The Thursday Show

The Stand’s Thursday Show boasts the same line up as its coveted Saturday Show but at a reduced price; though it would be hard to discern it from a regular Saturday night judging by the atmosphere on arrival.

Edinburgh’s dedicated comedy club is filled to capacity with regulars and visitors alike, and it is Jo Caulfield (best known from Mock the Week) who oversees the proceedings. Caulfield can appear somewhat out of her depth on the BBC show, but here her self-confidence hits the right note every time. She easily generates a good buzz amongst the crowd with acerbic but good-natured wit before introducing the first act of the night: Danny Lobell.

Lobell launches straight into an off-the-wall set leaving nothing sacred; not even the holocaust. This Jewish New Yorker dives straight into this minefield with extremely well delivered gags that are reminiscent of Will Ferrell’s style.

After the interval we are treated to Wendy Wason. This self-confessed 'over-excited mum' delivers a fast-paced and breathless performance, surprising the audience with some barbed remarks amongst her high-pitched anecdotes and tangents that leave you feeling as if you’ve been through a whirlwind.

She is followed by the altogether more cynical Ray Bradshaw, a young Glasgow native who uses his astute observations of Dundee to draw considerable laughs from the locals. Bradshaw is incredibly endearing and is sure to become a favourite of The Stand.

Jo Caulfield comes back to sum up what she has learnt from the crowd (koala bears are not bears) before Simon Munnery takes to the stage, casting a cynical eye around the crowd. Munnery’s style of humour is a departure from what we’ve seen already tonight, including harmonica numbers and a surrealist take on modern life that is a great ending to the night. This Thursday night line-up was an absolute tour de force which left us feeling that, with the reduced-price quality, we got incredible value for money.