I Love Lou C Lou Conran 4****

Lou takes us on a journey through her life starting and stopping at Boots the Chemist. Lou Conran is an established comedian, writer and columnist, who it seems also loves a good curry. We are treated to a show with … Read More

Amy 25, Almost Cool 3*

Amy awaits a visit from her friend Alison, someone she paints as the epitome of ‘cool’. Over their catch up it becomes clear that Amy is hopelessly insecure, always measuring herself against others (and coming up short) and always worrying … Read More

The Breakup Monologues 3***

Compere, or possibly therapist, Rosie Wilby is a genial host who has made a whole show out of her recent break-up (Rosie Wilby: The Conscious Uncoupling, 18:30 at the same venue), and found in doing so that many, many other … Read More

Simon Evans: Genius 4****

Simon Evans is, this year, attempting to evoke genius. He feels it might be needed in the world right about now. He discusses a little of what that could look like, and ends up borrowing an audience member’s glasses, briefly, … Read More

Jane Hill: Cow 3***

Jane Hill is a cow – or at least, she’s trying to be. Not entirely successfully, as she has a charm and likeability, as well as a twinkle in her eye during her more bitchy tales that make it hard … Read More

Stuart Goldsmith: Like I Mean It 4****

Stuart Goldsmith is a comedian I know I can rely on for consistent laughs, and truly I got those in this show.

The show is about how Goldsmith’s life has changed lately, and how he’s dealing with the complexities of … Read More

Robin Ince’s Rorschach Test 4****

This show is going to be different every single day, because Robin Ince has just so much he wants to say, so many works of art he wants to share with us, and so many interesting anecdotes (yes, some of … Read More

Terry Alderton: All Crazy Now 2**

As a newcomer to Terry Alderton’s work, I should have paid more attention to the title of the show. It was crazy, random, and at times, hard to follow.

Alderton is the sort of act that’s very full-on. The front … Read More

Tom Stade: I Swear 3***

Tom Stade is a big, loud presence, even in a room as large as the Gilded Balloon’s Debating Hall. He may not have filled all the seats, but he easily filled the space on stage with his high energy constant … Read More

Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show 4****

The long table full of science equipment, some covered up, bodes well for an interesting show. But will it also be exciting throughout? Will it genuinely be spectacular?

The answer is of course, yes. Mark Thompson says his aim is … Read More