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Theo Mason Wood: Legalise Kissing

 
Rhys John Review by Rhys John 5 Published: 23 Aug 2025 Underbelly, Bristo Square Show Dates: 30 Jul 2025-24 Aug 2025

If you’re looking to see one of the most exciting new comics on the British and European comedy scene, look no further. Theo Mason Wood delivers a truly genre-defying tour de force of surreal, and at times heartbreaking, comedy in Theo Mason Wood: Legalise Kissing. Fans of Brass Eye, Steve Coogan and The League of Gentlemen will feel at home here.

A truly genre-defying tour de force of surreal, and at times heartbreaking comedy

In a way, it’s surprising it’s billed as standup. Part clowning, part comedy set, part spoken word, part mental breakdown – Theo adopts the character of a hapless comic and spoken word artist, struggling with a breakup and a flatlining career. It’s certainly not a show for the squeamish, but there are jokes sharp enough to persuade even the most tender-hearted. Mason Wood’s audience interaction is sublime as he twists through depraved stories of awful nights out and relationship woes. We remain in equal parts aghast and captivated as the show ultimately expands into a surreal adventure exploring various fundamentals of the male psyche. Quickly, two camps are established: those buckling over in laughter and those gripped but perhaps a little afraid.

It doesn’t come as a surprise that Mason Wood is one of the writers for the acclaimed Guy Ritchie Netflix series The Gentleman – the tone is here, but with Legalise Kissing, we see a blistering demonstration of a new comic in love with the boundaries of society and what pushes people into extreme situations. There is a clear curiosity with modern masculinity, honesty and consent – themes present throughout Mason Wood’s work so far (his previous Camden Fringe show with The Caravan Guys was titled How to Beat Up Your Dad – The Musical) – but these are handled with an abundance of depraved silliness and joyously playground gags.

A wholehearted recommendation to see him in all his twisted glory before he blows up. Don’t expect an endless stream of quotable one-liners, but do expect deep laughs and to be taken on a debauched ride that will stick firmly in the mind. He may not need to legalise kissing, but you do need to catch him at the next opportunity.

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Performances

The Blurb:

Writer for Netlfix's The Gentlemen, Berlin based comedian Theo Mason Wood is coming to the UK for his first solo show. A genre-defying mix of stand-up, techno, and clowning. Created in the smoke-filled basements of Berlin's bars, Theo performs surreal stories about love and loss over swirling synthesisers and electronic beats. He is coming to Edinburgh with only one goal in mind: to Legalise Kissing.