Bill Bailey - Vaudevillean

Bill Bailey is back at Portsmouth Guildhall on Wednesday 18 November, with his new show Vaudevillean. It's a night that does exactly what the title suggests: it's a celebration of the old-school vaudeville tradition, the kind of prime-time entertainment that used to hold the room with a mix of comedy, songs and a fair few different skills all in one go.

If you're not familiar with the term, vaudeville was the variety show of its day, and that's the spirit Bailey's leaning into here. The Guildhall describes him as a versatile multi-instrumental, multi-lingual performer and a modern vaudevillian, which sums up the act pretty well — he's as likely to pick up an instrument as he is to deliver a punchline, and the music is just as much a part of the show as the stand-up. One critic has called him one of our biggest-name comics, a national treasure whose verbal flights of fancy exude wit, brains and boundless imagination, and who gets more prolific the older he gets.

It's aimed at ages 14 and over, with under-14s needing to be accompanied by an adult. If you're fancying a full evening of it, there are options to add a dining or hospitality package, or even a curry to the comedy, so you can make a proper night of it rather than just popping in for the show. Doors open at 7.30pm, and tickets run from £26.50 to £94.40, with the booking fee already included in the price.