Red Raw

Red Raw runs every Monday night at The Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh, and the next one is on 30 November. It's the club's long-running beginner's showcase, billed as the best open mic night in the UK and described as the place where everyone starts. If you've never been, the format is straightforward: up to ten new acts take to the stage, some treading the boards for the very first time, alongside older hands dropping in to try out new material. It's the kind of night where you can catch someone's first five minutes and then see them again a few months later with a proper set.

That mix is what makes it work. You've got the raw, first-time nerves of a complete newcomer on one half of the bill, and a seasoned comic testing out a new bit on the other. The whole thing is built around the idea of discovering tomorrow's stand-up stars today, and because it's a weekly thing, there's always a different crop of faces coming through. It's less of a polished line-up and more of a window into how comedy actually gets made.

Practical side of things: the night is strictly for over-18s, with unreserved seating and standing room. On selected shows, there's food from KHAO BOI, serving Thai and Southeast Asian inspired street food, so it's easy enough to make a proper evening of it. If you're bringing a group larger than six, you'll need to check in with the Box Office before booking, and the venue doesn't take stag or hen groups. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm, at The Stand Comedy Club, 5 York Place, Edinburgh New Town EH1 3EB.