Watching Geordie comedian Ross Noble pinball his way through over two and a half hours of surreal comedy is a sight to behold. It also leaves you wondering if the whole experience has been one of pure comedy genius or utter lunacy. One thing is for sure though, Ross Noble will guarantee you a night where anything could happen.
With no apparent theme to the show, Noble effortlessly feeds off his audience with the comedian happily veering off at any given time depending on those conversations. A quick look around the sold-out venue sees his scattergun approach to comedy leaving as many people bemused as it does in hysterics. A friendly conversation with audience members in the front row early on triggers Noble and, before long, his plan for a “classy night of comedy” has gone right out of the window and into routines about one unfortunate audience members bowel habits.
Of course, it’s not all unplanned mayhem as Noble explores a range of topics in the first half with both the Tetley Tea Men and Greta Thunberg amongst the subjects up for discussion. Furthermore, if you want to know which musical icon Noble considers to be a #nannasexpest, strap yourself in as the comedian reveals all. Unsurprisingly, the pandemic comes up at various points throughout the show as the Geordie comic recalls his last two years in lockdown including the delights of homeschooling and the differences between living in the UK and now living in Australia.
After the carnage of the first half, the second half doesn’t start any less chaotic. Within minutes of his return to a Squid Game inspired stage, another random conversation with an audience member has sent the comedian off on another tangent. Then, midway through the second half, Noble pulls the whole chaotic night together for an utterly jaw-dropping routine about sign language before wrapping things up as he recalls a couple of very unfortunate incidents in a hotel. Probably the most structured moments of the entire show, both routines demonstrate how Noble isn’t just a master of the surreal but one hell of a storyteller as well.
A gift of a handmade blanket left on stage by one pair of local fans leaves Noble genuinely moved but just goes to show the love his fans have for the funnyman. However, after this two and a half-hour comedy onslaught, you are left wondering if his family enjoyed the same feelings having had Noble entertaining them twenty-four hours a day for two years during lockdown? To be honest, it seems like a question Noble has wondered himself.
So, is this show utter lunacy or comedy genius? For the most part, it’s the former but, after witnessing the last forty minutes or so of the second half, it’s hard to deny that Noble is anything other than a comedy genius. Be warned though, if you’re going to step into his world, as he showed in Leeds, be prepared for anything to happen.
You can find a list of remaining dates and tickets here.
