Newcastle University Comedy Society Showcase

I can safely say that the average age of the RAOB's clientele has never been this low. As a gaggle of 20 year olds assemble for Newcastle University’s freshest and finest comedy talent, I consider how much older I am than they, how reassuring it is that the weight of the world has yet to crush their spirits and also how obviously terrible these student comics are going to be.

Fortunately (or not, depending on your point of view) standup appears to be alive and well in the student unions of the North East, and the four acts here show talent that belies their age. Liverpudlian host Marc Smethurst is an excellent compere – affable, confident, and funny where it matters. Charlie Rowley has great stage presence with an interesting take on the first dance at his wedding. Belfast’s Alan Fletcher comes across well but gets too involved with the audience. Material across all comics, however, sticks to familiar student comedy tropes – drinking, chat up lines, drinking, mobile phones and, er, drinking, until Johnny Pelham wraps up the show brilliantly as he discusses his recent liaison with the NHS in a suitably honest and self-deprecating style.

A mixed bag, yes, but a decent hour of free comedy. Damn them all.