and engaging characters... they have done a great job with Old Rope. Week-in, week-out they attract a constantly changing ensemble of extremely talented comics and for £5 a head, it's an absolute bargain." - Spoonfed user review