Goodbear @ Pleasance Dome

Goodbear's Pleasance show plays out like an acting reel rather than a comedy hour, with duo Joe Barnes and Henry Perryment throwing in every accent and character impersonation they possibly can in their allotted time period.

Set in the Hotel Apres Vie, quite literally the Hotel for the Afterlife, and narrated by the two hotel concierges, we encounter all manner of guests and their stories are acted out. There are some funny characters here, like the American footballer holding a press conference in the hotel and the two yoga instructors channeling their spirit animals, but sadly most are unmemorable.

The acting is good but the sketches are clichéd: long-winded, over-dramatic lead-ups are followed by weak, predictable punchlines that aren’t worth the wait. The duo have good chemistry and are clearly both talented actors, but comedy just doesn’t seem to be their forte. With better writing and unique characters, Goodbear has the potential to be a good sketch show. But for the moment, their jokes just aren’t quite there yet.

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Goodbear, Pleasance Dome (10 Dome), 2-27 Aug, 9.40pm, £8-£11