Tez Ilyas: Made in Britain

Tez Ilyas’s show explores the contradictions and complications of growing up and living in a Britain defined by Brexit, Islamaphobia, and criticism of communities’ failure to integrate – whatever that means. As such, his material serves to unpick simplistic stereotyping and confronts head-on the passive racism many suffer every day. It’s bracing to encounter such avowedly political material, confident in the role humour can play in challenging power.

Given the weighty material, Ilyas maintains an impressively light touch. He’s a charming performer, rebuking himself for moments of cheek in a manner that recalls Frankie Howerd. And he rightly fears that in taking a stance he might be called on to be a spokesperson for a whole race, or religion, or community, with all the absurdities of such a responsibility. To mitigate against that, his tales are situated primarily in his personal experience, centering on family, dating and ambitions for the future.

It’s a shame he doesn’t trust his evident skills enough to do a show that is just him and a mic. There are moments that don’t quite sing, such as parodies of Parklife and quiz shows, replete with audience involvement. In these the confessional and lived nature of the comedy are more distant, and thus the humour seems less personal and urgent.

But there’s not much quibbling to be had about an assured stand-up with a smart set of well-crafted gags. And it turns out Tez isn’t even his real name. If you go to his show he'll tell you what it is.