Five comedians, one night of comedy.
Amy Matthews compered, and she was lovely. Her crowdwork felt warm and supportive, and not just a means to delivering a bit. She engaged with the audience, giving a cheeky wink after she'd finished politely ribbing someone. She'd changed her look from blonde bombshell to winsome Millennial. Loved her.
The first act was Ross Leslie, an Edinburgh man currently living in Fife. He's also changed his appearance, now sporting a hefty beard. He did okay, garnering some big laughs.
Next up was Brennan Reece, and he killed. Best comedian of the night. Lots of jokes slipped into the conversation, topped with more jokes. I was chuckling so much I now can't remember what he talked about, apart from relationships and that God must be bisexual because he's been in all of us.
Alana Jackson, I'd seen at last year's GICF Gala. She started off with the same material about how she was from Glasgow but now lives in London, and how the English go to the pub, have one or two drinks, and then go home. She didn't even know that was possible. It's a tight bit, well written and performed, but old. I was so pleased when she moved on to fresh stuff, showing off her command of accents, even trying out some new material, which she wasn't happy with. A brave move for a theatre show.
Headliner, Felicity Ward, thinks she had ADHD, but hasn't had an official diagnosis because she keeps losing the forms to go to the appointments. She even distracted herself during her set as she stopped to watch an usher at the side of the stage (unless that was a cleverly acted bit). Then she discussed passing her driving test and offered some recommendations for what new drivers should be informed about. Unfortunately, she detected she was losing the crowd after this, especially after revealing she was going through a divorce and had discovered she was bisexual. She leaned into the awkwardness, but it didn't pay off.
Ticket Price: 2x £25 (plus Pay It Forward donation £5) = £55
Website Blurb
The Big Comedy Roadshow is a rip-roaring night of the very best live stand-up comedy starring the TV names you know and love alongside some of the hottest up-and-coming talent. Presented by Scotland’s original home of live comedy Gilded Balloon, this is the ultimate night out for comedy fans!
Star of The Office (Australia), Felicity Ward headlines this season following appearances on Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week and The Stand-Up Sketch Show. Joining her for a hilarious night of comedy is fellow Live at the Apollo star Brennan Reece, one of the Scottish comedy circuit’s best-loved acts Ross Leslie and Glasgow’s own, So You Think You’re Funny? 2024 winner, Alana Jackson.
Hosting the show is Amy Matthews, best known from appearances on Scot Squad and Comedy Central live, who’ll be bringing her signature whimsical comedy to the stage.
‘A smorgasbord of stand-up offering a fabulous, feel-good night out.‘
The Herald
PERFORMER BIOS
Felicity Ward
Felicity is a London-based comedian, actor, writer and knucklehead. As seen on Wakefield, BBC’s Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, Stand Up Sketch Show and direct from her very own Amazon Prime stand-up comedy special. As heard on The Guilty Feminist, The News Quiz and The Now Show. She’s been Best Comedy Nominee – Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 2018, won Best International Show – New Zealand Comedy Festival, 2016 and was Best Show Nominee – Melbourne International Comedy Festival, 2012.
‘A gloriously entertaining stand-up at the top of their game.’ Evening Standard
‘On stage Ward is the life and soul of the party, energising the audience and bouncing back off them, too.’ Chortle
Brennan Reece
As seen on Live At The Apollo (BBC), Celeb Coach Trip (E4) and Roast Battle (Comedy Central). Brennan is a multi-award-winning working-class wordsmith (Edinburgh Best Newcomer Nominee and English Comedian Of The Year Winner). A stand-up, a storyteller and self-confessed mummy’s boy. His boyish cheeks recently cropped up on Survival Of The Fittest (ITV), The Stand Up Sketch Show (ITV) Live At The Comedy Store (Comedy Central) and racking up over 6 million YouTube hits for his stint on Top Gear (BBC). A true Northern voice, with family close to his heart. Your Mum is going to love him! Not like that, you dirty little perve.
‘A powerfully entertaining, unstoppable force.’ Chortle
‘A teenage Alan Bennett.’ The Skinny
Amy Matthews
Lily Allen meets Kate McKinnon (Broadway World) in comedic force, as Amy weaves in and out of wry despair and whimsical imagination.
As seen/heard on the BAFTA-award-winning Scot Squad, Radio 4, BBC Radio Scotland, 5 Live; as a writer on Have I Got News for You; performing at comedy clubs all over the UK & Ireland; tour support for Rachel Fairburn, Alfie Brown and Jess Fostekew and winner of Best Newcomer at the Scottish Comedy Awards 2019.
‘Drily funny and giddily quirky.‘ The Scotsman
Ross Leslie
Scottish comedian, Ross Leslie is a regular at every comedy club in Scotland, since starting in 2012. His material on being a father of a very large household has audiences delighting in the crazy images he brings to life. This year he took his debut solo show to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Pretty Shy For A White Guy, at the prestigious Stand Comedy Club, earning a 4 star review along the way. He has recently become the star of the first stand-up comedy show on Scottish televison for over a decade, the Comedy Underground on BBC Scotland and iPlayer and is a regular writer and contributor to the station’s Breaking The News satirical comedy show. In 2018, in his third final, he finished third place in the Scottish Comedian of the Year competition.
‘He had a robustly put-together set….with a nice variety of gags and pleasing turns of phrase.‘ Chortle
‘Easy flow and solid gag rate.‘ The List
Alana Jackson
A proud Glaswegian now based in London, Alana Jackson won the coveted So You Think You’re Funny? competition in August 2024. Since then she has performed at some of the UK’s best loved comedy venues and gone viral with her hilarious clip on Glasgow funerals.
‘Relatable and witty, told with impact and flair.’ Chortle
‘delivered with an amiability reminiscent of a good friend down the pub.’ Fest Mag
