Show Rating:

Peter Buckley Hill is a leftover from a half-forgotten generational netherworld of comedy.

Between the post-Goons Spike Milligan and the point when Monty Python was lionised (which was well after the series finished) there was a world of anarcho-surrealism epitomised by acts like sadly-forgotten duo The Alberts, the early Greatest Show on Legs, Marcel Steiner and the Sir Henry elements of The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.

PBH is an anarchic showman firmly in the mould of this freewheeling era of surrealist entertainers who knew their comedy roots.

One sections of the show, for example, is called Great Books In Sheep – classic literature such as Wuthering Heights and Pride & Prejudice, dramatised by Peter with the use of two toy sheep.

This is a show where audience participation is called 'joining in' and one song is entitled My Great Uncle Thinks He's An Anorak.

Peter Buckley Hill left his full house audience smiling, warm and happy but, really, as I'm sure Peter would readily admit, this is the same old cobblers that has been peddled for the last 30 years. Malcolm Hardee peddled cobblers too, but he managed to keep it feeling fresh.

Admittedly shambolic and freewheeling, this show is also - as you might expect - free to attend and it is well worth that admission price.