JADAR

★★★★★

Live at Christmas was a comedy event headlined by Sara Pascoe, alongside Tim Key, Steen Raskopoulos, Ivo Graham, and Sophie Duker as host.

From the moment the doors closed in the main area, the evening was set up to be a fantastic one. Every comedian gave an absolute masterclass in audience interaction, authentic storytelling and delightful holiday spirit.

From the moment I entered the space, the atmosphere was delightfully festive and high spirited, and it is not an exaggeration to say that this was the happiest Manchester audience I have ever seen. The creatives should be praised for the beautiful lighting design, highlighting the cheery atmosphere and perfectly timed musical numbers and sound effects for each performer, including Tim Key’s highly emotive and spontaneous performance. The entire production was remarkably detailed and exceptionally well done.

Throughout the entire show, I was delightfully starstruck by some of Britain’s (and Australia’s) greatest comedians, the majority of whom I knew from their time on Task Master (a very respectable approach to British Culture). Each comedian had a widely unique set that highlighted their personal skills and senses of comedy, truly making this an evening with something in it for everyone.

Sophie Duker was an absolutely delectable host, who guided the audience through a wildly entertaining evening. She had a phenomenal grasp on the audience, easily receiving some of the loudest laughs of the evening. Her approach to hosting was a mix of standup, audience interaction, personal stories, and a beautiful traitors sketch that left the audience in pieces.

From the moment she entered the stage, she assured the audience that this would be a production worthy of five stars. Duker tied a loving bow on the entire evening, and I could not praise her higher for her timing, wit and delivery.

On a personal note, her various Christmas outfits were absolutely fantastic. It’s absolutely heartwarming to see such a powerful female comedian rocking the stage. Duker will be back on tour in the new year, stopping by Salford on February 23rd, a show not to miss.

Ivo Graham dazzled the audiences with a dark countdown of the worst moments of Christmas 2023, with high relatability, daring satirical comedy and an underlying subtlety that put audiences at ease. One of the best indicators of a strong standup comedian is their ability to make their stories feel both relaxed and intentional without feeling over-rehearsed. Graham did this effortlessly, with a charmingly charismatic and delightfully humorous set. Though majorly revolving around sports, his piece was entertaining for the less than knowledgeable football fans. Ivo Graham will be performing across the United Kingdom from the 14th of January (last minute Christmas gift, anyone?).

Steen Raskopoulos offered hilarious comedy sketches with a surprisingly beautiful voice, revolving around everyone’s favourite topics: Sports, Movies, and Music. Each sketch was carefully written to create a world that was seamlessly tied together, sharing an impressive repartee of characters. Each topic had exceptionally well-timed punch lines and unexpected character reveals. He has an obvious talent for sketches and performance, making a wonderfully entertaining performance, and delivering a fantastic representation of circular comedy.

Tim Key, a comedian I have looked up to for ages, delivered a delightful performance. His set was remarkably quick-witted and included an impressive amount of audience interaction. His set was one of the more emotionally intense throughout the evening and including loud yelling and audience berating. Key has always been an excellent performer – connecting with 2,000 people in 15-20 minutes is no easy feat, and he did it wonderfully. Key used a mix of props, poetry and interaction with his group to push the narrative forward; it was truly a delight to watch. I did not understand every reference, and this could be partially due to my age and connection with the comedic culture in England, but regardless, this was a phenomenal performance, where I laughed throughout.

Finally, the main headline of the evening was the one and only Sarah Pascoe. Pascoe is a highly vulnerable comedian that is able to effortlessly depict details of her day-to-day life in an approachable and highly comedic way. Her style of storytelling is absolutely perfect for audience members who prefer a fast-paced and personal approach to comedy. She gave a thrilling final set, making the wait worth it.

I found her set to be highly structured and organised, not demanding for audience interaction but instead guiding the room through her stories. Her comedic style is perfect for all members of the family, with a steady rising theme in how motherhood has changed her as a comedian. Pascoe was absolutely brilliant, with a very clear grasp on writing both high and low comedy. By the end of her set, I wanted her to continue. I found her set to be exceptional, and I look forward to seeing her again in the future.

Photo: Madison French @ JaDar