Bob Blackman’s Local – 3***

This show is almost impossible to describe, without spoilers. It’s packed with silliness, changes of pace, and random, utterly surreal moments. I don’t even know if this is a recommendation or a warning. Not every gag or skit hits the … Read More

James Dowdeswell: Wine, Ale and I – 4****

I was sold on this show by the promise of learning how to get free wine, but there’s so much more to it than that – an education in wine and beers, and also plenty of gags.

Dowdeswell is a … Read More

Here Come the Uglies! – 4****

The bold bright colours in the fringe guide appealed so much to my four year old, that the venue being slightly further than most was quickly dismissed. And for that, I’m glad.

This show is about what happens to the … Read More

The Comedian’s Comedian Podcast with Stuart Goldsmith – 3***

The premise of this show is simple. Comedian Stuart Goldsmith interviews a fellow comedian – in this case Bridget Christie – about the art, business, or simply life of being a comedian.

Obviously each show is different, as the guest … Read More

Thom Tuck: The Square Root of Minus One 4****

This show wasn’t in the Fringe guide, but is under of one of the free festival umbrellas, so I’m counting it as Fringe. However, that means you might only know about it if you know about Thom Tuck, … Read More

Kindred Spirits – 1*

Kindred Spirits – 1*

The blurb is quite promising with lots of good words promising good things. However this is an overly-long confusing mish-mash of very amateur theatre which was quite uncomfortable to watch.

The storyline is slightly surreal and … Read More

Parade – 4****

This slightly cut down version of Parade was, in the main, very good.

The main part of Leo Frank is a big task, it requires a specific accent and also quite a specific build of actor and Steve Nicholson carries … Read More

The Improv Musical – 3***

To say this is a low-budget student version of Showstopper! may be slightly unfair but is the easiest way to describe this hour of improvised musical comedy. The students do very well and are almost completely at the mercy of … Read More

John Robertson: The Dark Room 5*****

I had a mild panic during the explanation of the rules that participation would be compulsory and that I wouldn’t have a clue what to do. There are three reasons this was unnecessary. Firstly, participation is (except in … Read More

Old Folks Telling Jokes 2**

I really don’t know what to make of this show. A couple of minutes into her set, Charmian Hughes (very good, as attested elsewhere on this site) asked if ‘Lewis did this to you?’ Yes. He did. I’m … Read More