Magners Pint Sized Comedy

April 2010

More Carl Donnelly videos

Winner of the 2006 Laughing Horse new act competition, the 2007 Chortle Award for best newcomer and the 2007 Leicester Mercury Comedian Of The Year.

Carl Donnelly: Relax Everyone, It's Carl Donnelly - Fringe 2009
Live Review

Carl Donnelly used to think he was going to be a boundary-pushing comic, 'Mr Edgy Pants'. But after an awkward gig in which he stumbled into a political minefield, he decided to change tack and just do 'silly comedy.' As he says, his use of the term 'Mr Edgy Pants' should perhaps have been an indicator of his limitations.

Happily, this 27-year-old South Londoner is very good at silly. Rather like a video shop Russell Howard (‘I'm not a character act,’ he says of his mass of hair and tinted glasses, ‘I look like this all the time.’), Donnelly manages to elevate such dippy observations like his bafflement at the workings of the Subway sandwich chain or his unwitting participation in a surburban dogging incident into lyrical, pacey, naturalistic stand-up.

He's all about the storytelling, with long, rambling build-ups in which he will stumble endearingly over words or, indeed, just make them up, then take a few detours onto other, only slightly related areas, before ending on a killer punchline.

These are well constructed anecdotes, delivered deceptively casually, but a little variation in rhythm would be welcome, as there’s no sense of crescendo. Similarly, this debut solo show demonstrates that Donnelly could do with broadening the scope of his material. While his take on wanking, drinking and chats with his mates down the pub is fresher, funnier and far less blokey than it sounds on paper, it's a little obvious.

But these are no biggies really and easy to overlook in the face of Donnelly's winning persona. It's just impossible not to warm to this self-deprecating, idiosyncratic slacker who gets flustered about using 'swearsies' in front of an audience member's mum, delights in people mishearing his name and, on the edge of death after a heavy drinking incident, laments never having been in a motorbike pyramid.

Watch his star rise.

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Saw his Edinburgh preview in Darlington on Sunday. Carl is a natural entertainer, with some very good material. For my money he’s a must-see for Edinburgh this year.

Colin, July 2009

Just saw Carl's Edinburgh show preview and must say I was very impressed. Carl got off to a terrible start with a awful Hussain Bolt/Baby gag however, Carl's ability to adlib so well soon got him back on the audiences side and he soon had the room laughing with a very good set. A few tweeks here and there and this show should be well on its way to a lot of good reviews.

Craig Ratcliffe, June 2009

Saw Carl Bubbly in The Pavillion in Porthcawl. What a funny fella. Nearly got hysterical at one point I was laughing so much - it was the lettuce that nearly tipped me over the edge. Would go see him again anytime. Fab.

Ryn, June 2008

Saw this guy at London's Round Table and loved every minute. Really good audience rapport, really silly sense of humour. He may not be the wittiest comic around but he certainly works for me.

Michael Monkhouse, May 2008

Significantly wonderful

Steve Hall, May 2008

I've only seen this guy as an MC and not actually perform a stand-up set, but I still think he's brilliant. He kept the audience going after a couple of not-so-good acts, and he has a really warm, friendly persona. When I saw him Tony Law and Adam Buxton were on the bill too and it was the best round-up of comics I've ever seen in one night!

Ash, April 2008

Saw him at Leeds weekend, best comedian ever, hilarious stand up act. Can't wait to see him at Bangor uni even if he is just compering, should be so much higher on the bill.

Katie, November 2007

Excellent. Really good on stage and some of the best material Ive heard in ages.

Barry Dodds, June 2007

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