It has been quite a while since Robin Ince performed a full run stand-up show, we know this because he is always one of the first clowns we look for when the program drops though our door. So, you can imagine how stupid we felt when we arrived at The Stand for this gig only to realise that we were at the wrong venue! 

My cock-up was slightly vindicated when two other couples obviously heard me say “I know where that is” and literally chased us on our race between venues. I only mention this enjoyably chaotic, slightly sweaty, race because it may have been the perfect introduction to this show.  

As we file into the venue Robin is sat happily on stage drawing on a melon, in time with his intro music, it’s performance art before we’ve even started! As the music stops Robin shows the face, he has drawn on the melon and exclaims “look, it’s Vernon Kay!” before punching the melon repeatedly in its new face until it is nothing but pulp. 

Personally, I didn’t need any explanation for this, I occasionally watch Formula E so completely understand the desire to do that to Vernon Kay. But, thankfully for our clown’s mental health, there is a better reason. This ‘bit’ is exactly how his first ever Fringe show ended some 19 years ago and is explained in one of the many anecdotes and gags that are machine gunned at us over the next hour.

As the title suggests, this show is all about Robin’s love of all thing’s comedy, from his childhood introduction to the Goodies to the passing of legendary piers that he both respected and loved.

Our clown is trying to cram so much into this hour that I don’t believe that he has ever truly finished a show or delivered the same experience twice – and this is part of its brilliance. There are great stories, impressions, admissions, and material from other comedians which he uses as a homage and to pay his respects. There is also A LOT of sweat! Robin was apparently named the sweatiest comedian on the Fringe and it’s not hard to see why – the front row should almost receive SeaWorld style splash warnings.

So, this show doesn’t really have a conclusion, and nor should it, I would have quite happily sat there for another hour, or until Robin ran out of batteries! We both left the venue exhausted from just watching the show, and both vowing to see him again at the next available opportunity. Just wow!

If you’d like to catch this show, then this is where you’ll find his live dates – robinince.com/live-dates/

Clown Stars * * * * *

@The Stand, Edinburgh

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