Comedy Reviews

Rose Matafeo, Soho Theatre review - sassy and she knows it

Veronica Lee Thursday, 22 February 2018

New Zealand comic Rose Matafeo is a fan of romcoms and has decided she is destined to appear in one at some point in her career.

Hannah Gadsby, Soho Theatre review - misogyny explored

Veronica Lee Monday, 12 February 2018

Hannah Gadsby was awarded best show (jointly with John Robins) at the 2017 Edinburgh Comedy Awards for Nanette, which had already been given the equally prestigious Barry award at last year's Melbourne Comedy Festival.

Andrew Maxwell, Soho Theatre - insightful political comedy

Veronica Lee Friday, 09 February 2018

“I don't want to talk about Donald Trump,” Andrew Maxwell tells us as he comes on stage at the beginning of Showtime, because no matter what comics make up about the US President, he then goes and does something more weirdly comic, more comically weird, than they could ever invent.

Chris Rock, SSE Wembley Arena review - energetic and fast-moving performance

Veronica Lee Monday, 29 January 2018

Chris Rock, another fine alumnus of the comedy factory known as Saturday Night Live, rarely comes to these shores, so his short arena tour was welcome.

Leicester Comedy Festival Gala Preview Show - going from strength to strength

Veronica Lee Monday, 15 January 2018

In the early 1990s, a group of students at Leicester Polytechnic (now De Montfort University) staged an end-of-year comedy project. Three of them – Claire Walker, Abi Palmer and Geoff Rowe – developed the idea into what in 1994 became the first Leicester Comedy Festival; Walker and Palmer have gone on to other great things in the arts and Rowe remained as the festival's director.

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

Veronica Lee Thursday, 30 November 2017

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.

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

Veronica Lee Monday, 20 November 2017

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.

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

Veronica Lee Monday, 13 November 2017

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

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

Veronica Lee Monday, 06 November 2017

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.

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

Veronica Lee Friday, 20 October 2017

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.

inside comedy

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