Page 164 - Katherine Ryan press pack 2015-20

Matt Forde, Purcell Room

Where the political comics when we need them? True, a
lot of stand-ups do political material, but nobody I can think of does one hour of straight-up, gag-
packed political comedy (with no observational or personal material to distract us from the
matters in hand) other than Matt Forde. He was in top form in Brexit Through the Gift Shop,
which does what it says on the tin, but as a former adviser to the Blair-era Labour Party, he gives
us an insider's view of the political machine. In addition, he is a talented impressionist, so
audiences get more bang for their buck. However you vote, whatever you think of Brexit, Forde is
an important comic voice for our times.
Matt Forde is touring until 18 May 2019

Rose Matafeo, Pleasance Courtyard

The New Zealander picked up best show at the
Edinburgh Comedy Award for Horndog, and it's easy to see why. At face value the show is
simply a lot of lighthearted fun, but look a little deeper and you appreciate just how clever Rose
Matafeo is being as she picks apart female sexuality and desire, and what really women are
really like when they don't have the burden of male expectations placed on them. To combine
silliness with examining some really meaty subjects that include the #MeToo Movement is a neat
trick but, like all good comics, Matafeo makes it look easy.
Rose Matafeo is at Soho Theatre 7-19 January 2019

Marcus Brigstocke, Pleasance Courtyard

There aren't many comics who do shows about the state of
our souls, but Marcus Brigstocke did with great verve in Devil May Care. He appeared as the
Devil, complete with horns, returning to earth to explain the real meaning of good and bad to a
humanity that seems to have forgotten the difference. It was a highly original show, and the