This Review is from August 2024
Mark is a Fringe favourite and for good reason. He has been at the forefront of campaigning political comedy and activism for decades and his approach has never waned. Nor, to be superficial for a moment, does he seem to age. He’s also, very, very, funny.
Targets are as you’d expect. Long term issues of inequality and poverty in the UK, immigration policies, the rise of populist nationalism, and the lack of democratic accountability in the British political system. He doesn’t get too bogged down in day-to-day events, the recent far right riots are a symptom of a longer term issue and that is the focus.
Mark does have some fun at the expense of the Tory party and their disastrous recent election campaign. And he speaks with real anger about our former prime minister, Rishi Sunak, leaving a D-Day event early. “My Uncle David was in the mine sweepers that went in before the landing craft, right? And he wrote a letter to my grandmother two days after D-Day. He wrote about how much he loved her. I read it every D-Day.” He talks about ordinary people fighting fascism. “We have skin in the game. And Sunak pissed all over that.”
Not that he is impressed with the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer either. “…unless the Labour Party, the Labour government, attack poverty and inequality, it is pointless having them there, right?”
The comedy marches forward at pace. Far too many topics are broached, too many solutions offered, to list here. Having enjoyed the show I have come up with my own three-point action plan:
- Look into the feasibility of taxing billionaires to help address the UK’s budget deficit.
- Insert political messages into fortune cookies and place in Chinese restaurants.
- Defeat fascism.
Martin Walker
Podcast interview with Mark Thomas
Image art by Tracey Moberly
Tickets HERE
Reviews of Mark Thomas: Gaffa Tapes collated by the British Comedy Guide HERE
Mark’s Profile and Social Media HERE
