Sean Prower

This review will be slightly different to that of previous shows, due to this being a warm up night for Moran previewing new material for his new upcoming tour, as yet un-named.  As such I won't even suggest the shows themes as routines are likely to change but I'll... [more]

Event Date: Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Event Venue: Arc, Stockton-on-Tees

This review will be slightly different to that of previous shows, due to this being a warm up night for Moran previewing new material for his new upcoming tour, as yet un-named.  As such I won't even suggest the shows themes as routines are likely to change but I'll describe what I can.

Firstly, for a preview show, you may not expect a large amount of material and of course you'd be right.  Moran will be adding and cutting material from his show all the time until he knows which jokes find the most laughter.  As such there were a few pauses and gaps but that is understandable and too is interesting for any wannabe stand ups in the crowd to see how a professional deals with remembering, delivering and changing topics whilst on stage. 40 minutes in Moran did seem a bit lost and suggested an early interval.  He joked that the audience needed drinks.  "I'm just thinking about you."  The crowd laughed and he laughed because we knew he needed a quick interval revision session backstage.  After 20 minutes he was back on stage and did a generous 45 minutes and an extra 5 minute encore (which I think was rather good of him considering he didn't have to do one).

There were three or four old jokes slid into the set most likely just to stretch the act out but you could hardly notice on some occasions for the amount of laughter he accumulated.  The old jokes would have maximised about 10 minutes of the night.  Again, this is not a problem for a warm up though if they appear in the finalised new tour, certainly that would be up for criticism but that won't happen.  Like I say, Moran will be adding new material all the time and there is enough to last for a full show.  Moran's combination of comedy and rage that we have grown to love was not absent either.  His wit, anger, sarcasm, wine and chocolate was all present.  This partly is the character side of him as he was a friendly and polite man at the end of the night thanking the crowd, throwing out his chocolate to someone and people were sad to see him go.

One thing that ruined the night, and this wasn't Moran's fault, was the actions of an audience member, who, in the most polite way I can describe him without swearing, was a monumental tool.  10 minutes into the second half, Moran noticed an orange light from the crowd and sure enough, the man admitted to recording him.  There is nothing more annoying for a comedian than noticing someone record you and especially when it is new material you don't want it spread right across the web.  So all you people who record shows rather than watch them, don't come.  Buy the DVD and no-one will complain.  Leave the tickets for someone who will buy them to listen and laugh.  Moran got some revenge though with some comebacks which was met with crowd applause.

The Arc is a small venue and it is brilliant and an honour to see such a famous name in stand up perform in your town.  Dylan Moran does not and will not disappoint.  So go and see him.

Remember though, this was a preview show.  Things are likely to change but if his new tour was anything like this, I suggest keeping eyes and ears alert for tour dates and tickets. [less]

The Arc is now beginning to gain a reputation as a good, small venue for comedy.  In the past three to four years, the likes of Rich Hall, Michael McIntyre, Jason Manford, Mark Watson, Ed Byrne, Rhod Gilbert have set to the stage leaving the audience wanting to see... [more]

Event Date: Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Event Venue: The Arc, Stockton-on-Tees

The Arc is now beginning to gain a reputation as a good, small venue for comedy.  In the past three to four years, the likes of Rich Hall, Michael McIntyre, Jason Manford, Mark Watson, Ed Byrne, Rhod Gilbert have set to the stage leaving the audience wanting to see more. Earlier in the year, the Arc had the pleasure to present the rare-to-this-area delight of Dylan Moran previewing material for his new upcoming tour.  Now, John Bishop has done a warm-up show for his new planned tour and I can say without any hesitation that Bishop deserves the hype and popularity he is currently getting.  The fact he has been given a prime time stand up/sketch show on BBC1 will tell you that.

No disrespect to previous acts at the Arc, but Bishop ranks as one of the best comedians I have seen there.  Being a preview show, this wasn't a conventional run of set material/interval/set material/encore but that didn't stop him ploughing the audience down with fits of painful laughter.  His array of comedy ranged from one-off local material and practise jokes in the first half and deadpan and risky one liners, fun audience interaction, real life stories from fatherhood, family, school and odd past gigs throughout the second half which are likely (and hopefully) to be heard in his finalised material for the tour.  Despite the preview element of the evening, we did expect a few pauses here and there of Bishop thinking on stage whether to do that joke or not, which stories to tell and whatever other pieces of material might pop up suddenly in his head and that is fine for a show like this.  It was a spectacular couple of hours well spent.

It is hard to describe a preview show.  One night is never identical to the next, even if the same material is told but preview shows as well as having a selection of the comics best jokes and stories, also will have some of their 'B-material'.  Bishop got a positive reaction from every joke he told and that can be hard to achieve.  Some comics will get titters and chuckles but like Dylan Moran before, Bishop managed to accumulate howls and piercing laugher from start to finish.  If he plays near you, take my advice and go enjoy yourself for a few hours. [less]

Lee Mack's new 2010 tour "Going Out" is worth the wait and is already one of my top rated stand-up shows within the last few years. A positive to Mack's routine is the ability to make a joke, remark or jibe to not one but several audience members and be... [more]

Event Date: Sunday 28th February, 2010
Event Venue: Newcastle Theatre Royal

Lee Mack's new 2010 tour "Going Out" is worth the wait and is already one of my top rated stand-up shows within the last few years. A positive to Mack's routine is the ability to make a joke, remark or jibe to not one but several audience members and be able to make it appear as a singular comment, not letting the crowd know that it is actually going to be a running joke throughout the continuation of the show.  If a subject or theme crops up which Mack has connected with an audience member he'll make a sly gesture in that person's direction and make another comment, bound to arouse more laughs from his crowd, which as a side-note he won over seconds after walking on stage.  

