one4review | On 21, Aug 2026

Gaulier-trained showman Chase Brantley has compressed what was last year a lovely shiny rock into a pure diamond.

When I had friends coming through the Fringe for one show only, this is the show I chose to take them to. It’s really warm, joyful, silly fun: incredibly tight clowning that manages to involve the entire audience constantly making us laugh without ever making anyone uncomfortable.
Toberman plays the “greatest ping-pong player in the world”, and we are his toughest ever opponents. The audience is galvanised into a team, choosing our own name and team cheer before taking him on. There’s a clever consent-based system for participation, meaning everyone can get involved without anybody feeling forced into the spotlight.
I remember people being slightly more confused by the premise last year. This time, it feels as though word has spread and the audience understands immediately what game we’re playing. Toberman also leans harder into being the bad guy. We delight in booing him, which only gives him more to play with.
He’s an exceptionally expressive performer. A tiny turn of the head or raised eyebrow can get a huge laugh, and he is razor sharp knowing exactly how long to hold a moment. The structure underneath all the silliness is incredibly strong and noticeably tighter than last year.
After initially defeating us, Toberman begins drinking an energy drink that is comedically bad for him, and things start to unravel. He recruits an audience member to be his father.There are countless tiny games, visual jokes and set pieces like this, alongside enough improvisation to make the whole thing feel created just for us.
Toberman is also assisted by a couple of performers who elevate the show enormously. They understand exactly how to support him without distracting from the central character, helping build this ridiculous sporting contest into something that feels like it matters to all of us.
Eventually, Toberman defeats the entire audience, and we go wild.
It’s difficult to express how much skill it takes to make a comedy clown show this clean, light and apparently effortless. The entire room gets permission to be silly together. Beneath that simplicity is a myriad of beautifully judged little decisions that make the whole thing work.
Ping-Pong Champ is tighter, funnier and more assured than it was last year. I already liked it enough to bring my friends for their only show of the fringe.
We all left happier as people. More of this please.

★★★★★
Reviewed by Stephen “Sharpie” Sharp
Pleasance Courtyard Bunker 2
Until 31 August (not 24)
13.30 (1 hour)