Gareth Richards: Introvert - Never Been to Disneyland

Gareth Richards is, as his show title would suggest, an introvert. He tells us as much himself right at the start of his perfectly genial blend of comedy and songs. He doesn’t like parties, prefers his own company, and finds it uncomfortable talking to strangers. You might wonder why on earth he’s chosen standup as a career but, if he hadn’t, we’d be missing his easy, slightly geeky charm and effortless storytelling ability.

He’s a natural, likeable and confident performer, spinning out tales involving sometimes surprisingly intimate areas of his home and family life to back up theories on a wide range of topics from capitalism to Dungeons and Dragons. A lot of it is thoughtful stuff but, when emphasised by Richards’s laconic delivery, is perhaps a little too low-key to really lift it above, well, a perfectly genial blend of comedy and songs. There are more than a few belly laughs, though, and his songs accompanied by an 80s electric harp are enjoyable, if a little too meandering at points.

Richards soon moves beyond the whole introversion concept, and things are revved up a gear as he tackles his own guilt—and that of his parents, who flew to Disneyland without taking their children. Cue shocked reactions from the audience. Richards has got some pretty scathing things to say about his own young kids, though, and a horrifying but hilarious story involving a Tigger toy brings it all together in a neat but slightly unsettling way. Solid insights and well-constructed material from a promising standup.