I was talking to another critic earlier this week about the popularity in recent years of "origin stories" - young comedians whose debut shows tell their audience who they are, where they come from... more
Reviews
I was slightly duped into seeing this show. Not by Paul Sinha of course. But somewhere deep in a big pile of virtual press cuttings I'd read that this would be his last ever Edinburgh run. Sinha has... more
I've seen a lot of personal, confessional comedy shows over the years, but this one is different. Very different. As the trigger warning title suggests, it is a show about suicide. But also much more... more
How does Mat Ewins do it? I didn't have a press ticket for this show and just as it was about to start and my pass still hadn't pinged in I was standing in the street trying to get a phone signal and... more
It is appropriate that The Funny Thing About Death is part memoir for Jo Caulfield’s funny, talented, spiky sister Annie and part Jo’s autobiography. For, the way Jo tells it, big sister Annie led... more
Simon Brodkin was about three-quarters of the way through his show and about to tell a joke about Prince Andrew when the fire alarm went off and everyone was evacuated. My first thought was it's... more
I think Ian Smith has a bit of a beef with me. I'm not sure if he remembers it, but twice onstage he has besmirched my good name. Once by having a go at me when I'd written something about him making... more
It's appropriate that Connor Burns has called his new show Vertigo. This gifted, young Scottish comedian has the potential to be reaching some dizzying heights soon. He has already had to add nine... more
You know that scene in movies when the star goes into a bar and there is someone already in there with a pint lined up and endless stories to regale the clientele with? That person should be played... more
Some Edinburgh shows try to butter you up with a badge. Some offer free sweets. In Cerys Bradley's Not Overthinking Things 2019 I got a free autism diagnosis. Not everyone gets this - I volunteered... more
