Show 19: The End of the Pier, at the End of the World

Discovered by chance looking at the Monkey Barrel website, Alfie Brown's work in progress show proved to be an intimate affair and an interesting insight into him workshopping ideas. A small crowd, seemingly half made of comics, in a haze of booze gave fertile ground for Brown riffing ideas and improvising some stunning bleak jokes. He's never been afraid to be controversial and cut through the miasma of pretense that UK culture creates, he's an ever refreshing breath, intelligent and at times a genius at comic ideas. It'll be interesting to see how this turns into next year's material.

Score: no score for work in progress
Venue: Monkey Barrel Comedy Club, monkey barrel 4
Dates: run ended
Time: 23:59

Show 18: Jordan Gray: Is It a Bird?

Having been recommended by Stu Goldsmith and BriTANicK I thought I ought to check this show out.

Gray is a trans female musical comedian, with a show about being trans and songs celebrating the human body. There's plenty of bravura and confidence, she's certainly not shy about herself nor is she apologetic for her confidence, but though there's plenty of style I didn't feel there was any real substance to the material. There's nothing particularly smart or interesting in the material, just hot energy that tries to carry the show through. At the end when Gray changes into her superhero costume (spoiler alert, she's just naked) certainly makes a strong point. It's a laudable hour but at ultimately I felt more bemused than amused.

Score: 2/10
Venue: Assembly George Square, The Box
Dates: 23rd - 28th August
Time: 22:25
Price: Sold Out

Show 17: Drunk Women Solving Crime

Having heard other comedians mention this podcast on their own podcasts, I thought I'd see what this was like.

The title says it all; three women (Hannah George, Catie Wilkins and Taylor Glenn) get drunk and solve a crime, with special guest appearances, on today's show it was Bilal Zafar.

Seemingly the three of them take it in turns to research a crime and lead the others to figure out how the crime or crimes were committed, on this show it was US born Taylor's turn to lead the show. 

This was a thoroughly delightful hour of great fun and energy, the free flowing prosecco (and pepsi for Zafar) giving a buzz to the show, with quick wittedness and some great audience interaction moments (including a rather cute alarm stopping proceeding momentarily). This was a really joyous hour of banter and riffs, I can't wait to download their back catalogue.

Score: 8/10
Venue: Underbelly at Bristo Square - Fresian
Dates: Run ended
Time: 20:20

Show 16: Lou Sanders: One Word: Wow

This year's Lou Sanders seems slightly more tame, and not as provocative, though she's still as brash and self-confident as ever.

A strong hour covering relationships, her journey to being a skater (who'd have thought?), and befriending one of the younger skaters in the park. The show's punctuated by charming diary entries and ends with a 'you've been framed' style compilation of prat falls while skating with moments of success at the end. Overall a very entertaining hour's comedy.

Score: 7/10
Venue: Monkey Barrel Comedy, Monkey Barrel 3
Dates: 14th - 28th August (not 14th or 22nd)
Time: 17:40
Price: £10 

Show 15: John-Luke Roberts: A World Just Like Our Own, But...

It's always interesting to see how John-Luke Roberts is going to fill an hour, there'll be a left-field idea somewhere, and he's always one of the more refreshing acts in the festival.

A rejigged washing machine on stage sets the scene, and from it JLR emerges to take us on a fantastical set of ideas, multiple worlds where little things are just off or different. Throughout this, a phone hidden in the washing machine connects Roberts to other alternate reality JLRs each with their own issues, and through this all our own Roberts is trying to escape reality, but it isn't to be in the end. Nevertheless an intriguing hour with delightful absurdist ideas.

Score: 7/10
Venue: Monkey Barrel Comedy, Monkey Barrel 4
Dates: 23rd - 28th August
Time: 15:35
Price: £9 weekends, £8 weekdays

Show 14: Eleanor Morton Has Peaked

Having vaguely heard of Eleanor Morton from I don't know where (turns out she became a viral hit with her internet videos over lockdowns) I thought I'd check her act out.

A seasoned professional at the game (some 13 years in comedy) her experience shows with confident energy that captivates her audience. She's got some strong material and quite the incredible family background (who'd thought that as a stand up comedian she's the most successful of her siblings, with one being an artist and another doing a a PhD on Jack the Ripper). A really strong hour of story telling and observations peppered with light whimsy (she's really good at telling you the average size of any bird species!), this was a very pleasant surprise, a shame I hadn't discovered her before. I'll be sure to check her shows again in future.

Score: 8/10
Venue: Monkey Barrel Comedy at Carnivore
Dates: 24th - 28th August (not 11th or 16th)
Time: 12:40
Price: £8

Show 13: Jordan Brookes: This Is Just What Happens

Jordan Brookes returns to Monkey Barrel for his latest hour. He's seemingly doing better than previous years, it's a less angsty, less tense hour, though there are still threats of self-implosion that keep us on our toes.

Brookes tells us he's not bothered about being called a 'slimeball', though he returns to this throughout, considering how others see him and how his behaviours impact on others. Minor distraction with an audience member taking photos of him and another being distracted by his sweatiness makes for fun asides.

At the end, we realise that all may not be what it seems when we find out just who called Brookes a slimeball (a twist almost reminiscent of Kitson's 'After The Beginning, Before The End' show). It doesn't quite match to previous offerings but his skill in pulling us into his slightly twisted thoughts makes for an overall intriguing hour from this former Best Show winner.

Score: 7/10
Venue: Monkey Barrel Comedy, Monkey Barrel 3
Dates: 14th - 28th August (not 14th or 22nd)
Time: 21:55
Price: £10