Always Be Comedy Christmas Show: The Tommyfield pub, Kennington, London, 2016
Always Be Comedy (2 shows): The Tommyfield pub, Kennington, London, 2017
Always Be Comedy (3 shows): The Tommyfield pub, Kennington, London, 2018
Always Be Comedy (2 shows): The Tommyfield pub, Kennington, London, 2019
Always Be Comedy: The Tommyfield pub, Kennington, London, 2020
Always Be Comedy Online (3 shows): Online: 2020
Always Be Comedy Online: Tuesday Night Club: Online: 2020
Always Be Comedy: The Tommyfield pub, Kennington, 2020
Greenwich Comedy Festival 2020: Greenwich Park, London, 2020
Just The Tonic Working From Home – Good Riddance 2020 New Year’s Eve Special: Online: 2020
Always Be Comedy Online: Tuesday Night Club: Online: 2021
Return of the Craic Online Comedy Club: Online: 2021
Always Be Comedy Online 1st Birthday Show: Online: 2021
Always Be Comedy Online: The James Gill Roast: Online: 2021
Always Be Comedy (2 shows): The Tommyfield pub, Kennington, London, 2021
Always Be Comedy Online: Tuesday Night Club: Online: 2022
Always Be Comedy: Sambrook’s Brewery, Wandsworth, London, 2022
Always Be Comedy Online: Tuesday Night Club Christmas Show: Online: 2022
Always Be Comedy (2 shows): The Tommyfield pub, Kennington, 2023
Rachel Parris is an award-winning musical comedian and improviser. I saw her play the Always Be Comedy Christmas Show in 2016, and two further shows in 2017. With her keyboard centre stage, the audience were treated to a mix of stand-up satirical comedy and razor-sharp musical numbers about love, life and sex. Parris is a multi-talented one-woman variety show who when I have seen her is always entertaining to watch.
Parris appeared at Always Be Comedy in London in March, June and September 2018, again topping the bill in February 2019 and then in June 2019 where she performed new material. In January 2020, she appeared as a last-minute replacement and brought the house down with his charming and cutting stories.
The very likeable musical comedian performed tender humorous songs with amazing frankness. Usually accompanied by her piano, Parris played and sang depreciating comic songs then she delivered extremely engaging comedy chat with the audience.
Parris headlined Always Be Comedy Online in May 2020 when the show was forced to be broadcast because of a global pandemic so everyone to stay indoors. She effortlessly entertained the connected ‘audience’ with more brilliantly witty songs. She returned to Always Be Comedy Online again in June 2020 together with Marcus Brigstocke and they became comedy’s newest double act delivering brilliant lip-syncing to hit songs and delivering cutting and hilarious comedy. They became such a hit that from June 2020, they featured weekly at The Tuesday Night Club for Always Be Comedy Online performing bonus shows which have proved extremely popular. Between them, the amount of work and preparation is impressive (most Tuesday night shows are two hours long) and Parris’s musical comic talent was superb every show. What was particularly impressive to watch was how well they both worked together. Her character Marje is hysterical and they clearly enjoying themselves, making each other laugh.
The comedian made a live appearance with Brigstocke for Always Be Comedy in September 2020 and in the same month, also appeared at the Greenwich Comedy Festival in September 2020 and was extremely witty with the socially distanced outdoor crowd. She was at the Just The Tonic New Year’s Eve Special online and for Return of the Craic online comedy club in February 2021 delivering a very amusing set about her experiences of lock down in 2020.
Parris appeared with her husband Marcus Brigstocke for the Always Be Comedy Online 1st Birthday Show that I watched in April 2021. Together. They performed a special birthday song, a sketch of a radio phone-in featuring Brigstocke impersonating the broadcaster Jeremy Vine and Parris as the caller Margaret from Cornwall. They also finished the set with a lip sync battle. All these elements make up their popular Tuesday Night Club every Tuesday at Always Be Comedy Online.
In June 2021, compere James Gill celebrated his birthday online at Always Be Comedy Online. An amazing line up of surprise comedians including Parris gave a no-holds-barred tribute ‘roast’ to the great man. The show was one of the funniest ninety-minutes of the year. Also, in June 2021, The Tuesday Night Club online celebrated one year of weekly shows.
Parris played two shows for Always Be Comedy live in 2021. The first was a preview of her new tour show All Change Please describing the changes in her life from becoming a wife and mother to coping with the pandemic. Filled with wonderful routines and songs, the show was a tribute to her musical comedy ability and one song in particular, about her love of musicals was outstanding. The second appearance at the club featured more songs from the tour including a sea shanty which the audience loved.
The Tuesday Night Christmas Club was online for Always Be Comedy in December 2021 joyous celebration. Review the tough year with songs and sketches, Parris and husband Brigstocke were as funny as ever. It returned once again in March 2022 for more of fun and laughter and the audience loved it.
Parris performed a wonderful headline set for Always Be Comedy at Wandsworth in November 2022. Brilliant new material about being a parent, the state of the country, and her life and career to date was finished off by a wonderful comic song. To finish the year off, she also performed with her husband for Always Be Comedy Online a wonderful Tuesday Night Club Christmas Show featuring familiar characters, sketches, and stand-up routines. Parris headlined Always Be Comedy with new material and songs in April 2023 and appeared with husband Marcus Brigstocke for the Tuesday Night Club Live in July 2023.
Parris is a very confident, endearing, and funny performer who consistently delivers a funny set which is beautifully crafted and executed. Her comic talent is amazing, and she is always a joy to watch.