Type and hit ENTER

Commonly used tags...

Brighton Festival Brighton Fringe Brighton Pride British Sea Power Cinecity Lewes Psychedelic Festival Locally Sourced Lost & Found Love Supreme Festival Mutations Festival Nick Cave Poets Vs MCs Politics Rag'n'Bone Man Record Store Day Save Our Venues Six Of The Best Source Virgins Streets Of Brighton Street Source Tattoos The Great Escape Tru Thoughts Unsung Heroes
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Advertise
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
Reviews

Brighton Fringe Review: Louise Reay

May 8, 2018
-
Posted by Ben Bailey

“You might think this is a shit show,” says comedian Louise Reay, during a rambling link between skits. “But my life is a shit show, and you get to leave after an hour.” It’s a good gag, but there’s also a sense she’s anticipating flak for going off-piste.

The Brighton-based comic recently returned from doing 35 dates in Australia, where she picked up an award as Best Emerging Artist last year. Now she’s back with a show called Eraserhead, playing a hometown gig filled with friends and family. The local support ensures a whooping reaction for her scatty banter and physical comedy routines.

However, what’s billed as a show about “censorship and oppression in modern Britain” turns out about to be a series of amusing but unrelated segments with slides of local park benches, videos of her mother (who is also in the audience) and a story about being stalked by an apparition of her imaginary unborn child.

The show begins with a goofy Talking Heads dance sequence and includes a prolonged childbirth fantasy sequence narrated in Chinese. Reay is a likeable performer with well-pitched personas – sometimes flitting from shrill attention-seeker to preening diva in the same sentence – but it’s just not clear why any of this is happening.

At the very end she explains that her original show had to be pulled for legal reasons. It turns out Reay is being sued by her ex-husband and can’t even really say much about it. We later learn that her case is in danger of setting a worrying precedent in allowing comedians to be silenced through litigation. In the wake of Count Dankula’s Nazi pug, this is a timely and important issue that would make a fascinating comedy show in its own right. Unfortunately, this isn’t it.

On the way out we overhear some disgruntled punters claiming the event should have been free since it didn’t deliver what it promised. It sounds like Louise has had a bad year embroiled in legal hell, but if those punters had their way Trading Standards would be after her for false advertising as well.

Komedia, Sunday 6th May 2018
Returns on Sunday 20th May

Brighton Fringe
May 8, 2018
Email
Ben Bailey
Ben Bailey is the editor of Brighton Source and a freelance writer. He also plays in a few bands and can sometimes be found giving talks on a variety of niche topics. He lives in Brighton and rather likes it.
← PREVIOUS POST
Brighton Fringe Review: Barry Loves You
NEXT POST →
The Limiñanas review
Mailing List

Recent Posts
  • Brighton Psych Fest 2025 Review
    Sep 26, 2025

    The second Brighton Psych Fest was a beauty as we got down with Getdown Services as the evening sunlight glowed through the Concorde Stained Glass.

  • David Devant & His Spirit Wife, Friday 12th December
    Sep 23, 2025

    One of Brighton's greatest live bands returns for a pre-Xmas homecoming party.

  • Nick Cave To Play Exclusive Brighton Show Next Summer
    Sep 15, 2025

    Nick Cave returns to Brighton next Summer for an exclusive show with The Bad Seeds in Preston Park.

  • Death Comes to Pemberley Review
    Sep 3, 2025

    Set six years after the marriage of Elizabeth to Mr Darcy, a murder on their estate takes this story into thriller territory.

  • The Lightning Thief Review
    Sep 1, 2025

    A high octane modern musical coming of age adventure about demi-god teens, complete with committed performances, stunning voices, and brilliantly inventive staging.

  • Betty Boo, Sunday 23rd November
    Sep 1, 2025

    The legendary Betty Boo is going on her first ever solo UK tour and you can catch her at The Green Door Store in November.

  • Mutations Festival 2025 Line Up Announcement
    Aug 28, 2025

    FORM are treating us to a Bonfire Weekend full of warm goodness, bangers and fireworks!

  • Pride And Prejudice Review
    Aug 27, 2025

    A beautifully realised adaptation of one of Jane Austen’s best loved books: giving us a grounded, real and hilarious retelling in perfect balance.

Website developed in Brighton by Infobo
Copyright © Brighton Source 2009-2023
Brighton Fringe Review: Louise Reay - Brighton Source