The Invisible Dot emerges from the ether once more, in a spectral reincarnation of its former self. Once upon a time, The Invisible Dot, nestled near Kings Cross, stood as one of London’s quirkiest venues – a haven for the unconventional, a breeding ground for comedy’s renegades. It was a place where heat and sweat clung to you like a second skin, the bar was a cramped oasis, and if nature called during a performance, it roared like a lion in the Colosseum. But I’ll be damned if I didn’t have a soft spot for it.

Enter 2Northdown, the phoenix rising from those same eccentric ashes. They’ve patched up the place quite nicely, though the cursed toilet acoustics still linger like a ghostly specter. The seating plan has been scaled down – comfort infused into this intimate space. The bar, while improved, could use a broader arsenal of gin and vodka, but most crucially, they’ve managed to preserve that elusive festival spirit.

Tonight’s stage featured two promising comedians, both in the throes of refining their work-in-progress shows. Ella Woods, whom I had the pleasure of witnessing at last year’s Fringe, and Chloe Green, embarking on her maiden voyage into the uncharted waters of a non-mixed-bill Fringe show.

Chloe, a warm and welcoming presence, mingled with us and fellow patrons at the bar before taking the spotlight. She dove headfirst into the rough seas of stand-up, clearly testing the waters for the first time. Amidst the waves, there were moments of genuine humor, but you could sense the unease in her delivery, as she sought validation with a recurring refrain, “That last bit was okay, right?” She did, however, unleash the punchline of the night, a visceral “Vaginal slip n slide,” albeit still fine-tuning the joke’s mechanics. Her energy and the embryonic show held promise.

Ella, a seasoned comic, graced the stage next, radiating instant likability, bolstered by her experience. Yet, much like our previous contender, this was a notepad-out work-in-progress show. My hope for this particular clown was tempered, as I yearned for more. She possesses a natural knack for winning over the crowd (half the battle, mind you), and her concepts are sound. However, that elusive killer punchline continued to elude her grasp. Granted, it’s a work in progress, and my impatience is known to be insufferable.

I genuinely wish these two young jesters all the luck in the world with their impending shows, and I’ll undoubtedly return to 2Northdown for future performances.

Clown Stars: (- unrated -)

 @2Northdown – Kings Cross, London