one4review | On 16, Aug 2025

Seaton Smith bounds on to stage with so much energy and self  assured bravado. He is a forty two year old American who we are told is an accomplished martial arts enthusiast. This is something which he hopes to unleash and unveil but disappointingly the opportunity has not yet presented itself!

Seaton is fearless when it comes to the subject matter covered in the show. The very thorny topics of; abortion, transgender, abusive relationships, Jews, slavery… I did say he was fearless! He goes where other comedians fear to tread. He does it in such an assured manner that you are comfortable that he is actually not going to be offensive. There are surprisingly only a few collective gasps and momentary discomfort as he takes us on a journey of life’s observations.

Seaton manages to not be political. There is only a passing comment of how he misses Joe Biden! Instead of any political commentary, we are regaled by stories and observations from living in Brooklyn, dealing with a mouse problem in his apartment, buying a motorcycle, or rather a moped, and smoking way too much of what he shouldn’t! Relationships are dissected and as the title of the show suggests; trauma.

On the trauma of physical abuse from parents, Seaton skillfully turns it into an opportunity for a bit of audience interaction. So who in the audience has been most traumatised by their parents? This provokes some surprising oversharing from a number of audience members!

This is an hour of fast paced storytelling at its best.

****
Reviewed by Margot

Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker 3)
Until August 24th @ 20:30