Well the Edinburgh Fringe has been over at least two days now, so time to get back to seeing comedy again, it’s been too long a break.

And where better to start that at Dunfermline’s Alhambra Theatre for the full 2 hours plus of Rhod Gilbert’s outstanding new touring show.

It doesn’t seem so long ago that I first saw him in Edinburgh, playing to a not so full room but my goodness times have changed. Gilbert is all over TV and radio and when it comes to live shows well the biggest venue cannot keep up with the demand for tickets, so it was no surprise that this show was packed out.

Rhod admits that his show is always a story of his life and that he is an argumentative chappie, and boy does he love a rant!! Yeah Rhod and we the audience love it when you go off on one too. This articulate Welshman is a total pleasure to see perform. He plays the massive Alhambra like a small room, his stage presence is as vast as the auditorium and his wickedly crafted set is an example of how great stand-up should be delivered. For a non-jokey comic I lost count of the belly laughs he elicited from the crowd who where hanging on his every word as he related episodes of his last few months in his troubled relationship. He doesn’t big himself up, usually quite the reverse but has a way of telling a story like few others could even dream of achieving.

Letters of complaint, a train journey, a house renovation and of course the eponymous tattoo are just a few of the excellent tales he relates and even has a closing video section that used so many call-backs, it was worthy of the entrance money alone.

Rhod is setting off on a marathon tour for mostly the rest of the year. Do yourselves a favour; check out his website, www.rhodgilbertcomedian.com for dates in your vicinity. It is not a tour to be missed in my opinion.

For future events at Dunfermline’s Alhambra then www.alhambradunfermline.com is the place to be.

Reviewed by Geoff