J, Dre, Seuss, Pepper, Robotnik… these are the names that most quickly spring to mind when I think about doctors I’d spend time with. And yet here I am, waiting eagerly in the audience to see my second Dr turned clown in a month!

Our venue for this evening is the Palace Theatre in London, which is also the home of ‘Harry Potter And The Cursed Child’. This dramatic set gives the show a sense of gothic drama even before our clown walks out in scrubs and full PPE. In fact, if it wasn’t for The Borrowers-style pill bottles and the most ‘jazz hands’ heart monitor ever, you could be forgiven for thinking you’d come to see a Victorian-era amputation….

Our clown for the evening is Adam Kay, a former doctor who has been touring this show for quite a few years. This is by no means a negative, however as, having now seen it, I doubt it will ever lose its impact or message.

Most clowns would spend a solid part of the intro riffing off the Harry Potter vibe from such a venue. Adam walks over to his keyboard, plays the first few notes of the now famous movie franchise intro, gets a laugh and moves on with the show – we have a lot to cover.

This show is a true journey, spanning tales of his early career (including a de-gloved penis – don’t look it up – and a true Kinder ‘surprise’) to highly entertaining covers of popular songs with the words changed to cover medical situations. There are too many to call out but he may have both ruined an Avril Lavigne track and improved a Take That one for me.

Another highlight is the audience participation medical quiz where all the answers replace the word ‘Hallelujah’ in the classic Leonard Cohen song of the same name. I was chuffed when I thought I’d nailed it with “Schi-zo-phre-nia” – but sadly the answer was “Par-a-noi-a”… you get the idea.

As with many of my favourite comedy shows things then take a turn for the serious. We cover the real reason why he left medicine and the amazing charity that this show has allowed him to support (details below). As you’ll know if you’ve read Kay’s bestselling book This Is Going To Hurt – which includes more diary extracts that he can pack in here, it’s a fascinating yet brutal story that hits home the even darker side of the gallows humour.

The show reverts to type for the final act and closes to thoroughly deserved applause. Our clown takes a bow and, looking directly at the upper circle where the majority of medical students were sat, mouths an additional heart felt ‘thank you’ before leaving the stage.

Clown Stars: * * * * *

@Palace Theatre, London

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