Lorna Rose Treen: 24 Hour Diner People 4****

Lorna Rose Treen seems like she’s having a really good time performing this show, and it’s quite infectious. Though she pulls in members of the audience to – almost literally – be her stooges – the only reason these characters … Read More

Sam Jay: We the People 3.5***

Sam Jay wanders on stage with no announcement and no fanfare. At the end, Sam ponders off to the edge of the stage to say bye as we leave. In between happens a show that starts in pretty bleak despair … Read More

Thanyia Moore: August 5*****

The wealth and strength of experience shine through in this show: Thanyia tells us she’d been doing stand up for ten years before she first came to the Fringe, and we’ve added another three years to that, through which I … Read More

Sam Nicoresti: Baby Doomer 5*****

It would be interesting to know the relative words per minute of Sam Nicoresti versus other comedians. I’m pretty sure Sam would win. After one of the best openings of show I’ve seen, this is, as Sam describes, fifty minutes … Read More

Bella Hull: Piggie 4.5****

Bella Hull elicits more involuntary noises and facial expressions from an audience than I have experienced in a long time; not all laughter (though plenty of that), and pretty much continuous through the show. Her own facial expressions and body … Read More

Emma Holland 4****

I received an extra content warning email a bit before the show, and while some of Emma Holland’s material did poke at the limits of what some might find funny in a spirit of fun and subversion, it’s nothing like … Read More

Zoe Brownstone: A Bite Of Yours 3***

Zoe Brownstone is a self-described hopeless romantic, having grown-up in the 90s golden age of rom-coms, and she’s been searching for her own happy ending. Technically solid and well delivered, this show would perhaps benefit from a bit of refinement … Read More

Tamsyn Kelly: Crying in TK Maxx 4****

What starts out feeling like a medley of best bits from ten-minute club sets quietly morphs into a long-form narrative with diverting side-quests. It works well: Ms Kelly eases herself into the show with skills she can probably exercise in … Read More

Simon Brodkin – Xavier 5*****

I wasn’t too sure what I expected going into this gig. My knowledge of Brodkin’s back catalogue consisted of him showering Sepp Blatter with dollars and handing Teresa May a P45, oh and of course his alter ego Lee Nelson.

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Mary O’Connell: Money Princess 3.5***

Mary O’Connell came out strong, bounding on stage with attitude and verve. She’s got great stage presence and a lovely cadence to her delivery that she keeps up throughout the show. This, and a robust framing narrative keep potentially disparate … Read More