Okay, so full disclosure, this is not a straight review of Samira Banks, but after our most recent visit to 2Northdown, we thought we’d have a bit of fun. Let me start at the beginning…

Pre-payday January sucks: it’s been ages since that December payday, and guess what? Christmas and New Year are expensive! But now it’s almost February, and you and your friends need a night out in London that isn’t going to destroy your bank balance. It was at this point that I remembered £2 Tuesday at one of our favourite quirky comedy spaces.

Everyone was on board, so I grabbed a set of tickets, and we met in the Big Chill just over the road for pre-show drinks (also a Happy Hour on Tuesday). While we were chatting, I looked up the line-up for the gig and spotted this phrase in the event description: “In years to come when they are MASSIVE COMEDY STARS, you can brag to your friends ‘I saw them at 2Northdown for £2 once!'” Quite the claim… so we decided that after the gig, when we were safely back in the pub, we would vote for the clown that we felt had the best chance of actually honouring it.

We headed over to the venue just as it was opening, grabbed some drinks, and took our seats as the cosy venue filled around us. Our compère for the evening was Karen Hobbs, who worked the crowd and could stunt double for Katherine Ryan if such a thing were ever needed. Her highlight may have been a weird muesli-based interaction with a chap in the third row who she thought was called Zeus (he clearly said ‘Andy’). He had the flowing locks but that was where the similarities with the ruler of Mount Olympus ended.

I realise that we have already given away the identity of the clown who stole the show, but it was honestly a close-run thing. Jessie Nixon performed a top-notch set, and it’s easy to see why she has opened for Fern Brady in the past; she can effortlessly take ownership of a stage and has an easy flow with the audience. Her material is strong, and it’s clear she has far more show-ready material in the locker than the brief set this show allowed.

Despite all of that, Samira Banks just pipped her as our clown of the evening. Her style is reminiscent of an early Phil Wang, with its deadpan delivery and some devastating punchlines that seemingly come from nowhere… although, having said that, there is never not a cheeky glint in her eye just before she pulls the trigger, letting the crowd know that she is completely aware of what she is about to do.

The newer acts on the bill included Rohan Sharma and Archit Goenka, two young clowns with some great individual gags that can be polished up as they continue to hone their skills. This is the perfect gig for doing just that, and I certainly wouldn’t be disappointed if I find them on future mixed bills.

Finally, we come to Yiannis Cove, last on the bill and let down massively by the tech on the night – which would normally be completely excusable and in no way his fault, were it not for the fact that he was actually in charge of it. (In fact, he actually flexed about the power he wields as the man in charge of tech and production at 2Northdown… yup, awkward.) But no harm done, and it certainly wouldn’t be fair to comment too harshly on his performance under those circumstances.

All in all, it was a fantastic evening and incredible value for just a couple of quid, especially when we discovered two acts that we would gladly pay far more to see a full set from in the future. 2Northdown is a venue that punches far above its weight, the staff are welcoming, and the intimacy that the space creates really pulls you into the gig. We’ll be back

Clown Stars: (- unrated -)

@2Northdown – Kings Cross, London