Ali Woods - Basher at Norwich Arts Center Review

Written by Eleanor B for Theatre and Tonic

Disclaimer: Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review. All views are our own

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Supported by Hamish Shepherd, Ali Woods’ new stand-up show Basher was a fantastic way to spend a Tuesday night.

Like many people, I was first introduced to Ali Woods through his sketches on social media, so having the chance to see his comedy live, beyond those short clips, was a real treat.

There was a wide range of ages in the audience at Norwich Arts Centre, and for the most part, the jokes landed across the board, getting big laughs throughout. There were a few darker or more controversial moments that did not quite hit with everyone, but overall, it made for a really enjoyable evening.

Without giving any jokes away, the show covers everything from travelling with his dad and some slightly uncomfortable bedroom situations, to the importance of empathy, and how exhausting it can be trying to be endlessly empathetic and “woke”, especially when you are behind the wheel. He also taps into the painfully awkward reality of being an 18-year-old on a night out, trying, and mostly failing, to pull. It is all very relatable and delivered with great timing.

Support act Hamish Shepherd was a strong start to the evening, warming up the audience with relatable material on house shares, dodgy landlords and the British Museum.

Ali is now heading to Australia for tour dates, but will be back in the UK in May with more shows.

To buy tickets, visit https://www.aliwoodsgigs.com 

★★★★★