One of four shows he’s bringing to the Edinburgh Fringe this year, Kieran Hodgson showcases the best of his comedic talents in ’75, which uses the 1975 referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Community to explore the issues surrounding Brexit. An established and talented character comedian, Hodgson fills the show with hilarious impressions of 70s politicians, his mum and a fictional librarian, which have the audience in stitches.
Impeccable comic timing and smart jokes make the show truly exquisite
‘75 takes the format of Hodgson having an argument with his mum, who voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum, whereas Hodgson voted remain. He decides to go and do some research into Europe and the history of it all to really work out why Brexit happened and what the issues were at the start. He embodies key Prime Ministers like Harold Wilson and Ted Heath, with impeccable comic timing and smart jokes that make the show truly exquisite.
A comedy show which is just as educational as it is funny is always a treat to watch, especially from Hodgson who wowed me in 2015 when I saw his show, Lance (also being performed at the festival this year). He effortlessly convinces the audience that he isn’t Kieran, but that he is these other characters, embodying all of their mannerisms and personality as well as their accents. This is emphasised by a particular funny scene in which he conveys Britain trying to enter Europe through the medium of a RuPaul’s Drag Race sketch, embodying lots of famous tropes and sayings from the show.
One thing I really took away from ’75 was that the arguments we’ve been having over Europe have been the same all along – sovereignty, undermining democracy, class, immigration. Nothing has changed and history repeated itself in 2016 with the referendum, except the British people voted the other way. Learning this through the medium of Hodgson’s flawless comedy was a joy for a political nerd like me, and I cannot recommend this show highly enough.
