one4review | On 10, Aug 2026

Newcomer to the Fringe, Chris Rutter has been making the right noises on the Scottish comedy scene and brings his first hour to the Fringe.
The opening gambit set the mood, comparing himself to a radiator that may take time to realise it’s actually doing something. It’s a bit harsh on himself, but sets the mood nicely.
What follows is a lovely view-askew take on such topics as his affection for an older women called Gladys, his Highway Code approach to Grand Theft Auto, which gives shades of John Shuttleworth in his prime, and the vacuum cleaner history of male horniness and for the majority of the hour there are shades of genius to prove he’s on the right track. His surveyor’s study of the venue is a gem, his daughter’s countdown microwave skills are beautifully observed, and there’s a great sense of someone developing another way of seeing the world and then inviting us in to have a look.
Chris has the tools and the talent, but the overall show feels a bit disjointed in the narrative for an hour, never quite burrowing out a clear path, and is a little overlong in the segments to get the hit rate right.
Saying that, this is a more than competent, genuinely fun hour from a comedian who clearly has plenty more to give with his Alan Partridge devil-in-the-detail touch. Well worth the jaunt, and I’d expect to be hearing a lot more from Chris Rutter in the future, and Gladys (RIP).

***
Reviewed by Steve H

The Stand 2
Time : 6th – 30th 16:35