Runner-up in Channel 4's So You Think You're Funny award in 2001 and in BBC's New Comedy Award in 2002, impressionist and beatboxer Stefano Paolini is now a regular on the UK comedy circuit.

He has provided voices for Channel 4's animated series Bromwell High, BBC 2's Double Take and on Radio 4's Dead Ringers, and made his Edinburgh debut with the one man show Britalian, about his half-English, half-Italian heritage in 2005.

Stefano Paolini supporting Al Pitcher's Picture Show
Live Review
Bloomsbury Theatre

As a second-generation Italian immigrant, Stefano Paolini understandably bases much of his act on the gap between his parents’ culture and his own. Admittedly, some of this takes the most obvious route of simply mimicking their accents – but he has the vocal talents to pull off these mini-characterisations with aplomb.

He’s also a pretty mean beatboxer, which never fails to please a crowd, and in one of his best moments combines this with a typically playful take on one enduring Italian stereotype, with a gangsta rap song as if performed by a tight-lipped Mafioso.

His is an evocatively light-hearted look at his family and national culture, and what it’s like to be an underachieving thirtysomething still living at home with his quirky parents. It makes the routine more about witty imagry than killer punchlines, so expect an amiably amusing ramble, rather than a comic romp that puts your sides at risk But he’s a personable guide through his own situation, even if the approach is relatively low-key.

When he works away from the personal and in more universal territory, however, the comparative weakness of the writing is more exposed, and the set notably lulls. An observational routine about how to tell whether someone’s posh or not is a stand-out, but the rest is rather ordinary.

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Stefano (The Britalian) Paolini was brilliant on the Jongleurs comedy tour last night in Huddersfield. 4.5 stars out of 5. In front of a recession hit, not-so-packed (Father's Day) audience his storytelling humour mixed with impressions were superb…check out The Brilliant Britalian.

Paul (The Bulletman) Kerfoot, June 2011

He was on fire last night off the Strand. Just fantastic. The jokes were subtle and clever and his impersonations right on the money. He's so smiley too. An awesome night!

Sophie, March 2011

Stefano is amazing - I've seen him several times now and he never fails to surprise and please the audience with his original mix of wit, impressions and even beatboxing - unusual, intelligent set

Anon, July 2010

Stafano did a middle 20min set at LaughterBox last Thursday: he is a real crowd pleaser - very funny material enhanced with hilarious character voices and impressions.

Cheryl Tucker, June 2010

This guy was amazing, i was crying with laughter all the way through! Easily the best of the night!

Vicky, May 2009

Real rollercoaster of an act, unmissable!

Michael Monkhouse, October 2008

A superb talent! A seemingly natural comic with the added bonus of a tremendous skill for impersonations. I'll certainly look out for him on the comedy circuit again.

Nicola Jones, April 2007

I have seen him a few times now and think he's hilarious, I challenge anyone to not laugh at his Al Pacino talking to Robert De Niro joke, the facial impressions and voices are hilarious! Another classic is his Star Wars rap using their main characters, totally talented and I'd pay to see him again too

Prashant, December 2006

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