Beneath this disarmingly charming performance is an angry victim of seditious policing. He keeps the politics palpable for the plebs – jokes are sprinkled throughout – but it is less a stand-up act than a soapbox. Particularly relevant after the recent riots, Ben Brailsford’s show humanises the criminalised protesters, separating them from the actual criminals, and highlights the increasingly dubious policing in our country. It begins with bassoon trivia, so the audience are, it’s fair to say, knocked a little off kilter, but Brailsford quickly brings them onside with a mixture of wit and charm. Swiftly moving into his story of being arrested at Fortnum and Masons and the shocking treatment he receives, the rest of the show is a fascinating hour.
Pleasance Courtyard, 3 – 28 Aug (not 22), 3.25pm (4.15pm), £8.00 – £10.00, fpp47.
tw rating 4/5
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Sections: by Julian Benson - ED2011 Comedy Reviews - tw rating 4/5 | Tags: Ben Brailsford, The Pleasance
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