Chris Washington is an ordinary guy; he explains this to us from the very beginning. Nothing exciting or extraordinary or traumatic has happened to him - yet. As such, his stand up is just that - simple and non-traumatic yet also funny, relatable and heartwarming.
Washington has a lot of potential and with a bit more experience and maybe a bit more risk-taking in his jokes, he’ll be back to the Fringe in the future as a household name.
It’s hard not to love Chris Washington. His Northern charm, cheeky grin and uncomplicated outlook on life make him incredibly approachable and down to earth. His show, Dream Big (Within Reason) is about aspiring to be the best you can be - within reason - and having dreams - realistic ones.
At eight years old, Washington’s dreams of being a footballer were shattered by his dad through his self-titled ‘Dadvice’ and ever since he’s been dreaming small and been happier for it. As he has grown older, Washington tells us about how he’s kept his dreams within reach and reason - new household appliances, a car that will last longer than a year, moving out of his mum’s house - making as many Brookside references as humanly possible in a stand up show.
Washington’s stories are warm and happy stories (an unusual and refreshing approach for stand up) which include introducing us to his new puppy and best friend Spud and telling us the tale of how he met his now-girlfriend. They are all easy going, simple stories and whilst his jokes and anecdotes may not leave you in fits of laughter, the entire performance is enjoyable from start to finish. His homegrown stories go down well with the audience, providing plenty of laughter and making you feel positive.
Dream Big (Within Reason) may not be the biggest or best stand up you see at the festival, but it makes for a pleasant afternoon of comedy. Washington is the kind of guy you’d be happy to call your mate and have a drink with and that makes the show feel easygoing and a safe bet for a good hour of laughing. Washington has a lot of potential and with a bit more experience and maybe a bit more risk-taking in his jokes, he’ll be back to the Fringe in the future as a household name.
