one4review | On 21, Aug 2025

Joz Norris seems to have made for himself a specialism of thinking himself into knots and putting his shows in danger of disappearing up their own fundament. This show teeters along the edge of profundity, built around a deeply felt kernel of sincerity which he then can’t resist but destroy, as if true vulnerability is too difficult, and has to be dismissed and concealed by laughter.

Another interpretation could be that Joz likes prancing about in next-to-nothing, having spent a good two-thirds of the show winding the audience up with his self-absorption, contrasting faux erudition with abrupt and gloriously unexpected silly nonsense in a cathartic and truly funny punchline. Perhaps it’s both at the same time: one thing for the one person in the room who gets it, and a delightful comedy show for everyone else.

Joz’s comedy is characterised by the cerebral – callbacks that aren’t overt, musings that verge on the philosophical – and the meta textual – Joz explains and comments on the show, during the show. There’s also a strong thread of self awareness which nevertheless keeps you guessing: how much of this is a performance, and how much of this does trouble Joz in the small hours.

Joz has taken his own first two pieces of advice in this show: taken his time to develop and clarify his musings, and got the thing done. The thing has space for whatever the audience wants to take from it: sagely musings, or comedic glory. Or both.

Reviewed by Laura
19:10
Pleasance Dome (10 Dome)
Until 24th