Forget Oasis – this was the gig we absolutely had to catch this year. Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of watching clowns transition from their very first Edinburgh shows to levels of fame and fortune they probably couldn’t have imagined. Frankie Boyle, Russell Howard, Will Poulter and, of course, Mae Martin sit near the top of that tree… and then there’s Tim Minchin.

Despite an incredible debut show 20 years ago, I don’t think anyone could have predicted where his career would take him. From gigs at the Fringe to the Sydney Opera House and Royal Albert Hall, to writing award-winning scores for musicals that have dominated Broadway and the West End, and even grabbing prime roles in TV shows and Hollywood movies.

But don’t be fooled by his laid-back stage persona – none of this is luck. Our clown has earned every opportunity through talent, hard work, sacrifice, and a frankly ridiculous amount of creativity. Songs The World Will Never Hear is a celebration of that journey and gleefully skips back and forth through classic tracks that highlight some of the most significant moments in his career – or, as Tim himself puts it, “a shit show of tonal inconsistency”.

Ultimately though, however you describe it, this gig was an unabashed joy from start to finish.

Things kick off with a monta…— well, technically things start with a rock ballad encouraging the audience to turn off their fucking phones, but I don’t think that truly suits this narrative, so — we kick off with a montage taking us through the many performances of his Rock n Roll Nerd show, starting out in a small pub, transitioning through different gigs all the way up to the Royal Albert Hall, and ultimately hitting crescendo live on stage. There’s probably no better way to start a gig – the energy is instantly in the room, people are singing along, and everyone’s ready to begin this journey.

We won’t talk through every track – mostly because there were too many for a single review – but it’s worth saying there wasn’t a weak moment in the set. Further proof of this? There were, by our count, a solid album’s worth of absolute classics that didn’t even make the cut.

Highlights from the evening included one of the greatest performances of the environmentally conscious power ballad Canvas Bags, a version of Revolting Children from Matilda that showcased the incredible talents of guitarist Jak Housden, a beautiful rendition of White Wine in the Sun that left my comedy pal for the evening in tears, and – last but by no means least – a performance of my favourite track Darkside that rocked the very foundations of the Apollo.

And while the music was definitely the highlight (massive shout out to the band: Evan Mannell, Emily Moore, Jeni Magaña and Nick Etwell), it’s the fascinating little anecdotes connecting each song — giving us that personal, honest insight into our clown’s journey — that added the special touch you only really get from a live show.

I firmly believe Tim Minchin could make a mild tweak to this show each year and easily sell it out for the next few decades. But he won’t do that. He’s driven to always try new things, to risk failure, to brave the unknown.

Watching his journey has been amazing – and while it’s true that maybe only he can guess what he’ll try next…
…I’ll just be glad to have the opportunity to buy a ticket and experience it along with him.

Clown Stars: * * * * *

@Hammersmith Apollo, London

Further information on tickets for the tour, limited edition merch and the new Time Machine album release can be found at timminchin.com

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