John Richardson

John Richardson

  • Joined: March 6, 2024
  • Articles: 52

REVIEW: Finlay Christie: Champagne Casanova @ Monkey Barrel Comedy 4

Reading Time: 2 minutesThis show made me feel young, being a year older than Finlay, seeing him explain what an incel was to someone in the front row must be the gen z equivalent of hearing someone explain the internet to your parents 20 years ago. Being a zoomer isn’t the only embarrassing identity Finlay flaunts on stage, he is a self admitted, posh, comfortable, trauma free comedian who in his own words “can afford to keep doing stand up even if you think I’m bad”. Finlay gets us onto his side fairly quickly, doing better than a lot of trust-fund comedians do at the fringe, mostly by telling some hilarious, embarrassing stories that paint him as the butt of the joke.

REVIEW: Olga Koch: Fat Tom Cruise @ Pleasance Courtyard

Reading Time: 2 minutesHave you ever wanted to see a theatrical hour of comedy with jokes about fraternity hazing rituals, the Hague, and the American civil liberties union? Me neither but Olga Koch weaves them all into a high octane comedy show exploring fear and gender all while sprinkling in some gripping stories and emotional curveballs.

REVIEW: 2:22 A Ghost Story

2:22 A GHOST STORY by Danny Robins ; Production ; Cast: James Bye, Shvorne Marks, Grant Kilburn and Natalie Casey ; Directed by Matthew Dunster and Gabriel Vega Weissman ; Set Designer Anna Fleischle ; Costume Designer Cindy Lin ; Lighting Designer Lucy Carter ; Sound Designer Ian Dickinson (for Autograph) ; Casting Director Matilda James ; Co‑Casting Director Annelie Powell CDG ; Illusions Chris Fisher ; Fight Directors Rachel Bown‑Williams & Ruth Cooper‑Brown of RC‑ANNIE ; Vocal Coach Hazel Holder ; Production Manager Matt Ledbury ; Props by PropsWorks London Ltd ; Producers Tristan Baker, Charlie Parsons, Runaway Entertainment, Isobel David, Kater Gordon ; Associate Producers Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, Roast Productions ; Tour ; Royal and Derngate;
Northampton ; 8 January 2026 ; Runaway Entertainment ; Credit and copyright: Helen Murray www.helenmurrayphotos.com

Reading Time: 3 minutesA  gripping ghost story stained by a calamitous ending

REVIEW: Jessica Durand: Over The Top

Reading Time: 2 minutesOver the top on one hand is a story about WW1, the brutality soldiers faced in grim impossibly large and slow battlefields resembling hell. On the other hand it’s a really really really funny and camp self-insert fan faction story about Jessica Durand finding her kinky lover Ms Trunchball (yes from Matilda), featuring the characters of Downtown Abbey, Kermit the Frog and more.