Big Gay Dave

From his 2012 Edinburgh Fringe Show

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Born into a circus family Martin had an early career as a juggler, unicyclist, knife thrower, fire-eater, and magician. As the result of an accident in the big top, in which he sustained a shattered ankle, he was forced to retire from performing his freestanding ladder/tall unicycle/ basketball juggling/pyrotechnic act and became a stand-up comedian.

His picture is featured on Trivial Pursuits. The Genus Edition. He is on one of the arts and entertainments squares, wearing a leotard

Martin Mor: Fringe 2012
Live Review
Stand 2

There are smarter shows at the Fringe, more innovative ones, too. But if your aim is to sit for an hour and laugh for as much as possible, you can’t go far wrong with Martin Mor.

Well-established club comics often struggle at Edinburgh, either by failing to realise Fringe audiences have different expectations; or by trying too hard to engineer their material around a structure that isn’t there.

But the big, cordial Northern Irish comic has done just enough to give his sociable stand-up sufficient purpose to feel that the hour is going somewhere, yet is not too inflexibly tied to it that he can’t just muck about and have fun.

The theme is the most malleable one possible: image. To be harsh, you could say this whole show was an extension of the hack comedian’s clichéd lines about what they look like. But Mor – probably the UK’s most distinctive comic in appearance thanks to his impressive beard – sets up the show with a Robert Burns quotation, so this is clearly art not just a bloke talking nonsense.  ‘O would some power the giftie gie us / To see ourselves as others see us.’

So he talks of being mistaken for a biker, or a deviant Santa, or – in the word of a seven-year old – ‘an hilarious giant’. Don’t judge the book by the cover, he says: he got quite a surprise when he did just that with a hot-looking woman in Texan bar, in a story which ends in an old-fashioned Western brawl.

He speaks with animation and excitement. His eyes light up on some of the naughtier topics like a child in a sweet shop, and that feeling sweeps through the intimate Stand 2. Everything runs like a fluid conversation, too, subtle conversational gambits with the audience dovetailing with prepared material, but also allowing him to indulge in banter that’s actually funny. The trick is that he listens and engages, rather than just asking a question for the sole reason of allowing an opening to a routine.

The crux of the show is that he got Year 7 kids to describe him based on a picture, than passed those on to an artist who’d never met or seen him – and asked him to paint the man the kids described. The result doesn’t reveal much about anything – just like the rest of the show. But for a collection of hilarious first-hand anecdotes, you should ask for Mor.

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Saw Martin at Kill For A Seat at the MAC. Superbly funny. Had the audience roaring with laughter. A warm and engaging comedian, he was able to use some rather crude material but with such charm that he didn't offend. Thoroughly enjoyed the banter with the audience. His material was excellent and his delivery was spot on.

Kevin McDermott, July 2012

Seen martin at the Stand Newcastle and he was brilliant an as compere. He made the night

anthony young, January 2012

Just seen Martin @ the Hull Comedy festival,and he was by far the best act of the night

zoe, October 2010

I saw him as Frankie Boyle's warm up. Also at Louth on his own, Very good act, very funny, deliciously filthy and a pleasure to watch

Garry Edwards, October 2010

I saw him as Frankie Boyle's warm up guy - he was funnier than Frankie Boyle!

Kiwi Girl, September 2010

You can tell he's a genuinely lovely bloke. Although if he's actually a miserable sod that would make his act even more impressive. He's a pleasure to watch and his goodwill is infectious. A fantastic MC.

John Hall, September 2010

Absolute genius. Talented. A natural. Cheers big man

zack, August 2010

Cracking comic, seen him a couple of times when he was supporting Frankie Boyle's 2008/9 tour. Lots of interaction with the audience , deliciously filthy and a pleasure to watch.

Ni Tle, May 2010

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