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Matt Forde: Get the Political Party Started

 
Ed Barnes Review by Ed Barnes 4 Published: 7 Sep 2015 Show Dates: 31 Dec 1969-31 Dec 1969

Matt Forde's latest show - Get The Political Party Started - is a continuation of his unique brand of political analysis meets lad culture. It's an interesting mix, there is an obvious passion for the minutia of political process - as well as the characters that inhabit that world - but Forde's cheeky, boozy persona allows the sometimes tedious world of politics to be looked at anew.

Forde has a keen eye and a cutting wit, but also a genuine warmth and excitement that tempers his razor-edged satire and keeps the audience on his side

Of course, a political comedian's material is only as good as the events they base it on, and the last year has been a good one for satire. There is the labour leadership poll, the Scottish referendum, as well as the host of scandals and controversies that seem to pop up every other week. All to these give Forde an excuse to rattle through his myriad of impressions, from the confused and wide-eyed Miliband to his ferocious Sturgeon. 

It is clear that Forde has a keen eye and a cutting wit, but also a genuine warmth and excitement that tempers his razor-edged satire and keeps the audience on his side, regardless of political persuasion. This is helped by the fact that his material has no bias, and despite Forde's history as advisor to the Labour party, every party receives the same hilarious treatment.

Due to a public shift away from the two-party system into a wider interest in politics, Forde's material now covers not only the main three parties, but also UKIP, the Greens, SNP, Plaid Cymru and more. Whilst this allows for a progression within his act, and stops it feeling stale, it may be slightly harder to follow for those without a in-depth knowledge of the current political landscape - but the show has enough actual jokes and laugh-out-loud moments to sustain the interest of most audience members.

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Performances

The Blurb:

Following his sell-out Edinburgh 2014 run Matt Forde, now widely acknowledged as the country’s leading political comedian returns with a brand new show tackling some of the many great questions facing our country in the aftermath of the election. What effect will the SNP have on Parliament? Will David Cameron serve a full third term? Does Andy Burnham wear mascara? As seen on Mock the Week (BBC Two), Have I Got News For You (BBC One) Rory Bremner’s Coalition Report (BBC Two) and Question Time (BBC One).