Suzi Ruffell: The Juggle
Review of the comedian recording her latest tour
Despite its title, Suzi Ruffell’s The Juggle is not about the familiar struggle of juggling parenthood and a career. Rather it’s about how becoming a mother has been affecting her self-image, as she comes to see herself through the innocent eyes of her toddler daughter.
Her child thinks she is cool, clever, brave and strong – though Ruffell spots telltale signs that those scales are falling from her eyes. And the comic knows in her heart that she is none of those things. She’s scared of spiders, ghosts and the dark… and as for being cool, she fills her show by re-living her most cringe-inducing moments, of which there is no shortage. From the weirdly specific lie she told a cab driver to avoid identifying herself as a stand-up to stories from her schooldays of being an outsider seeking friendship and belonging, but finding only humiliation
From the mouths of children also comes some body- and career-shaming, with the youngster unable to see how talking to people can possibly be a proper job. And things will only get worse, as proven by an encounter with a typically sneery teenager who penetrates Ruffell’s soul by deeming stand-up a bit of an ‘ick’ because of the desperation of seeking the approval of strangers.
But you have to admit Ruffell is VERY good at winning that approval. Owning her embarrassments with witty anecdotes and pithy self-analysis connects her to the audience, who hang on her every word. That’s especially effective when telling spooky stories of ‘haunted’ hotels she’s used on tour. Ghost stories have even more resonance tonight, amid the atmospheric, distressed faded grandeur of Wilton’s Music Hall where the comic records this long-running tour as a special.
Becoming a mother with her wife Alice has also prompted Ruffell to look to her own upbringing, and the outdated parenting style of her father giving her an accidentally harsh life lesson at Chessington World Of Adventures, one of the stand-out anecdotes of this storytelling-led show.
As she grows up, Ruffell’s daughter is also starting to become curious about death, although the comedian is not so good with mortality herself, a confession that leads into a wonderfully bizarre yarn about what happened when a vet had to put down her pet cat of 12 years. And yes, Ruffell can make a dead cat funny.
Delivered with an animated physical energy that sees her use every centimetre of the stage, the emotional honesty at the heart of her routines is readily identifiable, even if – unlike her – you can get through an episode of Bluey without blubbing.
What made her teary was the simple message that what’s important in a family is love – whatever that family looks like. The love Ruffell has for her daughter is certainly palpable – and exposing the small-minded ‘you need a mum and a dad’ mantra of bigots like Nigel Farage for the spiteful intolerance it is.
The political message might be a surprise, but Ruffell’s comic instincts are too strong to labour the sincerity without undercutting it with a gag. And the pill is further sweetened by a proper showbizzy ending befitting this music hall – and that gives some closure to that awkward Portsmouth teenager she once was.
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: 10 Jun 2026
If you object to wearing a mask for health and safety…
18/09/2020
With her gregarious, in-control nature, it was probably…
22/03/2020
Greenwich Comedy Festival 2019 opening night
The Greenwich Comedy Festival is always a late-summer…
5/09/2019
Suzi Ruffell: Dance Like Everyone's Watching
Suzi Ruffell has a frank and disturbing admission:…
13/08/2019
Oddly, ITV2’s new way of presenting stand-up…
28/01/2019
James Acaster, Nish Kumar, Suzi Ruffell and John Robins
Day two of the Greenwich Comedy Festival and the quality…
14/09/2018
Suzi Ruffell: Keeping It Classy
Tricky thing, class. Suzi Ruffell thought she was working-class,…
10/08/2017
This is a joyous hour. Suzi Ruffell has nabbed the…
22/08/2016
Brighton Comedy Festival 2015 gala
The Brighton Comedy Festival opening gala is usually…
10/10/2015
Brighton Comedy Festival 2014 opening gala
Tesco had to close a supermarket in storm-lashed Brighton…
11/10/2014
Leicester Comedy Festival Preview Show
How do you sum up a whole festival of 520 shows in…
13/01/2013
There's so much to like about Suzi Ruffell that it…
12/08/2012
Someone once remarked that the one consolation of a…
12/08/2011
Laughing Boy New Act Of The Year 2011
Another day, another new act competition... this one…
16/06/2011
Leicester Mercury Comedian Of The Year 2011
It's always a joy to take in the Leicester Mercury…
20/02/2011
Products
Book (2025)
Am I Having Fun Now? by Suzi Ruffell
Past Shows
Edinburgh Fringe 2019
Suzi Ruffell: Dance Like Everyone's Watching
Suzi Ruffell: Dance Like Everyone's Watching
Agent
We do not currently hold contact details for Suzi Ruffell'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.