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Toussaint Douglass: Accessible Pigeon Material

 
Laura Tucker Review by Laura Tucker 5 Published: 8 Aug 2025 Pleasance Courtyard Show Dates: 30 Jul 2025-24 Aug 2025

Toussaint Douglass arrives on stage like a man obsessed – with pigeons, mostly. Binocular-wearing and twitching with anticipation, he guides us fellow birdwatchers to our seats, as we enter into his natural habitat. His winsome energy soon infects us all and, within minutes, we’re throwing bread rolls at the stage with abandon, willing the show to start.

Birds, emotional baggage and big laughs in a show that soars

He wasn’t lying about the pigeon material. There’s a lot of it. But there’s also so much else: Nan’s immigrant origin story, an emotionally elusive dad, and a psychiatrist girlfriend who makes all the diagnoses. From family dynamics to love languages, Douglass pecks through it all with the confidence of a South East London pigeon – bold, unruffled, and weirdly magnetic.

Cawing, clowning and occasionally hollering, Douglass couldn’t be more amped up on his ornithological subject matter. We follow his moves keenly, hanging on each gag. When audience interaction slows the pace, Douglass’s confidence keeps things flying.

From pigeon to robin to the Caribbean’s Plumbeous Warbler (!), birds are more than a punchline for Douglass – they’re thematic scaffolding for comedic reflections on love, modern masculinity, and the things men rarely get to say out loud.

This is a generous, original and properly funny show, from a performer who gives a lot – not just in movement, but in food for thought. Accessible pigeon material? Absolutely. But also: universal joy, laughter, and a weirdly moving tribute to both birds and the people who make us who we are.

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The Blurb:

Hello friend. Open your mind, take out what’s inside and wish it well on its future endeavours. You’re going to need the space for this one. I’m talking life, love, loss, finding your way and pigeons... quite a lot about pigeons actually... it's pretty pigeon-heavy to be honest. So please join me for an hour of joyfully absurd, charmingly awkward stand-up. As seen on Richard Osman’s House of Games (BBC Two), writer for Have I Got News For You (BBC One) and James Acaster’s Springleaf podcast, and tour support for Russell Howard.