Darren Walsh: S'Pun

Unsurprisingly Darren Walsh's S'Pun is an hour of puns. Depending on how you feel about puns you may add or subtract a star to my rating.

If you love puns, well then he's good at them and there is lots of them. If you hate them, he isn't going to change your mind.

The quality of the jokes ranges wildly, which is an inherent issue with this format of comedy. The gags that work best take the longest amount of time to set up, usually because they follow a feedline then punchline format. But shorter jokes suffer from thin premises and tenuous connections. They do run well together but there is no theme or idea underpinning the show, which can often create a love or loathe scenario for the average comedy fan.

Walsh uses a mixture of visual and audio effects, which is novel and certainly helps sustain a feeling of energy throughout the show. The sections that work the best break from his usual formula and are often a silly idea involving an accent or impression.

Sporadically he will ask for a topic from an audience member. This is a nice idea but for the performance that I saw there wasn't a knockout joke and unfortunately nobody tried to tip him up with a difficult suggestion. However, he does not seem comfortable with interacting with the audience in this way.

There's not much else to be said about the show. If you love puns, well then he's good at them and there is lots of them. If you hate them, he isn't going to change your mind.

Reviews by James W. Woe

The New Theatre

The Voice Factor [X]

★★★★
Smock Alley Theatre, 1662

God Has No Country

★★★★
Smock Alley Theatre, 1662

The Quare Fellow

★★★★★
Gilded Balloon at the Counting House

The MMORPG Show

★★★
Pleasance Dome

Lou Sanders: What's That Lady Doing?

★★★★

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. We don't want your money to support a hack's bar bill at Abattoir, but if you have a pound or two spare, we really encourage you to support a good cause. If this review has either helped you discover a gem or avoid a turkey, consider doing some good that will really make a difference.

You can donate to the charity of your choice, but if you're looking for inspiration, there are three charities we really like.

Mama Biashara
Kate Copstick’s charity, Mama Biashara, works with the poorest and most marginalised people in Kenya. They give grants to set up small, sustainable businesses that bring financial independence and security. That five quid you spend on a large glass of House White? They can save someone’s life with that. And the money for a pair of Air Jordans? Will take four women and their fifteen children away from a man who is raping them and into a new life with a moneymaking business for Mum and happiness for the kids.
Donate to Mama Biashara now

Theatre MAD
The Make A Difference Trust fights HIV & AIDS one stage at a time. Their UK and International grant-making strategy is based on five criteria that raise awareness, educate, and provide care and support for the most vulnerable in society. A host of fundraising events, including Bucket Collections, Late Night Cabarets, West End Eurovision, West End Bares and A West End Christmas continue to raise funds for projects both in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Donate to Theatre MAD now

Acting For Others
Acting for Others provides financial and emotional support to all theatre workers in times of need through the 14 member charities. During the COVID-19 crisis Acting for Others have raised over £1.7m to support theatre workers affected by the pandemic.
Donate to Acting For Others now

Performances

Location

The Blurb

Fresh from winning Dave's Joke of the Fringe and re-telling it dozens of times to a TV camera, Darren Walsh (BBC's iWonder) set to work on coming up with a completely new set of jokes for 2016. S’Pun is the follow-up to 2015’s five-star show Punderbolt, cramming in even more animations, videos and sound effects. Darren also made the Top 10 Jokes of the 2015 Fringe in the Guardian, the Mirror and the Telegraph. 'Unstoppable tsunami of stupid puns.' (Chortle.co.uk). ‘The most pun you can have with your clothes on. Punbelievable!’ *****(Mirror).

Most Popular See More

Wicked

From £25.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Tina - The Tina Turner Musical

From £12.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Matilda the Musical

From £24.00

More Info

Find Tickets

The Lion King

From £35.00

More Info

Find Tickets

SIX

From £39.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Frozen the Musical

From £36.00

More Info

Find Tickets