Alastair Clark: Vote Russell Brand @ Cabaret Voltaire

Comedy, much like other art forms, tends to disproportionately attract performers from the left of the political spectrum; and Alastair Clark is no exception. A self-proclaimed ‘hard-lefty,’ Clark engages with his audience on the topic of disengagement, or, to be more precise, political disengagement. Inspired to action by the antipathy shown by Russell Brand towards the current political system in his now infamous Newsnight interview, Clark sets about outlining his own political upbringing and enlightenment in a show that stumbles around all-too familiar political tropes, with little bite.

From the outset, it’s par for the left-wing course, with the Tories, New Labour and the Daily Mail the target of Clark’s quirky diatribes. There are, however, few punches in material that adopts a more mocking, Average Joe tone, than that of an acerbic social activist truly appalled by the political establishment.

With an affable, phlegmatic manner, it is at least pleasing to know that Clark has chosen to talk politics rather than the staple comedic diet of YouTube, cats and reality TV that many of his more high-profile contemporaries shamelessly indulge in. The rather dichotomous content ranges from the populist, to the esoteric. A routine about Ed Miliband’s bumbling awkwardness arouses laughter, even despite its somewhat contrived nature, as does a far more nuanced comparison between the salacious exploits of David Cameron and a former US President’s penchant for ambiguous statements. Perhaps if the show was less scripted, with diary and poster props featuring ad nauseam for structural purposes, then Clark could get a better gauge of his audience and perhaps utilise his material accordingly.

While clearly trying to straddle the line between political comedy and making fun of politics, Clark ultimately fails to deliver fully on either account; this despite faint glimmers of genuine talent for the former.