Forty years is a great length of time to do any job but Mark Thomas has been doing stand-up for 40 years and he still has so much to say.
Last night he brought his experience and personality to the stage of Brighton’s Komedia and we were engaged from the moment he started talking. He opened by filling in as his own warm-up act, retelling how he became a Guinness World Record holder for holding the most demonstrations in one day, bringing the tale to life by adding the voices of those involved and updating it to show the impact of his actions. We were reminded how much of an advocate he has been for social justice throughout his comedy career and just how humble he can be about his achievements.
The second half, a taste of what to expect at the Edinburgh Fringe, focused on who Mark is today. At 63, he feels he should have learned some lessons by now and perhaps not be so concerned but knows he’s still just getting on with life.
He talked about his role as a parental carer, something he takes extremely seriously, drawing out the challenges and the joy that comes in moments of conflict. We all connected with the descriptions of his mother, a wonderful character who is clearly challenging, exasperating, inappropriate and very much loved by her family. He also talked about modern society, acknowledging how things are changing while we stay still. His take on politics has always been a strong source of material for him, lampooning every wing of the party-political spectrum but with a particular focus on the extremes. He has little time for them.
Mark is still campaigning, still passionate and still pulling out stunts to make the people around him sit up and listen. His bin sticker initiative is particularly pertinent but we will let him explain just what that is about.
Fast-paced, gripping and very funny, Mark delivered a great evening of comedy. As he says, he’s been doing this a long time. He doesn’t need to work the room or get to know the people in the front row; he’s brought his own jokes and he is going to tell them. We felt completely safe in the hands of an experienced comedian who knows just who he is.
Mark Thomas is continuing his “40 Years In Stand-Up” tour across the country including a gig at The Old Market in Hove on Saturday 7 November.
You can find a complete list of his tour dates here.
