Steve Bennett (I)
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 30
Alfie Brown: Sensitive Man review
Review of the thought-provoking comedian at the Soho Theatre ahead of a 2022 tour.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 11th November 2021Simon Amstell: Spirit Hole - review
The show mixes outrageous stories with insightful thoughts and barbed wit, simultaneously self-lacerating and superior. And since it has a strong thematic skeleton, there's a satisfying arc, as the vanities and insecurities fade away and Amstell finds himself growing up at the age of 41.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 10th November 2021BBC New Comedy Award 2021 review
Review of the competition finalists.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 7th November 2021Mammoth review
There are strong Life On Mars-in-reverse vibes to Mammoth, the new BBC Wales sitcom from comedian Mike Bubbins.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 5th November 2021Ahir Shah: Dress review
Ahir Shah is one of the most astute stand-ups around, so he's well aware of the pitfalls of basing a show on the past 18 months, in which we've all observed the exact same things and are in no rush to have some comedian remind us of them.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 4th November 2021Rob Beckett: A Class Act review
You can thank Covid for every comedian deciding they had a book in them once they were stuck at home, but Rob Beckett has delved deeper that knocking out a passable celebrity memoir by touching on matters of class and mental health that you might not expect.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 2nd November 2021Beat The Frog World Series Final 2021 review
This year's 'world series' final of Manchester's Beat The Frog new act challenge was a game of two halves. Before the interval the crowd were subdued, not even giving compere Danny McLoughlin's quick-witted ad libs the laughs they deserved; afterwards they were reenergised, and the comedians sharper too. Which is cause and which is effect is open to debate.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 2nd November 2021Steve Hughes: Are You Serious? review
I would never normally be so unprofessional to review a gig if I left before the end. But as Steve Hughes pulled up his stool to tell us he's not a conspiracy theorist, 'it's called knowledge, people', I found I had someplace else to be. And since the clock had edged past midnight by this point, decreasing public transport options of how to get there. Already the Australian outsider had spent quite a hefty portion of last night's gig on an anti-woke, men's rights agenda mixed with new-agey babble. Part 'do your own research, sheeple', part 'I believe in astrology'.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 29th October 2021Brighton Grin final review
Who would start stand-up in a pandemic? But despite the dearth of gigs in which to hone their craft over the past 18 months, the finalists in the first Brighton Grin new act competition last night set a cracking standard.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 28th October 2021Archie Maddocks review
Straight out of the traps, Archie Maddocks admits he regrets the title of this revived 2019 Edinburgh Fringe show - even though he's had a long pandemic to fix it.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 27th October 2021