REVIEW: Colchester Fringe Comedy Showcase and further fringe reviews

George Curley reviewed the Colchester Fringe Comedy Showcase and other shows on offer at this year's Colchester Fringe.

With so many shows to review at this year's Colchester Fringe, we asked journalism students from the University of Essex to cast their critical eye over the weekend’s offerings!

John Merryck (4 stars)

The geezer that is the cheeky, effulgent, and playful John Merryck portrays his laddish humour through the foundation of his experiences as a cockney with life-experience like that of Del-boy. A happy-go-lucky bloke with well-timed gags to spark laughs throughout the audience.

Aaron Jay (3 stars)

Aaron Jay embodies the comedic style of the witty Essex lad who’s just peaked in puberty. This style, mixed with his passive-aggressive and astute approach to create smart and well-executed self-deprecating humour allows him to shine in front of any audience.

James Beatty ( 4 stars)

The fun-loving and adventurous humour of James Beatty creates a warm welcome for the audience, who James perceives as mates he is talking to. This approach makes Beatty the most comfortable on stage, which, accompanied with his sarcastic comedy and dancing formulates an interactive and wholesome show.

Victoria Shortley (3 stars)

Victoria Shortleys stand-up act can be attributed to that of a scene on Miranda, whose smart, satire and self-based humour relies massively on the execution. Shortley succeeds in execution and is sharp-witted in moments of the show.

Relentless Poetry By Mistake (4 stars)

Discover a chronicle of poetry courtesy of Dr. Anthony Roberts, whose love of poetry and seemingly tireless dedication to reading 523 poems over lockdown is expounded in this reading of poems from across the world. His interaction with the audience is a clear example of his message that anyone can be a poet. His intelligent insight into poetry formations and techniques leave you feeling with an urge for artistry.

'Harp-Guitar In Concert (5 stars)

Skilled ‘Harp-guitarist’ Jon Pickard leaves viewers astounded after his masterful performance with one instrument which could be perceived as three. When played by Pickard, the Harp-guitar transforms into a tool of spirituality and nature. The ability of the instrument to teleport the listener from the woody oaks of a forest in Ireland, to the deserted dunes of Egypt is breath-taking. Pickard’s anecdotal routine when playing the Harp-guitar adds in-depth context and sets up an image for the audience. If you’re going to see one thing this year, make it a harp-guitarist.

An Evening with Labourer George  (4 Stars)

Join Labourer George as he invites you to listen to tales of his youth. Ranging from his playful exploits when he was a child with his friends, to his cheeky, imaginative stories about the value of friendship and mindfulness. He sings hymns from his Bible of adolescence to capture the hearts of the audience, who all, in some way, can relate to his crazy, true-to-life fables.

Back To The Roaring Twenties (4 stars)

We have some idea of how people danced in the past 50 years, but rarely seen is dance pieces with inspiration from the Twenties’, or the Roaring Twenties should I say? Three dancers give us this insight with a delightful mix of Drag and LGBTQ culture conjoined with a Twenties atmosphere. An intertwining of decades and cultures is notoriously a difficult art to achieve, but the team behind Back to the Roaring Twenties was able to create a spectacle of Chaplin-style cinematography in their dancing.

Read other reviews from Colchester Fringe 2022