Richard Gadd – Monkey See Monkey Do

Wow. Richard Gadd achieved what should be impossible when he put together an articulate, immersive, pulls-no-punches show communicating directly to the gut about toxic masculinity, mental health, anxiety and so much more in a visceral and wrenchingly personal way. There was no flinching from this – and so much the better for it. None of these are unfamiliar topics for comedy shows, but to bring them all together into one is outrageously ambitious and all the more incredible for achieving that ambition. Literally running from the monkey on his back for the majority of the show, Gadd rinsed himself physically and emotionally to make it all work, incorporating perfectly timed multimedia to place his audience directly into his world – into his head and insecurities, the self-destructive behaviour laid bare, resulting in a show that is both incredibly brave and generous.

Komedia, 1 March 2017
Rating:
Victoria Nangle