Tom Deacon and Chris Ramsey

Having formerly announced myself as a brutally honest reviewer it gives me phenomenal pleasure to continue on my hot-streak of unadulterated praise to the Tuesday nights of stand-up at the Pleasance Cabaret Bar. Chris Ramsey got the night off to a top-notch start, his broad Geordie humour being tailor-made for a smaller venue that just won't get warmed up without some frank, honest gags. A very accurate impression of what was to come was given by checking out his accolades before the Tuesday evening, and by viewing his performance recently on ‘Russell Howard’s Good News’.

His performance was a complete success as his somewhat coarsely-delivered stories totally won over the audience, and when coupled with his irresistible northern charm it was an act which will remain a firm favourite. 

Tom Deacon, the 2007 winner of The Chortle Student Comedian of The Year back in 2007 (conquering Simon Bird, The Inbetweener’s ‘Will’ in the process), brought a slightly edgier and sharper performance. Deacon has had tremendous success performing on BBC Radio 1, (which probably justifies his ‘look’, devilish goatee included), which will no doubt have had a brilliantly positive effect on his ad-libbing abilities. Despite looking distinctly ‘street’ he exuded an infectious, confident humour which instantly electrified the Cabaret Bar. Deacon possessed an ineffable sense of comic timing that delivered pun-line after punch-line spot on and kept the vibe buzzing constantly from entrance to exit. His anecdotes brimmed with great material, meaning that the pressure was lifted from the final climax and instead kept the audience backed-up against the wall throughout the mercilessly hysterical set.

It may well sound repetitive but I’ve always been told not to lie - get to the Cabaret Bar next Tuesday and join me on my odyssey of entertainment; I’ve a feeling the supply of incredible quality comedy is far from spent!