Review: Josie Long @ Warwick Arts Centre, 23rd January 2020

Josie Long: Something better

What does it mean to bring a child into the world? Josie Long‘s latest offering, Tender, delved into this in a uniquely touching and comic way, despite a lack of surprising subject matter, with childbirth, motherhood and climate change as the foundations underpinning it.

It’s always been the treatment of such ideas which has distinguished Long from other performers; dealing with bigger themes which audiences can relate to, but using them to make something much smaller and more intimate, surrendering the macro in favour of the micro, and zooming in onto tiny moments or fragments of thoughts and feelings – both as part of her stand-up and in her storytelling/documentary series, Radio 4’s Short Cuts.

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Preview: Josie Long @ Warwick Arts Centre, 23rd January 2020

Josie Long: Try a little tenderness

Who’s Laughing Now? favourite Josie Long brings her latest show, Tender, to Warwick Arts Centre in the new year.

The award-winning stand-up debuted the show at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, and will be taking it out on tour through the first part of 2020. A show for our times, it not only sees Long talking about becoming a mother but also about finding optimism and kindness in a world which often feels increasingly bleak.

Part unbridled joy, part call to action, Tender is at Warwick Arts Centre on Thursday 23rd January 2020. Tickets are available from the venue website and box office. A Birmingham date is at the Old Rep on Tuesday 25th February.

Review: Josie Long @ Warwick Arts Centre, 15th February 2017

Josie Long: Something better

Josie Long clearly enjoys a challenge. The award-winning comic set out to make her latest show, Something Better, a positive one to offset the grim reality of Brexit and Trump. While it certainly seemed the case that, based on audience reaction, she was decidedly preaching to the converted, Long’s optimism in the face of such depressing subject matter was no small feat.

A show powered by Long’s own introspection about the political climate, and how the reality is so far removed from her own ideals, clearly resonated with the audience here; a heartfelt and intelligent response to an overwhelming situation, and a dissection of her own abilities to grapple with the challenges ahead.

Preview: Sara Pascoe – Animal, on tour

Sara Pascoe: Animal

Top stand-up Sara Pascoe performs her latest show, Animal, in Midlands venues this month. Hot on the heels of publishing her book of the same title, Pascoe is appearing at Warwick Arts Centre and the Glee Club as part of her biggest tour to date.

Ahead of these shows, on 2nd June and 12th June respectively, Who’s Laughing Now? caught up with Sara to find out what audiences can expect.