Roisin Conaty: Life Hunter

Quick of delivery and chatty of style, the 2010 Best Newcomer Edinburgh Comedy Award winner puts in her most accomplished show to date. True to her no BS approach, Roisin Conaty grasps a well-worn theme—that of the pursuit of happiness—and wrings its neck with some lively personal vignettes, managing to squeeze out something refreshingly original.

Establishing early on that nothing escapes her, she’s an observational comedian whose eye never leaves the ball. Who else would be bothered to watch the facial expressions of people as they dance and note the exact moment when they register the absurdity of the pursuit? It’s not that Conaty has a hedonistic outlook, but she recognises that those things that are meant to make us happy aren’t all they're cracked up to be. She makes a convincing case against sex toys on this basis. Moreover, the things that are bad for us, like smoking, at least have the upside of allowing us to bail out of boring conversations.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Conaty is that, while her self-confessed discomfort with silence means there is no stopping her, she can still make the room feel included in that conspiratorial way that standups thrive on. Supplying a higher than average belly laugh rate, there is still more to come from Conaty. In today’s saturated and competitive comedy market, her nominations two years ago won’t be enough to necessarily guarantee her path to happiness in the industry – hopefully her undeniable talent will.