Mark Thomas - Dambusters: Tales of Dissent

Venue - Queen's Hall
Reviewer - Daniel Winterstein

Good comedians are usually described with terms such as "hilarious", "side-splittingly good", "I literally laughed my head off", etc. All of which apply to Mark Thomas, but then so do "moving" and "heartfelt". You don't usually hear that said about a stand-up comic, but then this isn't a normal stand-up show. Thomas is as much a political activist as a comedian, and he delivers an intense mix of facts, real stories and comedy that is reminiscent of no-one else.

The focus of the show is the Ilisu dam - a despicable (British government backed) project in Turkey - and efforts to stop it. This provides a wealth of material that is unconventional to say the least (rape, torture, murder, western hypocrisy). He also has a few things to say on the subject of our just wars.

Thomas has an easy manner and also takes the piss out of left wing groups - "Friends of the Earth are furious. They're tutting and some of them are holding candles." - and especially himself. He soon has the audience in the palm of his hand. Compared to his TV series, he is cruder (e.g. comparing the USA's promise to protect the Iraqi Kurds, to when a big man in prison says `You gonna be my wife'), funnier and more emotional live. At over two hours it's a long show, but never dull. The energy by the end is incredible. People cried.

Contains strong facts which many people may find upsetting.

UK Tour dates 2001

October
24      Edinburgh               (Queens Hall 0131 668 2019)
25      Cheltenham              (Pillar Room 01242 227979)
29      Cambridge               (Arts Theatre 01223 503333)
30      Belfast                 (Elmwood Hall 028 9066 5577)
31      Leicester               (Phoenix Theatre 01162 554854)

November
1       Newbury                 (Corn Exchange 01635 522733)
6       Glasgow                 (The Tron 0141 552 4267)
7       Glasgow                 (The Tron 0141 552 4267)
8       South Sheilds           (Customs House 0191 454 1234)
12      Derby                   (Memorial Hall 01332 255800)
13      King?s Lynn             (Arts Centre 01553 764864)
14      Brighton                (Gardner Arts Centre 01273 685861)
15      Redhill                 (Harlequin Theatre 01737 765547)
19      Manchester              (Comedy Store 08705 932932)
20      Manchester              (Comedy Store 08705 932932)
21      Swindon                 (Wyvern Theatre 01793 524481)
22      Harrow                  (Arts Centre 0208 428 0124)
26      Southsea                (Wedgwood Rooms 01705 863911)
27      Southsea                (Wedgwood Rooms 01705 863911)
28      Manchester              (Dancehouse 0161 237 9753)
29      Cardiff                 (Sherman Theatre 02920 646900)

December
3       Spalding                (South Holland Centre 01775 725031)
4       Coventry                (Warwick Arts Centre 024 7652 4524)
5       Coventry                (Warwick Arts Centre 024 7652 4524)