Potty the Plant 4****

‘Dark’ was used by both the company and the blurb to describe this show, and though it’s not very helpful before you’re in, it’s apparent what this means when you’ve seen the show. There’s more swearing than might be expected … Read More

Fringe! The Musical 3.5***

This show is a lovely complete piece that nevertheless feels like it would benefit from some more workshops and focus groups to fully realise its potential. That isn’t to say that what’s here isn’t good – it is – just … Read More

Abigail Rolling: Shit Lawyer 2**

This show fits into that sub-genre of using comedy to highlight a particular issue, where you get an informative lecture delivered by someone who can in fact perform (sorry, some of my lecturers, but your research did not make you … Read More

Joshua Bethania: Coming Home 3***

Joshua Bethania is a comedian in search of an audience to fully appreciate his material. There is good, thoughtful, subversive stuff in here, just slightly camouflaged by a dry humour and a restrained delivery. In some places this gives the … Read More

Gabey Lucas: A Berkshire Boar Walks Into a Bar (and Gets Shot in the Face) 2**

There’s definitely enough good stuff in this show that with a bit of restructuring and redirecting, it would be great. The form I saw didn’t quite pull it off.

The concept of the show is that Ms Lucas has a … Read More

Juliette Burton: Hopepunk 3.5***

Juliette Burton achieves what she sets out to do and sends the audience out the door on the whole more uplifted than when they came in. Some came in quite enthused already, but Ms Burton has verve and energy and … Read More

Harriet Dyer: Skin 3***

Harriet Dyer is a delightful comedian with a mind that bounces around like a pin ball, and the elements of the show where she reins it in enough to stay on track are till entertaining, but missing a little of … Read More

Patrick Monahan -Exclusively 4****

I first saw Patrick Monahan … can it really be 18 years ago, and took an instant liking to this very friendly and amiable comedian. And nearly two decades on he is still producing the goods. Teeside born of Irish- … Read More

Lucy Frederick’s Big Fat Wedding 4.5 ****

This show lures you in with hilarious stories about Lucy’s wedding – how she met her husband, the nature of their relationship, buying wedding dresses, the kind of day it might be – but once it’s grabbed you, also has … Read More

Pernille Haaland: Resting Confused Face 4****

After some crowd-work which felt more like group-work and involved going round the entire audience and finding out everyone’s names, home towns and professions, Ms Haaland delivered a delightful show of observational stand-up, drawing on her recent experience of moving … Read More