one4review | On 26, Aug 2024

Off the bat London’s East End award nominated comic Ashley Haden is a talent, and something you don’t often find at 6pm in the Fringe these days – dark, uncomfortable, well researched political comedy which is also funny and thought provoking.

To make sure the audience knows what they are in for the ground rules are set early and rattles off a gag about the cost of assisted suicide, which hits the mark and a gauge of what is to come.

The doors are closed, let the cynicism begin.

For the first third of the show there is a review from 2010 to present day, – the Tory government standards and the inept alternatives that were on offer at the election
“Brexit – Stupidity Apartheid”
“Lib Dems – They are just imaginary friends, Reform Party manifesto – basically a vision board”

Then Cost of living crisis, housing, anti-vaxers, social media, brat summers, climate change are also dispatched with the same piss and vinegar.

Then you are hit with the really dark stuff – Israel, Palestine, Sudan, poverty. He isn’t exploitative of these terrible events for cheap laughs, it’s more shining a light on the hypocrisy and double standards connected to these events. This is where Haden shines in the blackness. Festival great Bill Hicks would be very proud.

Of course there is time to get everyone back on board with just a little chink of hope. For some of the audience it has been an uncomfortable ride but others it’s just what was said on the tin.

Haden has been compared to Frankie Boyle but I’m seeing more Mark Thomas in this talented youngster, crossed with the cynicism of Neil Youngs “Rocking In The Free World” cranked up to 11.

He’s going places and I can’t wait to see what he does next. Just put him on at a later time.

****
Guest Reviewer Steven
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House – Attic