wed 16/07/2025

Comedy Reviews

Margaret Cho, Hen & Chickens Bristol review - sex and drugs, no holds barred

Veronica Lee

Margaret Cho takes no prisoners: if you don’t like good honest filth or feel uncomfortable around matters of feminism, sex and race, then this Korean-American comic is not for you.

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The Elvis Dead, Soho Theatre review - schlock horror told through Elvis songs

Veronica Lee

A fair few Edinburgh Fringe shows are just that – things that work perfectly in the “let's do the show right here” spirit that permeates the festival, in a tiny (and often grotty) venue that adds hugely to the vibe. That's all well and good during August, of course, but come later in the year when a show moves beyond the festival confines it can lose much of its spark.

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Natalie Palamides, Soho Theatre review - delightful and disturbing show about motherhood

Veronica Lee

It's not often the publicity material for a comedy show has a health advisory attached.

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John Bishop, O2 review - Everyman comedy with a hint of subversion

Veronica Lee

John Bishop was last on tour three years ago and he tells us that this show, Winging It, was inspired by two things that happened in the intervening period. Not the obvious Brexit (although it does make an appearance), but in that time he has passed the 50 landmark and his three sons have all left home.

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Kerry Godliman, Touring review - affable and down-to-earth humour

Veronica Lee

Kerry Godliman is such an affable and down-to-earth onstage presence that when she talks about whether she should move now that her area has upped and come – you can tell by the local baker making sourdough loaves – you think how much her neighbours would miss her.

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Mat Ewins, Soho Theatre review - multimedia show with twists in the tale

Veronica Lee

Mat Ewins comes on stage with a bullet belt slung across his chest. Indiana Jones he ain't, but what follows is a spoof on that film genre, a convoluted narrative that makes little sense but has a large degree of bombast as the show's title, Mat Ewins: Presents Adventureman 7 – the Return of Adventureman, suggests.

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Ahir Shah, Soho Theatre - a bravura response to Brexit vote

Veronica Lee

There were a lot of shocked and disappointed people after the EU referendum last year and several comics have used the result to fashion some good comedy, delivering state-of-the-nation material in their shows. For Ahir Shah, though, the more he thought about the result, the more he took it personally.

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Mae Martin, Soho Theatre review - life is a drug

Veronica Lee

She’s only 30, but Mae Martin has been at this comedy lark for a long time.

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Edinburgh Festival and Fringe 2017 reviews round-up

theartsdesk

Wondering what on earth to choose between as you tramp the streets of the festival? These are our highlights so far.

STANDUP

Athenu Kugblenu, Underbelly Med Quad ★★★ Strong debut hour of political and identity comedy

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Edinburgh Fringe 2017 reviews: Ingrid Oliver / Darren Harriott / Jayde Adams

Veronica Lee

Ingrid Oliver ★★★★ 

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