Comedy / Features
Bristol Best of 2016: comedy
1. Jonathan Pie, The Lantern
November 16
“Jonathan Pie’s show lies somewhere between a comedy set and a political rally,” said our reviewer. “In a time when politics has lost any sort of rudder and a lot of progressives have decided to hole up in their safe space, this comedian may well be helping to shape some sort of viable populist response from the left. And he makes good jokes whilst he does it.”
Read the full review here
2. Fin Taylor: Whitey McWhiteface, Wardrobe Theatre
October 21
New show from ex-Bristol comic Taylor was a talking point at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. His subject is white privilege, that invisible force that he and most of his audience benefit from, silently and often unknowingly. Said our reviewer: “a restless, self-reflective, inconsistent performance, as uncomfortable and confusing as it is funny and thought-provoking.”
Read the review here
3. James Acaster, The Lantern
September 28 & 29
The audience “barely noticed themselves falling under James Acaster’s witty spell,” our review said. “His stories twist and turn down unsuspecting corridors of minuscule detail. You won’t see the big laughs coming, but out of nowhere they leap… honing in on the most trivial details of life and blowing them up into giant metaphors.”
Read the full review here
4. Katherine Ryan, Colston Hall
February 6
“Latest show KathBum is a trailblazing tour of popular culture and her own family history. From easy targets such as a blistering attack on Cheryl Cole and Donald Trump through to more delicate areas such as Bill Cosby and tsunamis, Ryan never shies away from the big picture. A perfect mix of self-deprecating Canadian and brassy Irish, Ryan is that rare breed of comedian who values every idea, dispenses of the flannel and whose every word counts. Simply put: brilliant.”
Read the full review here
5. Bristol Punchline: Summer Previews, The Greenbank
July 11-15
Much-missed promoters Bristol Punchline brought a brilliant a week-long celebration of alternative comedy to The Greenbank for one week in July. Award-winning comedians including Nish Kumar, Josie Long, Danielle Ward, Spencer Jones and Adam Hess looked in to preview their Edinburgh 2016 shows.
Read more: Bristol Best of 2016: theatre
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