one4review | On 01, Aug 2025

Scotland’s quiet king of crafted comedy returns smarter and sharper.

There’s a likeable precision to Stephen Buchanan that sets him apart from the moment he walks onstage. No flailing, no mugging, no filler theatrics — just calm command and the confidence of someone who knows exactly where every beat lands.

He opens with a perfectly dry line about the difficulties of sharing a name with an infamous paedophile — which, as he notes, does wonders for his Google search results. It’s a bold start, but one that signals Buchanan’s sweet spot: dark material handled with an unusually light touch.

Newly married and navigating the post-nuptial realities — from Catholic ceremonies on his partner’s side to the chaos of budget honeymoons — Buchanan delivers a beautifully structured hour that feels effortlessly worn in. A segment on befriending people on holiday is both surreal and oddly touching. His failed attempts to boycott multinational corporations somehow become warm comedic set-pieces rather than soapbox rants.

This is someone who understands that structure matters — that a punchline hits harder when it’s earned. His stories have real architecture: lean, shaped, and never over-egged. Years of radio and TV writing have clearly sharpened his instincts — his timing is pin-sharp, his editing brain always a second ahead of the audience.

Buchanan’s comedy doesn’t punch down or strain for edginess. It’s observational, smart, and at times devastating. There are lines you’ll carry with you, but more than that, there’s a sense of the man behind them: warm, thoughtful, and very funny.

Scotland has always punched above its weight when it comes to stand-up. Buchanan’s not just adding to that tradition — on this form, he’s carving out a place as one of its defining voices.

****
Reviewed by Steve H
Monkey Barrel 2
16.20 (1hr)
Until 24 Aug (not 6,11 or 18)