Dara Ó Briain: Re: Creation
Review of the comic's tale of tracking down his biological father
Mock The Week might be back this weekend, but Dara Ó Briain’s stand-up show has nothing to do with jibes about Donald Trump or Nigel Farage.
Instead, Re: Creation is a companion piece to his last tour, So… Where Were We?, which traced his search for his birth mother who gave him up for adoption when he was a baby in 1970s Ireland. He calls that show his Philomena, though it wasn’t nearly as tragic as Steve Coogan’s drama.
Now the comic seeks to complete his genealogical jigsaw by tracking down his biological father. While this task seems to be achieved remarkably easily, Ó Briain still builds up an emotional head as he builds up the courage to contact him, while contemplating how the newfound family will react to discovering a previously unknown relative.
Throughout the yarn, he shows a lot of empathy and self-awareness, which makes it easy to invest in the feelings that surround his quest and his insertion into his new family, right up to its surprising climax. This is a brilliant rug-pull punchline provided by fate that has deeper, and funnier, consequences the more it sinks in – a fact Ó Briain expertly exploits by letting it hang for a moment.
He knows how to build a yarn, and the fact we already know him from a long TV career in which he projects a natural, ’what you see is what you get’ persona only adds to the audience buying in to his tale.
Before we get to this point, there's a first half of crowd work, with a couple of dead ends (some of which are caused by the garrulous comic talking so fast his interlocutors cannot keep up) before hitting a nicely absurd streak trivialising the work of an undersea oil engineer.
This sits along conventional observational stand-up about topics such as the changing fashions in pubic hair and the travails of being the father of teenage children who inexpertly snaffle his vodka.
While this sets up a couple of callbacks for later, part one can’t help but feel like something of a placeholder until Ó Briain gets to the guts of his astounding main story. However, the affable Irishman writes the everyman experience with witty and astute self-effacement, and always performs with vigour that keeps the show effortlessly entertaining.
But it’s that bombshell revelation that will really stick with you.
Enjoy our reviews? Like us to do more? Please consider supporting our in-depth coverage of Britain's live comedy scene with a monthly or one-off ko-fi donation, if you can. The more you support us, the more we can cover!
Published: 30 Jan 2026
Dara O Briain: So... Where Were We?
Given its seismic global impact, it’s no surprise…
27/10/2022
As unexpected guests go, Michael McIntyre is quite…
5/10/2021
St Albans Comedy Garden review
St Albans has become the latest city to get a big-name…
2/08/2021
Dara O Briain: Voice of Reason
Middle age strikes comedians in many different ways.…
22/10/2018
Dara O Briain at Latitude 2017
You need a certain confidence to be headlining Latitude…
15/07/2017
Dara O Briain is one of the most natural, straightforward…
12/02/2015
Dara O Briain at Latitude 2014
It’s hard to believe, but this is billed as Dara…
19/07/2014
For the opening night of its 20th anniversary year,…
3/06/2014
Dara O Briain is well aware that every show wants an…
20/10/2012
This is comedy as an endurance event – the sort…
25/05/2011
Dara O Briain at the Hammersmith Apollo
Dara O Briain has become such a part of the comedy…
17/09/2010
As the only comedian to have played all 15 previous…
10/06/2010
Nine Lessons and Carols for Godless People
Given his festive first name you might expect Robin…
1/01/2008
Charity gig programming is often a tricky affair, balancing…
1/01/2006
Description
Tickets available on Tuesday…
1/01/2006
Dara O Briain – Original Review
O Briain is one of those stand-ups who just seems…
1/06/2005
Dara O'Briain is surely one the most reliable comics…
1/01/2004
Last year, Dara O'Briain put together what he considered…
1/01/2003
Conventional wisdom suggests you need themes and structure…
1/01/2002
Dara O'Briain is yet another of those comics who has…
1/01/2001
Products
DVD (2015)
Dara O Briain: Crowd Tickler
DVD (2012)
Dara O Briain: Craic Dealer - Live 2012
DVD (2010)
Dara O Briain Live 2010
Book (2009)
Dara O Briain: Tickling The English
DVD (2008)
Dara O Briain Talks Funny
DVD (2007)
Mock The Week: Too Hot ForTV
DVD (2006)
Dara O'Briain:
Past Shows
Agent
We do not currently hold contact details for Dara Ó Briain's agent. If you are a comic or agent wanting your details to appear here, for a one-off fee of £59, email steve@chortle.co.uk.