This is yet another positive I retrieved from "Going Out" which was the "machine-gun" effect of joke-telling which Mack uses to a tremendous and confident effect.  As usual I shan't be reciting jokes for the politeness of those in waiting to see the show but I shall try to describe his procedure in delivering the material. Mack occasionally will move into storytelling (not that the stories are long so considering the speed of his delivery for a show of his nature, this is a good sign) but outside of this he does tend to do quick runs of jokes before moving on once again to either another story or audience member.

In juncture with this, when you hear an excellent joke or remark made by him (which, believe me, will happen) toward an audience member during the performance and later forget it (which apparently science tells us is an admirable sign of a good show) you are likely to hear him refer to it more than once for running continuity.  It could too be seen as a way to obtain a "double laugh"; you're laughing at the present joke yet reminiscing on the previous, connecting jibe.

Lee Mack is one of the few comedians who alongside examples like Ross Noble and Al Murray can handle audience interaction and use it not just to an advantage in order to obtain extra laughs but too as a stomping ground for gathering new material.  It is particularly special being able to watch Mack do this live; being able to fit these newborn stories and facts into quick, workable, engaging comedy.  You laugh so much that the 90 minute set plus encore seems to last half and hour.

Simon Evans for the evening (and probably most of the tour) was Lee Mack's support act.  Evans too is a sublime comedian.  A review of his 25-30 minute warm-up set can be found on his ents24 page.

As a conclusion, Lee Mack won the crowd easily and will quickly sell out future shows in no time at all.  If you fancy seeing him, chances are tickets are scarce now what with most nights being sell outs, but do keep an eye open for warm up shows for some hopeful new tours in years to come. [less]

Well what can I say about Derren Brown's fourth tour ENIGMA that doesn't reveal anything from the show that would ruin it for those who haven't seen it?  The only thing I can say is that it is THE GREATEST SHOW I have ever seen.

I have seen 'Tricks of... [more]

Event Date: Wednesday 3rd June 2009
Event Venue: Newcastle Theatre Royal

Well what can I say about Derren Brown's fourth tour ENIGMA that doesn't reveal anything from the show that would ruin it for those who haven't seen it?  The only thing I can say is that it is THE GREATEST SHOW I have ever seen.

I have seen 'Tricks of the Mind', 'Trick or Treat', and his televised live shows but it becomes absolutely nothing when you see him live.  From TV people can't help think that tricks may have been pre-arranged with and shot repetitively until the trick works out.  It just isn't the case live.  Derren has one attempt and every time his tricks and games worked to  perfection.  They were immaculate.

Throughout the night the audience were thrown into fits of laughter and stunned silence.  We were amazed yet scared at the performance given.  The stunts he performs are impossible when heard but to see the stunts he does live, there in front of your eyes, is unbelievable.  What I've said really doesn't put across how spectacular this man is.  He is a wonder to see.

Again, Derren with his trusty frisbee's, hurls them in the crowd, in the stalls, up to the circle for completely random members of the public to join him in his mind games, trickery and scary, baffling and hilarious stunts.

People may call Derren Brown a performer but he is more than that.  He is an entertainer.  While he may amaze us with reading the minds of blindfolded strangers and summoning spirits with his illusions and guesswork, he does it with a smile on his face and toys with the crowd to which there was laughter throughout the whole night.

I'm not going to say what happens in the show and I don't want to.  It would ruin it for you and also Derren asks his audiences not to reveal what happens as it would be unfair and spoil it for those who haven't.  So all I will say is: just don't underestimate ENIGMA. [less]

An intimate venue at the Stockton Arc and Mark Watson made the night a total success. Spending 10 minutes before the show wandering around the theatre happily chatting with the audience makes him a friendly, open character as well as seriously funny one. At 8 o'clock he walked down the... [more]

Event Date: March 13, 2009
Event Venue: The Arc, Stockton-On-Tees

An intimate venue at the Stockton Arc and Mark Watson made the night a total success. Spending 10 minutes before the show wandering around the theatre happily chatting with the audience makes him a friendly, open character as well as seriously funny one. At 8 o'clock he walked down the theatre trying to catch everyone's attention; not on stage but standing near the 4th row. He gave a full-hearted welcome and but was worried about his entrance, saying it was a boring start to the show. He suggested he should hide which everyone found really childishly fun. Having tried stairs and the speakers, a man suggested Mark should hide under his seat. Mark was open for anything and shifted past 10 people to hide under this man's seat and then shouted: 'Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mark Watson! Excuse me mate, can I just get past.' Hilarious 1st half getting the crowd warmed up with his stories about a sausage roll and his family before his stress-related health scare. The 2nd is him saying how he tried to avoid stress and how afraid he is to speak up for himself, from being touched by a man near Cardiff station and hearing a sex song while in the car with his dad. Not a bad crowd and Watson worked them to his advantage. True though, you get the full effect of Watson's comedy from the more intimate venues. Nevertheless, a great comedian. Well worth a watch. [less]