Review of Minchinhampton Comedy Night, in Minchinhampton Primary School Hall

IT’S not often you learn something new about your own son in front of 200 strangers, but finding out that your little darling is into online dating must surely be the ultimate perk of reviewing local shows!

Minchinhampton Comedy Night started as a one-night fundraiser for the school five years ago: now it’s back, bigger and better than ever, taking up two nights and bringing six new comedians to the town’s School Hall.

Last night’s performance featured Neil McFarlane, Harriet Kemsley and the big name act, Arthur Smith, with the three sets introduced by compere Geoff Whiting. And while I’d heard that stand-up could be vicious, last night’s show was actually pretty genteel with our compere working the audience beautifully to keep everyone entertained.

Established comic Neil McFarlane and newcomer Harriet Kemsley had the somewhat thankless task of supporting the main act, both providing a quirky variety of original material. But it was the main act we’d really come to see, and Arthur Smith didn’t disappoint: on a fleeting visit to the area, he’d picked up enough local subject matter to tailor his act for maximum effect, mixing the banter with one-liners, poetry and a Leonard Cohen song.

Jane Leigh