So, how was Mark Watson’s final tour preview gig in the new Pleasance Rear Courtyard space? We’ll come back to that.

For this year’s covid-compliant Fringe The Pleasance has transformed its second largest outdoor area (usually a buzzing bar) into a theatre space that our clown, who had been on said stage for his entire run, was quick to point out the idiosyncrasies of.

Mark Watson decided to start this gig somewhere in the middle of the audience, he pointed out that as the venue had no walls, and it was still sunny, he could see every single one of us no matter where he stood and that, to him, was terrifying!

It also turned out that Oscar winning director Sam Mendes had come to watch Mark a couple of nights prior and he hadn’t actually spotted him, so wanted to ensure that didn’t happen again.

Our clown also explained that the second he stepped on stage he would begin to be heckled by the colony of seagulls who roam the rear of the venue… Which is exactly what happened.

That all being said none of these things were complaints – our clown was thrilled to be back at the Fringe and in an incredibly good mood. Like us, he had carried out the pilgrimage to Edinburgh in August 2020 just because it simply felt wrong not to.

This was a marvellously entertaining show with Mark, who has always had a love of tangents, trying to cram a polished 90 minute show into an hour. It was madcap at times but also highly entertaining and hugely funny.

The subjects varied from lockdown and family to living in Adam Hills attic and his ‘Monica Seles’ moment.

Our clown was also very aware that as he was cramming too much material in to the time whilst also adding in new topical bits he would often say ‘we’ll come back to that’ and never actually do so. This continued on this night but really was just all part of the charm.

This was a clown loving being back on stage and everyone who catches the full tour performance (where he actually will ‘come back to that’) will be in for a treat.

Clown Stars (* * * * *)

@Pleasance Rear Courtyard, Edinburgh