one4review | On 10, Aug 2015

This was a particularly good ACMS, not least for the introduction of the Ping Pong Paddles of Punctuation and the apparent jettisoning of the Permitted Heckles (they just seem unnecessary). Thom Tuck (compère 1) was predictably tipsy, though John-Luke Roberts (compère 2) looked unaccountably like an off-duty Mexican wrestler.

ACMS is a forum for alternative comedy that might not (probably wouldn’t) work elsewhere, and the warm and accepting atmosphere is created almost entirely by the audience, the majority of whom had attended previously. The line-up changes every show, so my lucky-dip contained, among other things, some political comedy, two different sets of songs, a trumpet (of which more would have been excellent), a story about hypothermia and some brilliantly inventive uses for litter-pickers.

ACMS is a riotous celebration of nonsense and another won’t-appeal-to-everyone show, but for its adherents, it continues to deliver first class noble failures.

Reviewed by Laura

Heroes @ Hive, 22:00 (not Fridays or Saturdays)