Edinburgh Fringe 2022 reviews: Ania Magliano / Leo Reich / Chloe Petts

ANIA MAGLIANO / LEO REICH / CHLOE PETTS Bisexuality, a stunning debut, and acting like a lad

Bisexuality, a stunning debut, and acting like a lad

Ania Magliano, Pleasance Courtyard 

Ania Magliano is debuting at the Fringe with Absolutely No Worries If Not, an hour that explores her sexual awakening. She has only recently realised she's bisexual, which means she still likes straight culture. “I think All Bar One is a great space,” she say drily.

Edinburgh Fringe 2022 reviews: Sara Barron / Jayde Adams / Sophie Duker

EDINBURGH FRINGE 2022 SARA BARRON / JAYDE ADAMS / SOPHIE DUKER Scathing judgments, expressive dance and lesbian cruises

Scathing judgments, expressive dance and lesbian cruises

Sara Barron, Pleasance Courtyard 

Sara Barron is known for her no-holds-barred comedy style – or “American energy” as another mum at her son’s school calls it – but in her fast-paced new show she pushes even further, addressing as she does her fertility treatment and a miscarriage.

Edinburgh Fringe 2022 reviews: Colin Hoult / Nick Helm / Susie McCabe

EDINBURGH FRINGE 2022: COLIN HOULT / NICK HELM / SUSIE MCCABE A sad adieu, a pandemic experience and the awfulness of hen dos

A sad adieu, a pandemic experience and the awfulness of hen dos

Colin Hoult: The Death of Anna Mann, Pleasance Courtyard 
 

Anna Mann – actress, singer, welder (you’ve got to have a back-up in this business, darling) – is the monstrous creation of Colin Hoult.

Edinburgh Fringe 2022 reviews: Tiff Stevenson / Seann Walsh / Rosie Holt

EDINBURGH FRINGE 2022 Tiff Stevenson / Seann Walsh / Rosie Holt

The world's biggest and best arts festival begins

 
Tiff Stevenson, Pleasance Courtyard ★★★★
 

Tiff Stevenson doesn’t like labels, and is particularly irritated by how the once mildly mocking insult “Karen” is now just another misogynistic slur. So she invented a label for herself, Sexy Brain, which is the title of her show, and over the hour she explains how she arrived at it

Sikisa, Soho Theatre review - a confident debut

★★★ SIKISA, SOHO THEATRE Gags range from dick pics to feminism and immigration law

Gags range from dick pics to feminism and immigration law

Sikisa is a new name on the comedy scene, but trust me you'll hearing and seeing a lot more of the south Londoner with Barbadian roots. Twerk in Progress, her in-progress version of her debut show Life of the Party, is a winning mixture of autobiography and social comment.

Joe Lycett, Eventim Apollo review - prankster goes long-form

★★★★ JOE LYCETT, EVENTIM APOLLO Prankster goes long-form in entertaining tale well told

Former Sewing Bee host tells a complicated tale

Joe Lycett’s career was on an upward trajectory when he took on hosting duties on The Great British Sewing Bee, and the crafting show delivered a whole new audience for his live comedy. But anybody thinking that his sweet-natured wit was all there was to Lycett might be taken aback by some of his stand-up material.

Ricky Gervais, SuperNature, Netflix review - a provocateur at work

★★★★ RICKY GERVAIS, SUPERNATURE, NETFLIX A masterclass in meta comedy

An equal opportunities offender delivers a masterclass in meta comedy

Irony can be a trump card for a provocative comic such as Ricky Gervais, and he plays it right at the top of his SuperNature, an updated version of a show he started touring in 2019, which was rudely interrupted by the pandemic and is now his latest Netflix special. 

Andy Zaltzman, Soho Theatre review - satire on the hoof

★★★★ ANDY ZALTZMAN, SOHO THEATRE Setting the world to rights, one joke at a time

Setting the world to rights, one joke at a time

Andy Zaltzman comes on stage to deliver a short preamble to his show Satirist For Hire. Much of the hour is suggested by the audience as they choose subjects they want him to muse on. Some have emailed before they arrive, others have left it till they arrive at the theatre; one shouts out a suggestion from the bar. Zaltzman leaves the stage for a few minutes to write some notes and then returns for the show proper.