Mates Rates Comedy Raw: Reading's No.1 Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic

Mates Rates Comedy Raw is back at Pentahotel Reading on Monday 25 January, part of the weekly run the night holds every Monday at the hotel on Oxford Road. It's billed as Reading's No.1 stand-up comedy open mic, run by Mates Rates Comedy, and the format is built for anyone curious about how stand-up is actually made.

Five new acts take the stage each week, so you're seeing material in its earliest form rather than a polished set. If you've ever wondered what goes into a comedy routine, this is where it starts: the first few times a joke is ever told in front of people, before it's been tweaked and trimmed down. The night is run by Mates Rates Comedy, and it's held every Monday night at the Pentahotel on Oxford Road, so if you miss this one, there's another the following week.

Anyone wanting to try it can sign up between 6:30pm and 7pm for a handful of five-minute walk-on spots, which are allocated by a bucket pull at the door. If your name isn't drawn, you can still watch the show for free. The night promises big laughs, moments of cringe and revelations, and a chance to catch a future star while they're still working things out in front of a live audience.

The show runs from 7:30pm to 9:30pm, with doors opening at 7pm, and it's held in The Outlook at Pentahotel Reading, Oxford Road, Reading RG1 7RH. Entry is £5 on the door.